Reviews

The Virago Book of Wicked Verse by Jill Dawson

lydia_hennessy's review

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

eheslosz's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

 Usually the best way to read a poetry anthology is probably dipping in and out, or at least reading the poems one at a time and not at the pace of a novel. However this I consumed in not many sittings and that was a great experience. 

 

Lots of very modern and fast-paced poetry in here. A few older iconic feminist poems like some erotic Aphra Behn. I only loved about 30% of these so much that I would go back and read them over and over again. Some mediocre and cringey stuff. However overall somehow this book of wicked verse just works quite nicely, and has an impressive flow as an anthology. I was impressed by the positioning of very different poems next to each other with a thread running through that makes you think about both differently. 

 

This is worth reading but hard to find a copy of.