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Big Mall
A phenomenology of the If the mall makes us feel bad, why do we keep going back? In a world poisoned by capitalism, is shopping what makes life worth living? In less than a century, the shopping mall has morphed from a blueprint for a socialist utopia to something else a home to disaffected mallrats and depressed zoo animals, a sensory overload and consumerist trap. Kate Black grew up in North America's largest West Edmonton Mall – a mall on steroids. It’s the site of a notoriously lethal rave for teenagers, a fatal rollercoaster accident, and more than one gun-range suicide; it’s where oil field workers reap the social mobility of a boom-and-bust economy, the impossibly large structure where teens attempt to invent themselves in dark Hollister sales racks and weird horny escapades in the indoor waterpark. It’s a place people love to hate and hate to love – a site of pleasure and pain, of death and violence, of (sub)urban legend. Can malls tell us something important about who we are? Blending a history of shopping with a story of coming-of-age in North America’s largest and strangest mall, Big Mall investigates how these structures have become the ultimate symbol of late-capitalist dread – and, surprisingly, a subversive site of hope. Ultimately, a close look at the mall reveals clues to how a good life in these times is possible.
184 pages, Paperback
Published February 13, 2024
About the author
Kate Black
1 book10 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
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October 18, 2023:)
June 28, 2024
In Big Mall, essayist Kate Black uses the mall of her youth - Canada's West Edmonton Mall - to launch a number of larger discussions about the place of shopping malls in our lives. The collection of essays as a whole is great food for thought and will make you see malls in a whole new, deeper way.
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book (and one other book on malls) over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book (and one other book on malls) over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!
February 27, 2024
Early in this book Kate says something like “I originally wanted to write a book about malls because I thought it’d be funny.”
And she’s right, it is funny! But it’s also insightful, relatable and beautifully-written. There’s infinite commentary about how the modern shopping mall represents whatever awful thing we want to say about society but Big Mall sidesteps a lot of this rote cynicism. Instead it uses malls as a launch point to discuss existing as a young person in 2024.
I can’t believe it made me price out flights to Edmonton. I gotta see this big mall.
And she’s right, it is funny! But it’s also insightful, relatable and beautifully-written. There’s infinite commentary about how the modern shopping mall represents whatever awful thing we want to say about society but Big Mall sidesteps a lot of this rote cynicism. Instead it uses malls as a launch point to discuss existing as a young person in 2024.
I can’t believe it made me price out flights to Edmonton. I gotta see this big mall.
June 14, 2024
This book was absolutely incredible, and perhaps the most Edmonton book I have ever read. I didn't know what to expect when I picked it up, other than that some part of it called to my West Edmontonian soul and I knew I had to read it. I wasn't expecting to read it in one sitting, nor was I expecting it to be so deep or relatable. This was a perfect foray into the nostalgic innocence of the wasted days of my youth, endlessly wandering WEM's corridors, in a blissful search for meaning. But also a crushing realization of the weight and contradictions of our existence in a failing capitalist society. Like the author, I too have felt myself submit to a higher power in the depths of the wave pool, and felt acutely aware of my mortality in the shadow of the Mindbender. Though my adult self likes to consider myself above the mall, really, it's presence in my life was formative. Kate Black gets it.
March 25, 2024
This book blew me away. I went in thinking it was going to be a standard "micro history", or one of those nonfiction books where the authors engages in some kind of challenge or stunt (living in the mall? Not going to the mall? Getting a job at the mall? I dunno) and I was prepared to love it if that was the case, because I love (and hate, and resent, and miss) West Ed. But it isn't that at all, it's much more ambitious, and messy, and academic, and personal. I learned a ton, remembered a ton, and even felt defensive at times. I'm older than Black, and my experiences were different, so this mall isn't quite my mall. But it is THE mall.
I'm kind of flabbergasted that this book exists. As another reviewer noted (hi Dessa) this book is SO entirely my shit. Longer review to come on my blog!
I'm kind of flabbergasted that this book exists. As another reviewer noted (hi Dessa) this book is SO entirely my shit. Longer review to come on my blog!
