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soula_k's review
4.0
"Language cannot express all memory, those that are not wholly present, that exist at the edges, so that you only recall in small moments of brilliance, when someone shows you a picture, a place where you were present and your body took up space, acted and moved and was acted upon and you realize you would never remember your body there if it wasn't for this other to unlock this small part living in you but separate from you. How can this be?"
3.5 ✨
I've rarely read poetry collections that center on the same character, but Susan Nguyen does just that in Dear Diaspora by taking us on a journey through the eyes of Suzi. The poems vary in format and length, but mainly focus on themes of generational trauma and the refugee experience. Each poem reads as a reminiscence and feels like an autobiographical recount written in Nguyen's timely and moving style.
Side note: love the colors on this cover!
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Nebraska Press for providing me with this ARC!
3.5 ✨
I've rarely read poetry collections that center on the same character, but Susan Nguyen does just that in Dear Diaspora by taking us on a journey through the eyes of Suzi. The poems vary in format and length, but mainly focus on themes of generational trauma and the refugee experience. Each poem reads as a reminiscence and feels like an autobiographical recount written in Nguyen's timely and moving style.
Side note: love the colors on this cover!
Thanks to NetGalley and the University of Nebraska Press for providing me with this ARC!
pastelwriter's review
emotional
reflective
3.75
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I picked up this poetry collection on a whim--mainly because it had been several months since I had last read any poetry. So, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get into this collection. By nature, I do not typically finish poetry collections quickly. Despite the fact that most collections are short, I find that often I need space between the poems before I can continue reading which means any given poetry collection can take me up to two weeks to finish. With this collection, however, I found it nearly impossible to put it down! I was drawn by the imagery Nguyen created. I can't deny that it helped that before starting this collection I had read a graphic novel by another Vietnamese American author who contextualized some of what this collection was referencing and attempting without even having set out to do so! It was great.
I find myself rating this 3.75 (a rare occurrence for me) because some of the poems felt at times too outside of my grasp. I overall enjoyed the collection, but there was just a little something that wasn't connecting enough to make this a 4 star read. I'm not quite sure what it was.
Regardless, what made me enjoy the collection was Nguyen's exploration of language, memory, and grief. The three seemed inexorably tied throughout the collection. Several poems are about communication and human interaction. How do we explain ourselves to others? Do we understand others? How effective is language to communicate the self? Not only does the collection question the use of language but also the function of memory. How do we remember things? What does it mean to remember things when triggered (not necessarily negatively) by an outside object or person? Do the memories of our family count as our own? Finally, how do we deal with loss--both the loss of someone who isn't dead and the loss of memory?
Truly, the collection inspired a lot of thought in me. This is precisely what I liked about it.
In addition, a majority of the poems were infused with such a strong sense of storytelling that I was drawn into the collection time and time again. The poems about Suzi were particularly compelling. I found myself craving time and time again to continue looking into her psyche and her choices on how to interact with the world.
All in all, I would recommend picking up this collection.
I picked up this poetry collection on a whim--mainly because it had been several months since I had last read any poetry. So, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to get into this collection. By nature, I do not typically finish poetry collections quickly. Despite the fact that most collections are short, I find that often I need space between the poems before I can continue reading which means any given poetry collection can take me up to two weeks to finish. With this collection, however, I found it nearly impossible to put it down! I was drawn by the imagery Nguyen created. I can't deny that it helped that before starting this collection I had read a graphic novel by another Vietnamese American author who contextualized some of what this collection was referencing and attempting without even having set out to do so! It was great.
I find myself rating this 3.75 (a rare occurrence for me) because some of the poems felt at times too outside of my grasp. I overall enjoyed the collection, but there was just a little something that wasn't connecting enough to make this a 4 star read. I'm not quite sure what it was.
Regardless, what made me enjoy the collection was Nguyen's exploration of language, memory, and grief. The three seemed inexorably tied throughout the collection. Several poems are about communication and human interaction. How do we explain ourselves to others? Do we understand others? How effective is language to communicate the self? Not only does the collection question the use of language but also the function of memory. How do we remember things? What does it mean to remember things when triggered (not necessarily negatively) by an outside object or person? Do the memories of our family count as our own? Finally, how do we deal with loss--both the loss of someone who isn't dead and the loss of memory?
Truly, the collection inspired a lot of thought in me. This is precisely what I liked about it.
In addition, a majority of the poems were infused with such a strong sense of storytelling that I was drawn into the collection time and time again. The poems about Suzi were particularly compelling. I found myself craving time and time again to continue looking into her psyche and her choices on how to interact with the world.
All in all, I would recommend picking up this collection.
sofiarodriguez's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This is a beautiful collection of poetry that has amazing overarching themes. The imagery and language used are very reminiscent of lê thi diem thúy's "The Gangster We Are All Looking For." As an immigrant myself, I related to a lot of the overarching themes and feelings of both loss and being an outsider. This book uses a lot of dense imagery and leaves a lot to the imagination while still creating a cohesive narrative. I quite enjoyed how the different poetic structures were interchanged a lot because it kept me engaged as a reader. Although I believe overall a lot of the poems' theme's truly resonated with me, I was not attached or left with the memory of one specific image. (In short, many of the images weren't memorable. I believe this would be a lot more effective if there were fewer overall motifs and symbols. My only other critique is that in poems (such as in Inventory, You Google Vietnam, and Suzi as a Series of Questions) the beginnings of the poems didn't naturally transition to the overall point of the poem. The first few lines often felt out of place. Otherwise, I enjoyed the rich complexities and the web of ideas Dear Diaspora created.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Sexual assault
ghostie_reads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Dear Diaspora is a powerful collection of Vietnamese author, Susan Nguyen's, experiences with growing up, femininity, and the diaspora. Throughout the collection, audiences witness Suzi ripping out her leg hairs with duct tape, trying to understand her father's disappearance, and attempting to love herself the way she looks.
Earlier this year, I spent quite a bit of time discussing and engaging with texts from authors Honorée Fannone Jeffers (through her collection, The Age of Phillis) and Tiana Clark (specifically, her collection I Can't Talk About the Trees Without the Blood). Nguyen reckons with selfhood in the same way that Jeffers and Clark do, but as any successful poet does, she puts her own spin on it and creates a new perspective that many readers may not have encountered before.
I really loved this collection. I thought the different formats of the poems created the feeling of confusion that is often associated with grief and trauma. Nguyen approaches topics like generational trauma in an understandable, yet widely relatable way. This collection opens the door for some very important conversations about immigration (specifically when it comes to the refugee experience), mental health, and selfhood versus identity formation.
Overall rating: 5/5
Dear Diaspora will be available for purchase on September 1st. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available for purchase. Also, be sure to check out Susan Nguyen's website!
I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Earlier this year, I spent quite a bit of time discussing and engaging with texts from authors Honorée Fannone Jeffers (through her collection, The Age of Phillis) and Tiana Clark (specifically, her collection I Can't Talk About the Trees Without the Blood). Nguyen reckons with selfhood in the same way that Jeffers and Clark do, but as any successful poet does, she puts her own spin on it and creates a new perspective that many readers may not have encountered before.
I really loved this collection. I thought the different formats of the poems created the feeling of confusion that is often associated with grief and trauma. Nguyen approaches topics like generational trauma in an understandable, yet widely relatable way. This collection opens the door for some very important conversations about immigration (specifically when it comes to the refugee experience), mental health, and selfhood versus identity formation.
Overall rating: 5/5
Dear Diaspora will be available for purchase on September 1st. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available for purchase. Also, be sure to check out Susan Nguyen's website!
I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
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