Reviews - You are Happy | The StoryGraph

18 reviews for:

You are Happy

Margaret Atwood

3.98 AVERAGE

nia_abeni's review

4.0

this book was really wonderful, gave me space to feel out rage, sadness, and all other emotions in between

camerongh_'s review

5.0

My dad’s 60 year old friend Dan gave me this book and said “this is the best work of feminist poetry ever written” and i think Dan was right.

There were some really knockout poems in this collection, but overall it didn't leave me with a strong impression--possibly because so many of the works were published earlier in different collections. It all felt a bit patched together for me, which was a shame, because Margaret Atwood is incredible.

alexahanna25's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

sophiekimber's review against another edition

3.0

*3.5/5 stars* Having read ‘Dearly’, Atwood’s most recent poetry collection, I can definitely see the growth and variety that is demonstrated in that book and that lacks a little in her older work (ie. You Are Happy). The section ‘Circe/Mud Poems’ was my definite least favourite upon first read, but as I’ve explored the other reviews people seem to think that that is the genius of this collection? Like what? They were just first-person angry ramblings about sex, hypothetical gore, and depictions of violence, all in a way so contrived I had a hard time understanding them. They were addressed majoritarily to an unnamed ‘you’ which I had a hard time connecting with, because it seemed like the speaker was in an intimate conversation about something I should not be looking in on. It was a half out of context conversation with some form of poetical verse. Maybe I’m crazy, and they definitely deserve a re-read. I’ll update my review as needed. Regardless of these sentiments, I really enjoyed the section with the Animal Songs and I thought they were intriguing and beautiful in the cynical and descriptive nature. I love Atwood’s work and I’m excited to see her progress through her older work. I think a big reason why I’ve been so critical on this book is because I’ve just come off reading the Selected Poems of Sylvia Plath who is a master writer and who I’ve discovered recreates my sentiments and artistic side with her poetry and words. Finding a new favourite and masterful writer and putting her next to Atwood, who is more well known for her novels, is a bit unfair. This deserves a re-read, and I’m excited for the occasion!