Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Above Ground by Clint Smith

9 reviews

blakeandbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

In February, I read How the Word Is Passed, and I knew that Smith would be an author I would continue to follow and read his work. So many people I follow, including @satrayreads + @bookish.millennial + @current_tales.and.furry_tails, have praised this collection of poetry, and I was looking forward to reading it. Little did I know that it would make me so incredibly emotional. 😭💚💙 As someone who is a mother of a little one, I was blown away by Smith’s exploration of fatherhood. There is so much beauty in simply being present to see the world through your child’s eyes. They’re seeing and learning everything for the first time, and we get to be a part of this learning journey with them. I just felt so seen as a parent—moments that others don’t understand or having a partner that is wonderful and loyal and helpful. 

He also takes time to discuss race + social justice issues. Smith is so articulate in his craft that it is difficult not to feel drawn to his words. I highly recommend this poetry to everyone. Even if you feel wary about reading poetry because it feels out of your scope of understanding, these poems are easily accessible and understandable.

Some of the poems that I stuck out to me were:
💚 Waiting on a Heartbeat
💙 Trying to Light a Candle in the Wind
💚 Nociception
💙 Roots
💚 Prehistoric Questions
💙 Ode to Those First Fifteen Minutes After the Kids Are Finally Asleep
💚 Look at That Pond

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gun violence, Grief, and Death

Moderate: Pregnancy, Dementia, and Slavery

fkshg8465's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

How the Word is Passed was one of the most provocative books I've ever read. Had to read this one as a result, and it satisfied what I needed in that moment. At times soft and at times hard hitting. A peek into how he sees the world and his child. Loved it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

 Parenthood is a key focus of Above Ground and I was instantly transported back to my days as a new parent and the parent of a young children. Smith beautifully captures the love between parent and child, the wonder at experiencing the world again through their eyes, of learning more than you ever thought possible about whatever their latest passion happens to be, and of course the exhaustion that so often accompanies those early years. He’s a master of humour with gems like Ode to Electric Baby Swing and Zoom School with a Toddler. And he’s also a master at delivering a punch to the gut with poems highlighting racism in America and the fears justifiably held by Black parents especially for their sons. The juxtaposition of how society views Black toddlers (cute) with how society views Black male youth (a dangerous threat) was startling and effective. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gun violence, Racism, and Slavery

jessereadsthings's review

emotional medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Police brutality, Medical trauma, Gun violence, and Racism

Moderate: Slavery and Child death

nycsquirrel's review

challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

While reading Smith's How the Word is Passed, I loved how he infused thoughtful, poetic moments throughout tough topics. Here, Smith's words continue to be human and identifiable, creatively addressing everyday moments while pondering life-changing turns in both broader society and his intimate history. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism

jaiari12's review

emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Death, Racism, Slavery, Violence, War, Pregnancy, and Mass/school shootings

rosierosereads's review

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: War, Grief, Slavery, and Gun violence

Minor: Death, Dementia, Infertility, Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Racism

skitch41's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racial slurs and Racism

skudiklier's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I just read this in one sitting; it was beautiful, and powerful, and I would definitely recommend it. 

The poems in this collection are about so many things, but more than anything they're about parenthood--and all the fears and joys that come along with it. 

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this ARC. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Racism, Gun violence, War, Death, Grief, Medical content, and Sexism

Moderate: Slavery, Child death, Hate crime, Police brutality, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Murder

Minor: Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Cancer, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

CW for climate change, natural disaster/flood/hurricane