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sometimesdecaf's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Essential reading for anyone who wants to learn more about indigenous experiences, cultures, and ways of thinking.
dominic_t's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
This is a beautiful collection of poems from Indigenous people of many nations. It introduced me to tons of new poets and writers, and I look forward to checking out their other work. The essays before each section were very informative and really set the stage for the upcoming poems. The organization of the anthology was by region, and that worked really well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Genocide, Grief, and Murder
rainbowbookworm's review
This Norton Anthology took me back to my undergrad years studying American Lit! After reading a digital ARC, I ordered the paperback for my classroom collection and was pleased to note that the pages were not made from onion paper... That would have really been a throwback to my university years.
Poet Laureate Joy Harjo edited this collection which seems comprehensive, but falls short when you think how much heftier the tome would be if it contained the poems created by the colonizers. However, since most people are unaware of the existence of these poets and their traditions, the fact that a book like this is finally in print is a triumph. It must also be said that the Native Nations have a rich oral tradition and this may contribute to the fact that not many poems were written down.
The collection itself is divided into geographical regions and organized chronologically among each region. As one delves into the poetry certain themes connect poems from each region and, when comparing regions, through historic periods.
I am ashamed that I only knew a handful of the poets included in this collection and am glad that Harjo and her fellow editors took on this endeavor and that Norton decided to publish it. There is a Renaissance when it comes to the culture of the Native Nations and we owe it to ourselves to learn what our schools failed to teach you avoid their rich and varied history, traditions, and art forms.
Poet Laureate Joy Harjo edited this collection which seems comprehensive, but falls short when you think how much heftier the tome would be if it contained the poems created by the colonizers. However, since most people are unaware of the existence of these poets and their traditions, the fact that a book like this is finally in print is a triumph. It must also be said that the Native Nations have a rich oral tradition and this may contribute to the fact that not many poems were written down.
The collection itself is divided into geographical regions and organized chronologically among each region. As one delves into the poetry certain themes connect poems from each region and, when comparing regions, through historic periods.
I am ashamed that I only knew a handful of the poets included in this collection and am glad that Harjo and her fellow editors took on this endeavor and that Norton decided to publish it. There is a Renaissance when it comes to the culture of the Native Nations and we owe it to ourselves to learn what our schools failed to teach you avoid their rich and varied history, traditions, and art forms.
toad_maiden's review
4.0
This is a wonderful collection full of wide-ranging voices and traditions. I discovered quite a few new poets here whose work I can't wait to dig into.
maxlampson's review
5.0
Didn't get to read through all of it but explored the various regional works this title offered.
lem119's review
5.0
An incredible anthology celebrating the breadth and depth of poetry from indigenous North Americans, edited by Joy Harjo. Divided by region, there is every sort of poem, feeling, and theme here. As with any collection this all-encompassing, there were poems I loved and poems I didn't enjoy as much, but the anthology as a whole is a masterpiece of native art and culture across centuries and space.