Reviews

Recombinant by Ching-In Chen

laurelinwonder's review against another edition

5.0

“To me, poetry is a way to tell stories and represent the texture of our lives.” – Poet Ching-In Chen

Ching-In Chen's recombinant is a work of material critique, philosophically jarring in its use of syntax, sound, the erasures held in the stillness of its whitespace that again and again to mimic a historical registry. This text urges the reader to investigate female and genderqueer lineages in the context of labor smuggling and trafficking. It challenged conventional representation via photographs; newspaper articles; maps; city directories; records of immigration, birth and death; as well as scholarly research and archaeological records.

elizabethlk's review against another edition

4.0

Recombinant is experimental in the way it's written, which means it may not be for everyone, but anyone who enjoys a versatile and unique use of form will appreciate this. The past and present are inextricably and painfully tied together in a way that works well and reads beautifully.

This was worth the wait I had to get a copy through the library. I hope to read more from Ching-In Chen.

elizabethlk's review

4.0

Recombinant is experimental in the way it's written, which means it may not be for everyone, but anyone who enjoys a versatile and unique use of form will appreciate this. The past and present are inextricably and painfully tied together in a way that works well and reads beautifully.

This was worth the wait I had to get a copy through the library. I hope to read more from Ching-In Chen.

havelock's review against another edition

challenging

3.0