Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This is an ambitious collection of essays, stories, and poems representing the idea of otherness. As the editor explains, the current political moment (the rise of nationalism in Europe, post-Brexit vote, and the Trump presidency) demands a richer understanding of other points of view -- and literature is well positioned to help people inhabit other lives and perspectives. The theme is so broad, however, that the focus seems to get lost in the individual contributions, as well as the organization of the three main sections.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley!

Others is a collection of poem, short stories, essays, etc. The writing styles varied, which adds to the greatness of this book.

This was a great collection of writing about being "other". I love how there were so many contributors to this project, as the writing styles varied. I highly recommend this book!

This is a compelling collection of short stories and excerpts that clearly convey what it means to be "other." I enjoyed that the "other" included characteristics beyond race and immigration status. A few othering factors that stood out for me were autism, being deaf, Roma, and poverty. I liked the Foreword and the Introduction sections as well for framing the issue of otherness.

The piece by Peter Ho Davies on Vincent Chin is one of the most powerful and emotionally wrenching. It's beautifully done. Kamila Shamsie's The A to Z of an Earthquake Zone was also very poignant and had quite a punch especially given its succinct format.

Thanks to Unbound publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Much like the recent release Common People by Unbound, Others is a collection of essays, short stories, and poems of what it is like to be ‘other’.

What I learned from reading this wonderful collection is that there are so many relatable ways to feel other and that by sharing these kind of stories is so important because it makes you feel less alone.

Please support Unbound publishers because they really do release great books and support brilliant undiscovered writers.

Others – Writers on the Power of Words to Help us See Beyond Ourselves by Charles Fernyhough is available now.

For more information regarding Charles Fernyhough (@cfernyhough) please visit www.charlesfernyhough.com.

For more information regarding Unbound (@Unbounders) please visit www.unbound.com/books.