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actualresultsmayvary's review against another edition
2.5
Historic
Rating and review from notebook
- A couple of them did make me cry
- A lot of boring poems which did nothing for me
- Interesting to see the things which different people find moving
- Some of the intros were a bit long and analytical
- Actual book is stunning
Rating and review from notebook
- A lot of boring poems which did nothing for me
- Interesting to see the things which different people find moving
- Some of the intros were a bit long and analytical
- Actual book is stunning
aurorabear's review against another edition
4.0
This book has been an enjoyable part of my year. I forced myself to take my time, reading one poem a day at most and sitting with it.
Did I like every poem? No, and that isn’t the point. I experienced poetry and poets that I wouldn’t have found on my own, and the short essays from accomplished women recommending each poem provided another layer of meaning, another frame through which to experience them.
I reencountered some favorite poets (William Shakespeare, John Keats, Emily Dickinson, Pablo Neruda, Elizabeth Bishop) but better yet I was moved by new-to-me poets (Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, Susanna Tomalin, Douglas Dunn, Imtiaz Dharker, Katha Pollitt, Warsan Shire). I look forward to reading their poetry in more depth and am grateful for the experience I had with their words this year.
Did I like every poem? No, and that isn’t the point. I experienced poetry and poets that I wouldn’t have found on my own, and the short essays from accomplished women recommending each poem provided another layer of meaning, another frame through which to experience them.
I reencountered some favorite poets (William Shakespeare, John Keats, Emily Dickinson, Pablo Neruda, Elizabeth Bishop) but better yet I was moved by new-to-me poets (Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali, Susanna Tomalin, Douglas Dunn, Imtiaz Dharker, Katha Pollitt, Warsan Shire). I look forward to reading their poetry in more depth and am grateful for the experience I had with their words this year.
readbycoco_yt's review against another edition
I probably didn't like this because I actually don't enjoy really complex poetry. Im sure these poems are great, but the older poems made no sense to me and instead of feeling like I was enjoying them I felt like I was just trying to understand them and TRYING to enjoy them. Just not for me.
a_pilgrim's review against another edition
4.0
A favourite, by Lewis Carroll, beautiful!:
A boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July -
Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear -
Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die,
Autumn frosts have slain July.
Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.
Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.
In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream -
Lingering in the golden gleam -
Life, what is it but a dream?
~ Life is but a Dream , Lewis Carroll, 1865.
This book is a collection of immortal words and memorable moments - a delightful read that keep you grounded
A boat beneath a sunny sky,
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July -
Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear -
Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die,
Autumn frosts have slain July.
Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.
Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.
In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:
Ever drifting down the stream -
Lingering in the golden gleam -
Life, what is it but a dream?
~ Life is but a Dream , Lewis Carroll, 1865.
This book is a collection of immortal words and memorable moments - a delightful read that keep you grounded
teaandbooklover's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
I enjoyed this book more than the one for men, but didn't love it. Some of the poems I would have chosen, but most I would have not.
I enjoyed this book more than the one for men, but didn't love it. Some of the poems I would have chosen, but most I would have not.
philatcs's review
4.0
"you can't make homes of human beings
someone should have already told you that"
"you are terrifying
strange and beautiful
something not everyone knows how to love"
- warsan shire, 'for women who are difficult to love' (2009)
this anthology was brilliant. i binge read it maybe too quickly to breathe it all in, but there's plenty of opportunity to read through it again.
i read this to have an insight into feminist poetry for my dissertation, and i think this was the perfect read not only for that, but also just to decide what sort of poetry directly resonates with you.
i'd never heard of warsan shire or her poetry, but taiye selasi's entry was the one which resonated with me most. she writes "i wept for my strangeness. i wept for my beauty. i wept for the beauty of truth plainly told. poetry alone can do this: touch, with the fewest of phrases, our raw beating hearts".
i think that's so fucking beautiful and real. there were so many other entries in the book that were beautifully written, and then the poems that directly effected them. i think that's why in the last few years i've become so deeply connected to poetry. it feels a lot more emotional and personal than prose. i need to get into reading more poetry anthologies
these poems didn't make me cry, but they made my chest ache.
someone should have already told you that"
"you are terrifying
strange and beautiful
something not everyone knows how to love"
- warsan shire, 'for women who are difficult to love' (2009)
this anthology was brilliant. i binge read it maybe too quickly to breathe it all in, but there's plenty of opportunity to read through it again.
i read this to have an insight into feminist poetry for my dissertation, and i think this was the perfect read not only for that, but also just to decide what sort of poetry directly resonates with you.
i'd never heard of warsan shire or her poetry, but taiye selasi's entry was the one which resonated with me most. she writes "i wept for my strangeness. i wept for my beauty. i wept for the beauty of truth plainly told. poetry alone can do this: touch, with the fewest of phrases, our raw beating hearts".
i think that's so fucking beautiful and real. there were so many other entries in the book that were beautifully written, and then the poems that directly effected them. i think that's why in the last few years i've become so deeply connected to poetry. it feels a lot more emotional and personal than prose. i need to get into reading more poetry anthologies
these poems didn't make me cry, but they made my chest ache.
ida_ree's review
4.0
The poems in this book were chosen by women from various fields. Each selector writes a brief introduction to her poem, explaining why it touches her personally, a touch I really liked. Some of the poems were familiar to me and some were new. All well worth the time.