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abigailwantstoread_01's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for the Earc in exchange for an honest review
This was a clever and beautifully written collection of poetry. I enjoyed the way it was written and lobed how the author made you feel throughout the collection
This was a clever and beautifully written collection of poetry. I enjoyed the way it was written and lobed how the author made you feel throughout the collection
alibookedup's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Sierra Freeman's Urbanshee is full of raw and honest poems revolving mostly around being Black in America. You can tell you she really opened up and made herself vulnerable, especially when writing about the murder of her father, as he is a main centerpiece in a lot of the poems. Even though I cannot personally relate to any of the struggles she writes about, it in no way lessens the artistry of the poems in this collection. If anything, I wasn't smart enough to fully understand some of the pieces she published and that is on me, not the the poet.
I really enjoyed how a lot of it read like slam poetry and how a lot of the poems were set up in interesting visual shapes and sizes. Some of my favorite poems were "Hexes for my Exes", "Grinding", "Urban Girl Finally Responds to the Yo Mama Jokes", and "Urban Girl".
The one thing I will say is that I feel like many of the poems did not have a lot of mythological or fairytale connections. Or at least that I noticed, but again, I don't think I am as smart as the poet and a lot of the connections could've and probably went right over my head. I think I expected it in a more straightforward way so if you don't know a lot of the modern references, you might not get a lot of the poems and their fairytale/mythological parallels.
Otherwise, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys poetry and especially who enjoys anything written to bring light to Black lives and struggles.
Thank you to NetGalley and Button poetry for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed how a lot of it read like slam poetry and how a lot of the poems were set up in interesting visual shapes and sizes. Some of my favorite poems were "Hexes for my Exes", "Grinding", "Urban Girl Finally Responds to the Yo Mama Jokes", and "Urban Girl".
The one thing I will say is that I feel like many of the poems did not have a lot of mythological or fairytale connections. Or at least that I noticed, but again, I don't think I am as smart as the poet and a lot of the connections could've and probably went right over my head. I think I expected it in a more straightforward way so if you don't know a lot of the modern references, you might not get a lot of the poems and their fairytale/mythological parallels.
Otherwise, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys poetry and especially who enjoys anything written to bring light to Black lives and struggles.
Thank you to NetGalley and Button poetry for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Gun violence
Moderate: Cursing
demjin's review against another edition
4.0
I've been trying to make an effort to read more diverse contemporary poetry and this is really good. Raw, honest and well written.
Thank you Netgalley and Button Poetry for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and Button Poetry for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
thelovelylibrarylady's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-paced
4.0
Fans of slam poetry will enjoy Freeman's writing in this collection. I say that because I found myself reading most of the poems out loud rather than just in my head. Freeman's poems are explosive and audacious - two adjectives that describe the poetry I enjoy most. My personal favorites from this collection were "Self-Made", "Paranoia", "Urban Girl Exists" and "Another Poem about My Dead Father".
(PUB DATE: 12/06/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
(PUB DATE: 12/06/2022)
(I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
inkdrinkers's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
"By the time I realize what we are? It is already too late. We are an urban novel you will skim over at Walmart, a four-minute smirk on Fox 8's face, what would occur if Spike Lee and Quentin Tarantino produced a film under Eazy-E's direction." (X Things They Never Tell You About The Drug Dealer's Daughter)
Urbanshee is a raw and honest exploration of Freeman's life as a black woman, daughter, and poet as she navigates the grief of losing her father and her experiences growing up.
This collection covered so many topics! There were so many poems I really enjoyed, but my favorites were: Haint Blue, In Attempts to Bring You Back, Haint Black, Meet You At The Crossroads (Erasure), Paranoia, Urbanshee Predicts the Birth of Toni Morrison & Writes Her a Letter, I Wish I Could Have Kissed Devon Wilson on the Mouth, and The Such Thing as the Stupid Question. Overall, chapter four, a Name She Buried, was my favorite, as it contained a lot of poems and lines that I enjoyed and related to.
I find it difficult to talk about the things I dislike in poetry - because it could very well be the thing that someone else enjoyed most. I enjoyed a lot of Freeman's longer pieces that blurred the line between poetry and prose, but some of them did feel like they drug on or repeated themselves too frequently for my taste. I also wish that the over arching theme had been more present. The mythology aspect is definitely in these poems, but I wouldn't call the entire collection a focus on mythology like the title suggests as many of the poems don't contain references or allusions and are more focused on other literary and media references.
