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lbarsk's review
4.0
Might up this to five stars once I've read more of it, but even on first read it is SO GOOD. I love how there are little touches and characters that evolve throughout the collection, and to read Siken that isn't from Crush is honestly just so exciting and new that there was no way I wasn't going to enjoy it. I think Crush is a better work because of its individual pieces, but War of the Foxes is really beautiful as a whole.
novaturient_bibliophile's review
4.0
I’ve read this twice, and this review is from my second time reading it (my first re-read).
The only reason that I’m not giving it five stars is because it was oftentimes very hard to understand. But that’s not the book’s fault, I’m just not smart enough for it (and I don’t read poetry enough). I must say, though, I love the way that Richard Siken says things. The lines are just so impactful and almost ethereal. Like, when I am reading his poetry, I am on a completely different plane of existence. The mix of metaphors and bluntness is brilliant, also. Not to mention, so many of the poems had me going, “This could be a Hozier song” (which is one of the highest compliments that I could give).
This book made me feel torn open and displayed, like I’m the frog on the dissection table. The portrayal of human flaws and the commentary on art and purpose was rather relatable as well.
The first time I read this (a year or so ago), I marked lines with sticky note tabs as I was reading. The difference between the lines that I marked the first time and the ones that stood out to me this time is fascinating, to say the least.
The only reason that I’m not giving it five stars is because it was oftentimes very hard to understand. But that’s not the book’s fault, I’m just not smart enough for it (and I don’t read poetry enough). I must say, though, I love the way that Richard Siken says things. The lines are just so impactful and almost ethereal. Like, when I am reading his poetry, I am on a completely different plane of existence. The mix of metaphors and bluntness is brilliant, also. Not to mention, so many of the poems had me going, “This could be a Hozier song” (which is one of the highest compliments that I could give).
This book made me feel torn open and displayed, like I’m the frog on the dissection table. The portrayal of human flaws and the commentary on art and purpose was rather relatable as well.
The first time I read this (a year or so ago), I marked lines with sticky note tabs as I was reading. The difference between the lines that I marked the first time and the ones that stood out to me this time is fascinating, to say the least.
hazel_oat's review
2.0
i didn’t understand this collection and i didn’t particularly like it.
i’ll be frank - i’m probably not smart enough to know what it meant. the poems didn’t seem to be saying anything at all. (but maybe that was the point?)
it’s tough being a writer, throwing your emotions onto a page just for them to be misunderstood and discarded. i’m glad i purchased this, if only to put a little change into Siken’s pocket.
i’ll be frank - i’m probably not smart enough to know what it meant. the poems didn’t seem to be saying anything at all. (but maybe that was the point?)
it’s tough being a writer, throwing your emotions onto a page just for them to be misunderstood and discarded. i’m glad i purchased this, if only to put a little change into Siken’s pocket.
druidinary's review
4.0
The whole "Tumblr poet" thing icked me, almost turned me away from reading this book, but it was remarkably good.
sriq's review
"You can't paint the inside of anything so why/
would you try? Painting the inside of anything is/
dangerous. I imagined my wrists broken just enough/
to keep the feeling from crawling up my arm."
"I made a shape of the shape he made, subtracted/
what he shared with anyone else. There wasn't/
much left but it felt like him, wild and scared."
"The image remains as a body would. I turned/
the image over like a rock, but then the worms."
"I surrender my/
desire to be healed. The blurriness of being alive./
Take it or leave it, and for the most part you take it."
would you try? Painting the inside of anything is/
dangerous. I imagined my wrists broken just enough/
to keep the feeling from crawling up my arm."
"I made a shape of the shape he made, subtracted/
what he shared with anyone else. There wasn't/
much left but it felt like him, wild and scared."
"The image remains as a body would. I turned/
the image over like a rock, but then the worms."
"I surrender my/
desire to be healed. The blurriness of being alive./
Take it or leave it, and for the most part you take it."
booksrockcal's review
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
I read this for the Book Riot Read Harder Challenge - a book by a BIPOC or LGBTQ writer published by a small press. I enjoyed the poems about painting and representation, the others were a puzzle. But always good to read poets unknown to me