March 20, 2024
I don’t think I’ve ever related more to an author. We’re both from Alberta, both moved to Vancouver, both vegan (I’ve also eaten oysters while vegan, girl I understand the struggle).
I have a lot of core memories from West Ed and it was truly fascinating reading about this familiar childhood landmark in the wider context of capitalism and beyond.
The fact that West Ed once had more operational submarines than the Canadian navy is hilarious to me. 10/10 on the fun facts.
I have a lot of core memories from West Ed and it was truly fascinating reading about this familiar childhood landmark in the wider context of capitalism and beyond.
The fact that West Ed once had more operational submarines than the Canadian navy is hilarious to me. 10/10 on the fun facts.
March 11, 2024
loved this and am aware that it is a very naive feeling but at times I felt like it was written just for me - made me feel sooo seen. I'll miss Edmonton forever and I'll never go back and nothing will give me the exact same feeling as watching videos of teenage boys jumping into the WEM lagoon.
May 8, 2024
Intellectual but not elite, personal but not sentimental. A really thoughtful, masterfully written meditation on malls, and therefore our society and therefore ourselves.
February 16, 2024
I enjoyed this debut novel from Kate. Her stories reminded me of past events in the mall; both good and bad. The mall has always been a part of our lives and has now extended to our grandchildren. Kate’s willingness to include personal stories was refreshing. Kate is a brilliant writer and I have enjoyed reading her previous essays. Look forward to more.
August 13, 2024
the edmonton experience: i love the mall, i hate the mall, lay me to rest with a viking funeral on the santa maria
February 15, 2024
This book is amazing and my Edmontonian heart is singing. Kate’s incisive writing somehow seamlessly transitions between being devastating and hilarious (as if I expected anything else from her). She verbalized feelings around loneliness and self-image and detachment from tragedy that I didn’t know anyone else had. And now I feel like going to the mall again.
May 8, 2024
I guess this was supposed to be a dispatch on how we are all in the throes of and suffering from late-stage capitalism...a state of being with which I thoroughly agree. Unfortunately, though, Black (in a very short book) meanders all over the place, thereby diluting her premise to the point that I really did not care.
August 4, 2024
Kate Black poses the axiom like teenage girl existentialist question of what is deep and what is shallow with the format of this book itself!! I loved shame and self reflective consideration being discussed through the narrative of malls :)
March 30, 2024
veryyyy much enjoyed… learned lots ab the history of malls and the Darkness they have carried
i picked this up at my favorite local bookstore and saw the author signed it... i mostly bought bc i wanted to read ab the ethics of shopping/ retail(?) as a Shopping Girly with guilt ab shopping but i ended up learning so much more
i’m biased bc i feel close to the author since she lives in vancouver now but in general she is a great writing talent, honest and funny. it was an easy and interesting read ab not just WEM/ canadian malls but the anthropology of malls as a whole…
i recommend!
i picked this up at my favorite local bookstore and saw the author signed it... i mostly bought bc i wanted to read ab the ethics of shopping/ retail(?) as a Shopping Girly with guilt ab shopping but i ended up learning so much more
i’m biased bc i feel close to the author since she lives in vancouver now but in general she is a great writing talent, honest and funny. it was an easy and interesting read ab not just WEM/ canadian malls but the anthropology of malls as a whole…
i recommend!
August 16, 2024
Kate Black’s essays on the mall drew me in and held me there. There is something so bizarre, wonderful, fucked up and gross all at the same time about our notorious landmark, and many of the delights and horrors found within are researched and reflected on in this book. From the philosophy and failed intention behind malls as a concept, to the series of animals kept within, to mall deaths both accidental and intentional, to mall rats, to Covid dreams of the mall, Kate covers all the corners of my mental mall map with thoughtful curiosity. There is a particular pleasure for me in reading about our weird little hometown, but even lovers of other malls will find something resonant in this little pink volume. Loved it!
