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hmetwade's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
sentientstars's review against another edition
5.0
Blanco has presented us with an utterly breathtaking read. How to Love a Country is less of a how-to and more of a question: can we look at corruption and horror in the eyes and still choose kindness? Can we still have hope?
In the most authentic way possible, the presidential inaugural poet argues yes. And once I turned that last page, I was 100% persuaded.
In the most authentic way possible, the presidential inaugural poet argues yes. And once I turned that last page, I was 100% persuaded.
sunflowerjess's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
These poems are gorgeous, heartbreaking, thought-provoking. I can't wait to share this book with everyone.
kurtie's review against another edition
4.0
Mix of personal and contemporary, civic minded poems. Descriptions of life and politics: the Wall, Rio Grande, shootings. Our society’s corruption of life and nature. The opening poem, Declaration of Inter-Dependence portrays a bleak landscape but left me with a positive view of the future. Throughout the collection, Blanco presents some dark moments from the past several years but gives an underlying message of hope, stressing our connections to one another.
audreysova's review against another edition
5.0
Wowowow I was BLOWN. AWAY. by this collection. Should be prescribed reading for American citizens, though also global citizens too, encouraging us to grapple with the complicated relationships we have with the nations we call home. One I’ll likely revisit again and again.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
4.0
This was an emotional roller coaster - well, mostly the trough before the crest. Blanco speaks for so many voices in this slim volume, and he does it beautifully. There was some prose poetry in here, which I'm not the biggest fan of, but there were others with lyrical refrains that flowed really well. read my full review here.
emilymaye's review against another edition
Blanco was the first openly gay, Latino, immigrant, as well as the youngest person to be the US inaugural poet when he read for Obama's second term. He brings this energy with him in this collection, his beautiful language depicting such heartbreak toward America's tendency for gun violence, racism, and LGBTQ oppression. Throughout, you can see him struggling with the idea of nationhood, digging his way closer to the answer of how to truly love a country.
abc27's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
I don't think there are enough words to explain how much I adored this poetry book. Blanco writes poetry that you'll want to share with people. When you read his writing you'll want to stop and think. This poetry book is the first step to talking about the things that we don't.