Overall, I did enjoy a lot of these poems, but there were only a handful I feel like I'd read again. Freeman has so much talent and I enjoyed this collection enough that I'm excited to pick up more work in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Button Poetry for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
Urbanshee is a raw and honest exploration of Freeman's life as a black woman, daughter, and poet as she navigates the grief of losing her father and her experiences growing up.
This collection covered so many topics! There were so many poems I really enjoyed, but my favorites were: Haint Blue, In Attempts to Bring You Back, Haint Black, Meet You At The Crossroads (Erasure), Paranoia, Urbanshee Predicts the Birth of Toni Morrison & Writes Her a Letter, I Wish I Could Have Kissed Devon Wilson on the Mouth, and The Such Thing as the Stupid Question. Overall, chapter four, a Name She Buried, was my favorite, as it contained a lot of poems and lines that I enjoyed and related to.
I find it difficult to talk about the things I dislike in poetry - because it could very well be the thing that someone else enjoyed most. I enjoyed a lot of Freeman's longer pieces that blurred the line between poetry and prose, but some of them did feel like they drug on or repeated themselves too frequently for my taste. I also wish that the over arching theme had been more present. The mythology aspect is definitely in these poems, but I wouldn't call the entire collection a focus on mythology like the title suggests as many of the poems don't contain references or allusions and are more focused on other literary and media references.
Overall, I did enjoy a lot of these poems, but there were only a handful I feel like I'd read again. Freeman has so much talent and I enjoyed this collection enough that I'm excited to pick up more work in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Button Poetry for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Alcohol, and Death of parent
litwtchreads's review against another edition
slow-paced
4.5
This was a poignant and beautiful collection of poems. The author's framing of mythology and fairytales was eloquently done in that the poems were not necessarily true retellings of fairytales, but rather pulled from some of those same themes. The structure of the poems is experimental and varies, but I think that just adds more to the book. This was a really interesting and wonderful collection and I am glad I got the chance to read this. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC!
emshark's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.
Rating: 3.5/5
I really enjoyed reading this poetry collection. The writing was really beautiful and each one of the poems was laced with so much emotion, I felt really drawn in the entire time. However, I don’t quite understand why this book was being described as an retelling of fairy tales, (maybe I somehow missed that part?) I would have described it as something of an autobiographical work with elements of fantasy woven into it.
Overall, it was a really beautiful and raw read I’d recommend to anyone interested in poetry and/or slam poetry.
bittennailbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I have received an ARC of Urbanshee from Netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review.
Urbanshee is a brave and intimate look into Siaara Freeman's life and childhood. She is successful in giving readers a look into many of the raw wounds she displays throughout her poetry and playful interpretations of childhood competitiveness and schoolyard games. She does not fail to give readers an unedited view of the struggles of growing up impoverished, the overwhelming loss she has faced, and the streets which inspired her poetic career.
I was initially drawn in by the cover and descriptions of "retelling of fairy tales and mythological stories", I think the retellings portion was a bit lost on me. My criticisms only lie within the heavy use of "&" throughout but that might be the artists stylistic choice. Admittedly, poetry is not my main genre but I am grateful for the push out of my comfort zone.
If you are a slam poetry/poetry fan, I would recommend giving this book a shot.
Urbanshee is a brave and intimate look into Siaara Freeman's life and childhood. She is successful in giving readers a look into many of the raw wounds she displays throughout her poetry and playful interpretations of childhood competitiveness and schoolyard games. She does not fail to give readers an unedited view of the struggles of growing up impoverished, the overwhelming loss she has faced, and the streets which inspired her poetic career.
I was initially drawn in by the cover and descriptions of "retelling of fairy tales and mythological stories", I think the retellings portion was a bit lost on me. My criticisms only lie within the heavy use of "&" throughout but that might be the artists stylistic choice. Admittedly, poetry is not my main genre but I am grateful for the push out of my comfort zone.
If you are a slam poetry/poetry fan, I would recommend giving this book a shot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Drug abuse and Drug use
Poetry Collection
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