Reviews

Four Reincarnations: Poems by Max Ritvo

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travisclau's review

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5.0

Reading this as a cancer narrative and sickbed collection was devastating.

corvingreene's review

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4.0

When it's good, it's stunning, but there are several poems here I dislike.

girlreactionreads's review

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dark reflective sad slow-paced

3.0

Something so poignant about reading poems written as the poet faced his death. My favorite poem was “Poem to My Litter.”

I really wanted to like this book of poetry. I tried. I appreciated Ritvo's creativity with words and concepts, but in the end the poems were too abstract for me to understand in many cases, let alone have any kind of emotional connection. By far the most powerful part of the book for me were the many pages of acknowledgements. They were truly a love letter from a young man whose life was cut far too short.

abigaillaurawriter's review

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I found this collection too abstract for me. Hoping to return to it down the road!

leighwitz's review

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4.0

Each poem left me confused and aching for more at the same time. The urgency underneath Max Ritvo’s words gives them a sort of movement that I don’t often get from other poetry. I couldn’t help but physically move my body in reaction to some of his stunning phrases.

cmcrockford's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

Divided into four sections or "reincarnations" that get progressively more beautiful and joyful even as Ritvo slowly progresses further toward his death. One or two lines feel cringey (fuck you fellow millennials, I'm sorry the high schooler with a members only jacket was mean to you once but cool and cringe are both real qualities you sometimes have to confront) but overall this is sublime.

Content Warnings