This could be titled the "Avant-garde" versus the boors of consumerism, however that would be giving it too much credit. Disappointing as a whole there are moments of true interest and worthwhile sentiment for the loss to humanity resulting from the AIDS crisis. ( )

This book is really vital and fascinating and forced me to reassess many of my assumptions about gentrification, it’s causes and manifestations. That said I also imagine if I met Schulman in person we might fight over many of her contentions in this book, not least her use of the word “gentrification” to encompass everything from the actual displacement of low income people, to the lack of mainstream interest in Kathy Acker, to the defanging of the feminist movement. I am not sure I think it is useful to theorize gentrification in this way — you risk diluting the meaning and losing sight of those most vulnerable to displacement.

I think it is a flawed book but also powerful and important and I am grateful to have grappled with it !! ( )