February 13, 2024
I was intrigued to read BIG MALL: Shopping for Meaning by Kate Black because I’ve enjoyed going to the mall since I was a teenager and this was an interesting read! Black shares her experiences growing up and visiting the West Edmonton Mall which is the largest mall in North America. I’ve never been there before so it was interesting to learn more about it. This book gets into how the mall is a place people love to hate and hate to love due to consumerism, capitalism, endorphins, nostalgia and urban living. If I do ever go to Edmonton I’d love to visit the mall there!
Thank you to Coach House Books for my gifted review copy!
Thank you to Coach House Books for my gifted review copy!
May 22, 2024
My 5 star rating of this book is a bit biased as my family used to vacation from the NWT to West Edmonton Mall and it was such a big deal back in the day. Getting to go to West Ed and the childhood impression it has left on me is a big part of my growing up and this book mostly focuses on the authors experience growing up going there as well. Not to mention, I also now live in Alberta and am just a skip and a hop away from Edmonton.
This book will be a fun trip for anyone who has been to this mall but I also feel like this book will appeal to anyone who is intrigued by the "big mall" and stories of how, surrounded by Capitalism, they are also places of wildlife protests, murder, suicide, first jobs, first loves, trends and subcultures etc.
I love being surprised by a book and this book is definitely one I am happy I picked up!
This book will be a fun trip for anyone who has been to this mall but I also feel like this book will appeal to anyone who is intrigued by the "big mall" and stories of how, surrounded by Capitalism, they are also places of wildlife protests, murder, suicide, first jobs, first loves, trends and subcultures etc.
I love being surprised by a book and this book is definitely one I am happy I picked up!
March 24, 2024
This was a slog to get through, which is strange for such a short book. There were so many unrelated tangents that I never understood what the author’s point was. I guess we needed 167 pages just to tell us she’s lonely 🤷🏼♀️
May 4, 2024
A book about not just malls, but West Edmonton Mall??? I love you, Kate Black. Let's kiss with tongues inside the whale.
July 28, 2024
Не знам какво очаквах, но не беше това.
Книгата е колекция от есета, посветени на конкретен mall - West Edmonton Mall, който по моите европейски стандарти е по-скоро огромен парк за забавление и пазаруване, а не нормален mall. Гугълнах да го видя как изглежда и това нещо е чудовище. Вътре имало воден парк, басейн, зоологическа градина, стрелбище и какво ли не още. Всичко това отгоре над стандартните магазини за пазаруване и хранене. Такова чудо аз лично не съм виждала на живо и ми е трудно да свързвам думата mall с подобно място.
Авторката явно е израснала близо до този mall и визирайки размерите му - не се учудвам, че така е повлияло на детството и развитието ѝ като възрастен. И това мога да го разбера, но това, което тотално уби всичко в мен е съдържанието на самата книга.
Книгата е разделена на есета. Всяко есе е посветено на аспект от историята и живота на този mall, което не звучи зле, тъй като ако обичаш да четеш за всякакви глупости - защо не и за смъртните случаи в даден mall? Интересна информация, макар и без кой знае каква стойност за ежедневието и живота ти, ама не по-малко любопитно.
Проблемът е, че стилът на писане на авторката е като на надъхана студентка по творческо писане, която са я учили от нищо да създава нещо и както говореше примерно за животните в mall-а и почва да споделя неща за себе си или нещо съвсем трето, което се изисква сериозно въображение да навържеш с темата на дадената глава. Тотален хаос. И тъй като явно много иска да е добра в писането и в използването на думи - използва толкова завъртяна проза, че дори да знаеш значението на всяка дума от дадено изречение, пак няма смисъл, освен може би в нейната глава.
Тази книга беше хаотичните размисли и страсти от дневника на една ученичка. Опитах се да видя отвъд това и имаше потенциал тази книга да е интересно и любопитно четиво за влиянието на моловете върху хората и тяхното обществено и икономическо място, но за мен тя не успя да го постигне, най-малкото защото се фокусира върху един mall и е спряла до там в проучването си.
