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briseisbooks's review against another edition
5.0
I want to read this over again immediately but for the first time. 5 is not nearly enough stars. DEEP BREATH.
dig2deep's review against another edition
3.0
Some poems had a strong impact but overall, not for me.
seventhswan's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
2.25
I loved Teaching My Mother How To Give Birth, so I had such high hopes for this full-length collection - but I was disappointed. If I hadn't read any of Shire's earlier work, I might have liked this better, but many of the poems were reworks of poems I'd already read in TMMHTGB, and for me the earlier versions were better. I was especially heartbroken to see Trying To Swim With God stripped of its rhythm and everything that made me connect with it so strongly when I first read it.
I don't think this is an outright bad collection - I wouldn't warn people off it, and there was the occasional poem, such as the one for Victoria Climbie, that I found moving. It just felt hollow to me, and overly pared back in comparison to TMMHTGB.
I don't think this is an outright bad collection - I wouldn't warn people off it, and there was the occasional poem, such as the one for Victoria Climbie, that I found moving. It just felt hollow to me, and overly pared back in comparison to TMMHTGB.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, War, and Child abuse
Minor: Miscarriage
glittery_phoenix's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I saw a snippet of Warsan's poem "Home" on social media, and was so captivated by her writing that I immediately bought her book - despite not being a fan of poetry.
Bless The Daughter reeled me in with each line of beautifully (and often painfully) written text. This book has triggered my new love & appreciation of poetry! It provides an incredible insight into her experiences and inner monologue.... so whether you can relate to it or learn from it, I can promise you that this book is powerful and a privilege to read.
Bless The Daughter reeled me in with each line of beautifully (and often painfully) written text. This book has triggered my new love & appreciation of poetry! It provides an incredible insight into her experiences and inner monologue.... so whether you can relate to it or learn from it, I can promise you that this book is powerful and a privilege to read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual violence, and War
andreaskuschwitz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Warsan Shire is an incredible talent. I don’t like a lot of poetry sadly, but I‘ve been trying to find something that I do enjoy, and boy did this do the job.
These poems were so emotional and honestly heart wrenching. It actually hurt to read this 😭
I will definitely be rereading these a couple of times, as one should with poetry.
I loved her prose. I loved how nothing rhymed but still felt so harmonious. A lot of the poems made my jaw drop. She’s amazing!
There were definitely some stand out poems but absolutely nothing was even slightly bad. And it’s her first full collection!
Bless her, I really hope she’s okay
These poems were so emotional and honestly heart wrenching. It actually hurt to read this 😭
I will definitely be rereading these a couple of times, as one should with poetry.
I loved her prose. I loved how nothing rhymed but still felt so harmonious. A lot of the poems made my jaw drop. She’s amazing!
There were definitely some stand out poems but absolutely nothing was even slightly bad. And it’s her first full collection!
Bless her, I really hope she’s okay
alsoknownasno's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5