AMERICAN BULK Essays on Excess

Emily Mester's essays describe the typical consumption practices and conflicts she witnessed while growing up in her Midwestern family. She combines her memories with fascinating observations on how class impacts the ways people think about, talk about, and spend their money. Chloe Cannon's performance captures the restrained emotion of a writer who is looking at social patterns around her with keen sensibilities. Cannon's vocal personality is almost too restrained, but it fits the author's writing as the quality and depth of Mester's perspectives become more apparent. The smooth writing takes its time building momentum, but the satisfying blend of social commentary and her own coming-of-age story makes it a moving way to understand some of what's happening in American culture today. T.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2025]