Reviews

Finna: Poems by Nate Marshall

cvengeance's review

Go to review page

4.0

"my finna is so necessary."

mandyisbookish's review

Go to review page

fast-paced

5.0

matthewwester's review

Go to review page

5.0

If you love language, you need to read this book. If you're black, you need to read this book. If you're not black, you need to read this book.

This and Wild Hundreds are two of the best chapbooks I've ever read. And for some reason the inventiveness of language made me think of Heather McHugh, worth checking out if you enjoy really intelligent and playful use of language.

Five stars plus, I am glad I preordered this book months ago and I'll gladly sign up now to get whatever Nate Marshall writes next.

Also, with all that our nation (U.S.) is going through these days with racial tension, books like this are desperately needed to keep the conversation moving forward.

youthfromavillage's review

Go to review page

5.0

i didn’t expect Finna to move me this much. 5/5 will be rereading. some lines just need to be read twice or thrice to understand its meaning and also to fully appreciate it. so good. i’m so touched. what an art.

librar_bee's review

Go to review page

challenging 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

5.0

bibliobrittish's review

Go to review page

5.0

4.5 - rhythmic and unputdownable

sophiejuhlin's review

Go to review page

5.0

Utterly fucking revelatory. And effortlessly so. Congrats on a well-deserved Heartland nomination!

linzer712's review

Go to review page

4.0

Finna is a powerful exploration of identity, transience and permanence, of how language shapes us and we shape it. Many poems are about how a place in space and time and the people in that place make us. And, yes, of course it’s a collection about race, too.
I loved how Nate Marshall plays with the rhythm and layers of everyday language and slang as he asserts their power and beauty. Many of the lines and even poems may seem simple at first glance, but there is a lot happening, and their construction is complex and playful and often beautiful. I learned a lot from this collection, and I have a hell of a lot more learning to do.

zahiyyih's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective

5.0

tracithomas's review

Go to review page

5.0

So many really good really Blsck poems. A lot of fun and joy mixed brilliantly with the pain and heaviness.