Книгата е колекция от есета, посветени на конкретен mall - West Edmonton Mall, който по моите европейски стандарти е по-скоро огромен парк за забавление и пазаруване, а не нормален mall. Гугълнах да го видя как изглежда и това нещо е чудовище. Вътре имало воден парк, басейн, зоологическа градина, стрелбище и какво ли не още. Всичко това отгоре над стандартните магазини за пазаруване и хранене. Такова чудо аз лично не съм виждала на живо и ми е трудно да свързвам думата mall с подобно място.
Авторката явно е израснала близо до този mall и визирайки размерите му - не се учудвам, че така е повлияло на детството и развитието ѝ като възрастен. И това мога да го разбера, но това, което тотално уби всичко в мен е съдържанието на самата книга.
Книгата е разделена на есета. Всяко есе е посветено на аспект от историята и живота на този mall, което не звучи зле, тъй като ако обичаш да четеш за всякакви глупости - защо не и за смъртните случаи в даден mall? Интересна информация, макар и без кой знае каква стойност за ежедневието и живота ти, ама не по-малко любопитно.
Проблемът е, че стилът на писане на авторката е като на надъхана студентка по творческо писане, която са я учили от нищо да създава нещо и както говореше примерно за животните в mall-а и почва да споделя неща за себе си или нещо съвсем трето, което се изисква сериозно въображение да навържеш с темата на дадената глава. Тотален хаос. И тъй като явно много иска да е добра в писането и в използването на думи - използва толкова завъртяна проза, че дори да знаеш значението на всяка дума от дадено изречение, пак няма смисъл, освен може би в нейната глава.
Тази книга беше хаотичните размисли и страсти от дневника на една ученичка. Опитах се да видя отвъд това и имаше потенциал тази книга да е интересно и любопитно четиво за влиянието на моловете върху хората и тяхното обществено и икономическо място, но за мен тя не успя да го постигне, най-малкото защото се фокусира върху един mall и е спряла до там в проучването си.
March 19, 2024
I really enjoyed this book! Kate manages to touch on several broad anxieties while sharing her own unique experiences and keeping with her own style/voice. The research included in this book was excellent and greatly enhanced the space for thought and reflection.
Educational and entertaining —would (and will) absolutely recommend!
Educational and entertaining —would (and will) absolutely recommend!
July 26, 2024
Read for book club. I live in Edmonton now and I lived in Minneapolis for 5 years, so I have experience with big malls. A lot of interesting ideas in this book but it didn't come together for me. Good book club discussion though.
April 3, 2024
Very insight not just to the mall history but to the author
September 5, 2024
This book healed my inner teenaged girl that spent too much time in malls looking for an identity.
One of the more successful mixes of memoir and non-fiction that I've read. It felt like reading my own inner monologue going down an internet rabbit hole and coming out with new fun facts about malls and tidbits about myself. Right down to sections of meandering tangents that may or may not actually relate to the subject at hand, and a sincere seriousness that others might find ill-placed.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Kate's work!
One of the more successful mixes of memoir and non-fiction that I've read. It felt like reading my own inner monologue going down an internet rabbit hole and coming out with new fun facts about malls and tidbits about myself. Right down to sections of meandering tangents that may or may not actually relate to the subject at hand, and a sincere seriousness that others might find ill-placed.
I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Kate's work!
July 11, 2024
proclaiming capitalism as the root of all evil while acknowledging the lack of agency to change it, thus succumbing to the system in a defeated manner was the overall vibe and i'm so here for it.
this was so fucking good. i have so much stuff to say about it, but i'm going to limit it to a yap sesh with my sister. anyways i hope i get to read mark fisher's works soon.
4.5/5.
this was so fucking good. i have so much stuff to say about it, but i'm going to limit it to a yap sesh with my sister. anyways i hope i get to read mark fisher's works soon.
4.5/5.
July 19, 2024
1. I moved away from edmonton but came back because it's a good city. I find people who are too snobby for edmonton tiresome.
