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robinsamanda's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Death, Trafficking, and Homophobia
jenniferlynnkrohn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
im_lovin_itt's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
A wonderfully meditative collection of persona poems, so many of them speculative yet crafted with care and authenticity that makes them feel so real.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Blood
angielucy's review against another edition
5.0
A gorgeous collection, I devoured this. Corral paints beautiful animal imagery whilst capturing the lacklustre nature of our reality. Walmart and smartphones make an appearance among serious topics of border control and American prejudiced beliefs. Amongst all of this - discussions of self-worth, religion, queerness. My favourite poem was Postmortem, but there are so many that stick to your heart. Beautiful prose like "He was gentle with my lust" is thrown about casually like Corral didn't just say something so incredible. "Some words die in cages" - Brilliant. These poems are bloodthirsty and gorgeous, highly recommend.
cstefko's review against another edition
4.0
3.75 stars
I found this to be a difficult read, both subject matter-wise and with the language itself (very imagistic and sometimes too abstract for my taste). The second half of the book worked much better than the first--a single long poem--in my opinion.
I really admired these lines from "Around Every Circle Another Can Be Drawn":
I haven't read Corral's debut collection yet, but would be interested in doing so now.
I found this to be a difficult read, both subject matter-wise and with the language itself (very imagistic and sometimes too abstract for my taste). The second half of the book worked much better than the first--a single long poem--in my opinion.
I really admired these lines from "Around Every Circle Another Can Be Drawn":
For years, I desired a man who didn't desire me.
He was gentle with my lust.
(I never thanked him. I'm thanking him now.)
But once, in a splinter-rich booth, he held my hand.
A kindness I can't forgive."
I haven't read Corral's debut collection yet, but would be interested in doing so now.
hamletslover's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.75
shinysquares's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I knew more about the animals, the border, the culture, the metaphors, the language, the history… nevertheless, I still saw the poetic desert landscape clearly.
b00gars's review against another edition
5.0
Señora de las Sombras spit me out. Señora de las Sombras de mi enamorate.