Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - Content Warning: Everything

I really enjoyed this collection of poems! It was such an emotionally raw read- and the spiritual references were the icing on the cake for me. I feel like what we have here is just the tip of the iceberg of a memoir (I should read Dear Senthuran next!!). I do have other works from Akwaeke on my tbr, so I'm very curious to see how these poems will read after getting into their other works (especially Dear Senthuran). My favorite poems in this collection were "Disclosure" and "What If Jesus Was My Big Brother". Highly recommend if you're into poetry!

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

Content Warning:Everything is a collection of poetry, much of which explores details of their life covered in their memoir and also their first novel. Seeing similar events and themes explored in different genres is intriguing. Emezi is an author whose books seem to always be in conversation with each other - each work part of a greater whole. Some poems impacted me more than others but the ones that hit, hit hard. One of the things that struck me about this collection was speculative type poems involving Biblical figures poems like What if Jesus was my Big Brother and What if Magdalene Seduced Me. While I won’t pretend I understood every poem I was captured by their raw power and emotion. Trauma and violence are definitely present - the title does not lie - but so too is resilience. I know many of us on Bookstagram gravitate to fiction far more than poetry. If you want to give contemporary poetry a try and have read some of Emezi’s previous work, particularly Freshwater and/or Dear Senthuran then I recommend giving this a go. Familiarity with those works will really help ease your way with a less familiar genre.

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aglclark's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional fast-paced

4.75

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thatenbyisisreads's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

This book, especially the poem, "I was born in a great length of river", helped remind me that despite all of my trauma, I will never know what it's like to drown. Akwaeke Emezi is truly such an inspiring and powerful author, I highly recommend everyone to read their work!

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tinytrashqueen's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

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graceburke's review against another edition

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emotional fast-paced

4.0

I'm definitely not a poetry person, but I love Emezi, so thought I'd give this a try. Incredibly vulnerable and emotional. My love for Emezi remains strong after this beautiful, concise book of poetry.
My favorites: Disclosure, Sanctuary, I was Born in a Great Length of River, Mourning, and Self-Portrait as an Abuser

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