Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
This was like a nautical, poetry take on historic pandemics but mostly COVID.
It wasn’t what I was expecting at all! There were many different kinds of poems, including some erasure poems and ones where Gorman took the words of historical texts and added prose.
I don’t think I was really ready to read reflections of a pandemic, it feels too soon, and sometimes even a bit like a history text.
I listened on audiobook while reading, which I’d recommend for the fullest experience.
It wasn’t what I was expecting at all! There were many different kinds of poems, including some erasure poems and ones where Gorman took the words of historical texts and added prose.
I don’t think I was really ready to read reflections of a pandemic, it feels too soon, and sometimes even a bit like a history text.
I listened on audiobook while reading, which I’d recommend for the fullest experience.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
This library hold was worth the wait! This is a (social) justice collection of poems with themes of tragedy, grief, hope, healing, and change. There is an emphasis on the Covid-19 pandemic. Gorman includes bits about other American tragedies including climate change, gun violence, police brutality, the AIDS epidemic, the slain and stealing of indigenous people/land, black migration north to escape the Jim Crow south. Gorman’s poetic craft is awe-inspiring and quite frankly, just impeccable. Her play on words, alliteration, rhyming, it’s a true art. Looking through the “Notes” section shows writing poetry is more than colorfully creating phrases that rhyme. It requires empirical research and revisiting other works of art (she calls on Homer, Plato, Shakespeare, Maya Angelou). She pulls inspiration for each poem from a historical or current event/idea (even a Rihanna song). A thought-provoking piece written in a well-crafted way.
Really enjoyed the variety of styles of poetry. Had to read it slowly to let things digest.
“There is power in being robbed & still choosing to dance.”
This. This is poetry. Everything about this is unique and makes you feel something.
I have a bone to pick with Amanda Gorman’s editor.
Some of these poems were truly great. I especially loved all of the ones that played with historical documents. Gorman has a talent for drawing the most emotional parts out of what I can only imagine are dense, dry documents. She also manages to parallel COVID in such interesting ways, drawing comparisons to the AIDS epidemic and even the 1917 race riots. I truly believe she will blossom into a great poet as she ages.
However, this book is 200 pages and deeply in need of some editing. Gorman likes alliteration a little too much… In some poems, the references to COVID and other current events felt too on the nose (I am unsure how they will age, particularly references to Zoom). And the adoration of the Biden administration is a bit much. Still, these are forgivable mistakes of a very young poet. I just wish the editors at Viking had been a little more discerning.
Some of these poems were truly great. I especially loved all of the ones that played with historical documents. Gorman has a talent for drawing the most emotional parts out of what I can only imagine are dense, dry documents. She also manages to parallel COVID in such interesting ways, drawing comparisons to the AIDS epidemic and even the 1917 race riots. I truly believe she will blossom into a great poet as she ages.
However, this book is 200 pages and deeply in need of some editing. Gorman likes alliteration a little too much… In some poems, the references to COVID and other current events felt too on the nose (I am unsure how they will age, particularly references to Zoom). And the adoration of the Biden administration is a bit much. Still, these are forgivable mistakes of a very young poet. I just wish the editors at Viking had been a little more discerning.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
there were a few standout poems that i really enjoyed but overall i did not like the flow of this book. i feel like it could have been edited differently or truly been split into 2 or 3 smaller collections. i’m excited to read more of her poetry as she grows as a writer but this really read like a college capstone, kind of meh.