2. I wasn't allowed to hang out at west edmonton mall as a young teen because my parents thought it was too dangerous.
3. Black's lack of understanding and acknowledgment of class privilege was frustrating.
4. St. Albert
2. I wasn't allowed to hang out at west edmonton mall as a young teen because my parents thought it was too dangerous.
3. Black's lack of understanding and acknowledgment of class privilege was frustrating.
4. St. Albert
April 5, 2024
i came across this book walking home from work when i stopped to read my neighbourhood book stores promotional flyers in their window. i was drawn to the title and was very excited to learn that it talked about west edmonton mall, the political implications, and social consequences of such a design.
as someone that grew up in the backyard of west edmonton mall, went to middle school and high school right across the road, and worked in retail in that very mall, this book captured a part of me that i haven’t shared with many people in my life. i too left edmonton for vancouver seeking something greater and carried with me a feeling of resentment for the city. i have since moved back to the prairies in calgary with a deeper and more profound love for the edmonton and alberta.
i appreciated how personal this book was; exploring one’s self through historical and current political tensions that emerged from malls. i love edmonton, i love and hate west edmonton mall, and i love people from edmonton!
as someone that grew up in the backyard of west edmonton mall, went to middle school and high school right across the road, and worked in retail in that very mall, this book captured a part of me that i haven’t shared with many people in my life. i too left edmonton for vancouver seeking something greater and carried with me a feeling of resentment for the city. i have since moved back to the prairies in calgary with a deeper and more profound love for the edmonton and alberta.
i appreciated how personal this book was; exploring one’s self through historical and current political tensions that emerged from malls. i love edmonton, i love and hate west edmonton mall, and i love people from edmonton!
March 26, 2024
Thank you to Coach House Books for a copy of Big Mall in exchange for an honest review!
Kate Black grew up in Edmonton near the epic West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America. It has a zoo, a theme park, and everything in between. Kate takes a deep dive into mall culture, examining capitalism, teenagers' connection to the mall, and how a simple building full of shops can bring people together.
Nonfiction isn’t everyone's cup of tea. I tend to steer away from it, at least while I’m researching for school. But this didn’t read like nonfiction. It felt like an intellectual conversation with a friend. The references were spot on, and the language and voice in the novel were very laid-back and approachable. I think this is so important in nonfiction.
The subject matter was also super relevant and informative. I often feel guilty about going to the mall and spending money on things I don’t necessarily need, but that brings me that little bit of joy. Is this capitalism’s big plan, and if so, how does it work so dang well?
The book is divided into sections covering history, teens and young adults, animals in the mall, accidents in the mall, and the future of malls. I didn’t realize how relevant each of these pieces was to the mall experience and just how enthralled I would be in each chunk. The animal section was hard to read, as I don’t think animals should be kept in a mall, but I learned a lot.
I think that’s really what you want from your nonfiction reads: something approachable that also opens your mind to new perspectives and learning something new! And this book covers all of that and more.
Kate Black grew up in Edmonton near the epic West Edmonton Mall, the largest mall in North America. It has a zoo, a theme park, and everything in between. Kate takes a deep dive into mall culture, examining capitalism, teenagers' connection to the mall, and how a simple building full of shops can bring people together.
Nonfiction isn’t everyone's cup of tea. I tend to steer away from it, at least while I’m researching for school. But this didn’t read like nonfiction. It felt like an intellectual conversation with a friend. The references were spot on, and the language and voice in the novel were very laid-back and approachable. I think this is so important in nonfiction.
The subject matter was also super relevant and informative. I often feel guilty about going to the mall and spending money on things I don’t necessarily need, but that brings me that little bit of joy. Is this capitalism’s big plan, and if so, how does it work so dang well?
The book is divided into sections covering history, teens and young adults, animals in the mall, accidents in the mall, and the future of malls. I didn’t realize how relevant each of these pieces was to the mall experience and just how enthralled I would be in each chunk. The animal section was hard to read, as I don’t think animals should be kept in a mall, but I learned a lot.
I think that’s really what you want from your nonfiction reads: something approachable that also opens your mind to new perspectives and learning something new! And this book covers all of that and more.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews