Great essay collection by a writer ahead of her time. Appreciated June Jordan’s courage in sharing both her forward political thinking (e.g., her pro-Great essay collection by a writer ahead of her time. Appreciated June Jordan’s courage in sharing both her forward political thinking (e.g., her pro-Palestine and anti-Zionist beliefs, her ideals for Black women’s liberation while also critiquing representation politics) and her personal experiences related to matters such as breast cancer and sexual assault. While some of her takes may not come across as new to those who read a lot of Black feminist texts, there’s a conviction, full-spiritedness, and progressive politic in Jordan’s writing that is still admirable and enjoyable....more
Initially I felt posting a negative review of this book because I’m also queer and Vietnamese, and then I was like, that doesn’t mean I’m obligated toInitially I felt posting a negative review of this book because I’m also queer and Vietnamese, and then I was like, that doesn’t mean I’m obligated to like this novel (e.g., white people can dislike white authors’ books and it’s not representative of their entire race)! I just did not resonate with Time is a Mother. There are some brief flashes of something deeper, like Ocean Vuong’s relationship with his mother, his grief, some thoughtfulness about how race/racism/tokenization plays out in publishing, though overall I felt like these poems were not substantive or that meaningful. I say this with the kindest tone possible though it felt like words were being strung together and that was kind of that. I also didn’t understand Vuong’s writing about Peter and found it melodramatic and again, lacking more depth to make me care. I wouldn’t have read this poetry collection if it hadn’t been chosen as the book for a Philly book club I’m in. Onto the next!...more
A powerful debut poetry collection about Cathy Linh Che’s experience of childhood sexual assault as well as her parents’ journey of war and immigratioA powerful debut poetry collection about Cathy Linh Che’s experience of childhood sexual assault as well as her parents’ journey of war and immigration from Vietnam. The first section got my heart caught in my throat, as Che writes about the violation of her boundaries with heartbreaking clarity. The second section, foregrounded by Che’s compassion toward her parents’ experiences in Vietnam and as immigrants to the U.S., resonated with me as well. The third section centered on Che’s healing felt a bit sparse and abrupt to me; as someone who doesn’t often read or understand poetry I selfishly wanted more detail about this more restorative part of her life. Still, I’d recommend this collection to those interested by its synopsis....more
Appreciated the Black sapphic representation in this book and its theme of a codependent relationship with devastating ups and downs. My reaction to tAppreciated the Black sapphic representation in this book and its theme of a codependent relationship with devastating ups and downs. My reaction to this book reminds me of why I tend to avoid reading poetry collections – I tend to rate then a bit lower because *I* struggle to resonate with them which makes me feel a tad guilty. I liked how Woodfolk portrays the immersive grip of an intense friendship turned romance and the complexity of caring for someone even when they are not right for you. The story being told in verse and the related lack of specific detail made it difficult for me to deeply connect with the characters. Still, I would recommend maybe checking this one out if you like poetry and are intrigued by the book’s synopsis....more
Loved the unapologetic blackness and queerness of this poetry collection. I appreciate Danez Smith’s centering of friendship in this collection and thLoved the unapologetic blackness and queerness of this poetry collection. I appreciate Danez Smith’s centering of friendship in this collection and their confident, sensitive approach to addressing issues of racism, femmephobia, and other forms of social injustice. The caring and connection they have with their friends and their loved ones radiates with warmth and eloquence. I only give it three stars because I did not find this collection as powerful as their work Don’t Call Us Dead, on top of my general difficulty in fully grasping poetry. Still, definitely recommend for those interested in poetry about relationships, race, queerness, etc. I also recognize that as a non-black person of color, this book was not necessarily written with me as the target audience, so I may have been unable to appreciate the collection’s richness as much as a black person or black queer person....more
Wanted to love this one but couldn’t understand a good amount of it. Justin Phillip Reed tackles pressing topics – masculinity, sexuality, white supreWanted to love this one but couldn’t understand a good amount of it. Justin Phillip Reed tackles pressing topics – masculinity, sexuality, white supremacy, etc. – with raw emotion and leaves few clean conclusions. His words pack a lot of power and show his pain and the depth of his feeling. The queerness and blackness of this collection, and the way Reed navigates these social identities with so much heart and vulnerability, makes Indecency a necessary addition to the existing canon of poetry. Unfortunately, as someone not that well-versed in poetry I found myself confused by several of these poems, such that I could grasp a few lines, an emotion, or an overall subject but couldn’t comprehend the poem as a whole. Unsure if this stems from my lack of poetry reading comprehension or the obscurity of Reed’s language. Still, would recommend this to people who like poetry and who find themselves drawn to work that questions the white, heteronormative social order through a personal perspective....more
Wanted to love this one but found it too focused on romantic angst for my taste. I enjoyed some of the poems in their emotional rawness, like "Advice Wanted to love this one but found it too focused on romantic angst for my taste. I enjoyed some of the poems in their emotional rawness, like "Advice to Teenage Girls with Wild Ambitions and Trembling Hearts." But I felt a lack of movement or progress or growth in the poems about romance and relationships. I appreciate the vulnerability in this collection, though I much prefer Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey....more
A vulnerable, moving poetry collection written by queer Vietnamese American author Hieu Minh Nguyen. As a queer Vietnamese American myself, I3.5 stars
A vulnerable, moving poetry collection written by queer Vietnamese American author Hieu Minh Nguyen. As a queer Vietnamese American myself, I related to so much of the content here, including how Nguyen describes confrontations with whiteness and racism, difficult and nuanced relationships with family, and general moments of sadness and connection. Though his words felt relatable to me, he has a distinct voice all of his own. Certain lines took my breath away, like "I'm told to be open to the possibility of not being a monster," as well as the idea of "enduring the labor of forgetting" in regard to not taking offense at a racist joke. I particularly appreciated his honesty in sharing his trauma. Nguyen has such an admirable, open heart and I am curious to read what he writes next. Would recommend to poetry fans and those invested in reading diverse voices.
(As you may discern, my rating stems from my own lack of ability to *get* poetry, as some of this collection did not make sense to me or did not fully resonate, which is most likely on me.)...more
A stunning poetry collection about the black queer experience, Danez Smith captures the dangers of police brutality and HIV with visceral imagery and A stunning poetry collection about the black queer experience, Danez Smith captures the dangers of police brutality and HIV with visceral imagery and a heartrending call for change. Their focus on the embodied effects of racism and homophobia makes this collection pulse with a beautiful, searing fire. What I loved most about Don't Call Us Dead: how Smith portrays the pain of being black and queer while still envisioning a utopia for himself and his black comrades. Their vision of a kind, safe, and loving world gives us all something to work toward creating, one act of justice and compassion at a time....more
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