Lauren Oyler (Fake Accounts), known for her bold literary and cultural criticism found in outlets such as Harper's and the New Yorker, does not disappoint with No Judgment, her perspicacious debut essay collection. Oyler, who has also written fiction, offers eight pieces, marked by her characteristic verve and meticulousness, that address matters such as gossip, autofiction, expatriation, and criticism. Not one to avoid a challenge, she aims her keen mind at tricky subjects, such as the ubiquity of therapy and medication, Brené Brown's popularization of vulnerability, and spoilers.
A number of her remarkable essays far surpass the initial premise and promise of the opening paragraphs. For instance, "My Perfect Opinions" starts with a story about a writer gaming the Goodreads review system and ends with a sharp take on the insidious and destructive power of pop culture, with stops along the way addressing the fascinating history of star ratings, celebrity thin skin, the role of the critic in society, elitism, Marvel movies, and more. Other essays, such as "Embarrassment, Panic, Opprobrium, Job Loss, Etc," circle back on themselves in ways that cleverly reflect the interrogated topics.
Rather than the far-ranging essays of, say, Rebecca Solnit, who often assembles disparate elements within a single piece, Oyler adeptly employs her research and logic to stay tight to a theme. Most delightfully, her sardonic voice permeates the entire collection. She writes: "I despise a happy ending; a happy ending says, to me, absolutely nothing about life except that humans have a near-universal desire for a happy ending that is basically unfulfillable if you have any critical thinking skills at all." --Nina Semczuk, writer, editor, and illustrator