For a very long time, every time I see reviews about A Broken People's Playlist, everyone seems to be talking about "Lost Stars." I have always found that troubling.
Lost Stars is a splendid story with an intro and outro that are out of this world. But it is not the whole book. A Broken People's Playlist is a fictional anthology that is far more than just its first story.
This bothers me all the time, so today, I write this to introduce the world and soon-to-be A Broken People's Playlist readers to what the book truly contains.
If you didn't know, this book is a collection of stories written under the influence of music. Each story is titled after a song, and the song sets the mood and tone. Songs like Lost Stars, Hurt, I Put a Spell on You, In the City, and others were featured.
The author, Chimeka Garricks, crafted something unique by blending storytelling with the rhythm and feeling that music inspires.
Now, let me be clear: I'm not slandering Lost Stars. It's a brilliant piece, no doubt. But I want more people to talk about the other stories, too, and stop limiting such a beautiful body of literature to just the opening story.
We do the other stories such a disservice when we reduce the book to Lost Stars because they all hold so much more.
For instance, Music, the second story, is so well-written and heartfelt. I loved how TT told the story of his broken home, reflecting on his father dancing and his mother's constant frowns.
It's a raw portrayal of family dynamics that we see or hear about. It is told in such a way that you enjoy even the seemingly hurtful parts.
And then there's Hurt, a story about a man who organized and attended his own funeral. Tell me that's not iconic!
It's a brilliant mix of dark humor and existential reflection, giving us something to think about long after the story ends. Do you know how crazy you have to be to organize a funeral for yourself while still alive in an African home?
That is just one side of the story.
In the City was another favorite of mine. It was from that story that I first understood what a confra was. I enjoyed the intense narration that brought me into a world I never knew existed, all while carrying the emotional depth Chimeka is good at.
The song carries so much depth, which is clearly seen in the story. To date, whenever I listen to "In the City, "I think about Corporal Enenche.
You Suppose Know was a story about love. Soft love, pure love, love that was had and held. The kind you crave, the one everyone yearns to have. The author even included characters from his debut novel Tomorrow Died Yesterday.
You Suppose Know was a brilliant ending that sealed the book perfectly, bringing the whole collection together, like the final note of a song that lingers in the air.
When you pick up A Broken People's Playlist, I hope you hold on and don't become overwhelmed by just the first story.
He wrote these stories so well! It was as if writing that particular book was his life's entire purpose, and it haunts me that many readers haven't openly acknowledged them the way he would have wanted.
Even the author's note at the end of the book was something of wonder. It was thoughtful and reflective, a perfect conclusion to the emotional journey he takes us on.
A Broken People's Playlist contains some of the best stories I have ever read, on the most random themes, yet all interconnected in the most unconventional way.
To judge the whole book based solely on the opening is quite unfair. As readers and reviewers, we owe it to the world to give an accurate account of what we've read. If we want to invite others into our world, we must ensure that we tell them about every part, even the smallest details, because therein lies the beauty of the words crafted by authors.
There is so much more to discover beyond Lost Stars if you're willing to listen to/read the whole playlist.
