Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes on by Franny Choi

12 reviews

michaelion's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced

4.5

I've been feeling very hopeless / miserable lately and even just the first poem made me be like wow there really is hope for the future / humanity. I paid $28 for this book and it was worth it. 

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hanhantap's review

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

3.75


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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

 A fabulous collection of poetry which I was able to enjoy in my preferred manner - reading in print while listening to the poet read her words to me. And what powerful words they were - looking at the dystopias that have been endured past, present and future but also the way humanity (even those groups that have suffered the most) somehow endure and carry on. Bleak in places but hopeful in others. As with all collections some hit me more than others but the ones that did, including those exploring the experiences of the “comfort women”, hit hard. 

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juney_'s review

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challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

5.0


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words_and_coffee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.75


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mixedreader's review

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced

5.0


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sammies_shelf's review

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0


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readingwithcoffee's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Some things referenced went over my head especially the most personal poems that mentioned Sam. But that gives me reasons to come back and reread the book. 

I loved it and I loved Choi’s love and despair and grief and hope for the world. I think the book is very relatable to every one though some of the terms seem very modern or text/online slang or terms I’m not sure how an older audience may read it (tho there’s plenty of other things I had to look up).  I think it’s very relatable to the current feeling on the world on fire and grief for everyone everywhere, with specific reference to American tragedies such as masa shootings, the Atlanta spa shootings and violence to children in the name of care (such as Grace who’s news story flickered on the back of my mind while reading) that makes this book ache in a particular way as an American. But it’s also a book with global concerns and comments whether it’s from the authors Korean heritage or grief for the ongoing indigenous genocide in the Americas since Columbus or anti blackness or the imperialism America has export. And it’s a book with so much love and grief and also hope and I loved it. 

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jayisreading's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

… and yet, the world keeps moving forward, despite its multiple endings. Choi pointedly reminds us that apocalypses have always been a part of our human history, but it happens to be that only certain populations are thrown into such catastrophe(s), while the rest of the world ignorantly (willful or not) continues on.

… and yet, despite the brokenness of this world, despite these ends, there is still something on the horizon to look forward to, a particular strength in surviving the end and living beyond it. So many of these poems are filled with grief and anger, but there lingers a burning hope for something more in Choi’s language. For those who have lived and/or are living through the apocalypse, their world continues on because there’s still so much to live for.

You are meant to grapple with the content of these poems, as well as sit with the emotions that come with these poems. This is a bit of a departure in tone and style from Choi’s previous works, but I think The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On reveals her incredible talent with form and language, as well as her ability to synthesize an array of ideas and concepts. There’s much to take away from this collection, especially living in the world we’re in today.

Some favorites: “The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On,” “Poem with an End in Sight,” “Science Fiction Poetry,” “Grief Is a Thing with Tense Issues,” “Unlove Poem,” “Dispatches from a Future Great-Great-Granddaughter,” and “Waste”

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colyforniaroll's review

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0


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