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jouljet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
hesitantlitmas's review against another edition
5.0
I was not expecting to be shaken. I wasn't expecting to cry. But this would be where I underestimated Omar. This is utterly incredible. I can't recommend it hard enough.
aflv_reads's review against another edition
4.0
The publisher kindly offered me a reader copy via NetGalley. Yet, this is an honest review of the book expressing my unbiased opinion.
First of all, what an illustrious, vivid imagery and heartbreak this poetry book elicits. It evoked my anger, my tears, helplessness, and yet, it also made me feel less alone. I'm not Arab so I'm not the targeted audience, but the emotions of the poet resonated with me because I often share them, too. Torn between countries and languages, queer and not completely seen and understood.
The poems have this story-telling quality like they narrate a story. I loved that aspect. However, some of their wording didn't resonate with me as much as I'd like to rate it with 5 stars. But that doesn't negate how fantastic and visceral this poetry book is. I truly believe my lack of 100% connection to the book is due to this unexplained personal, subjective intangible aspect, and not due to the quality of the poems.
I also loved how the poet infused his queer identity, language, overall sense of identity, religion, culture, and history. It was done masterfully, and it's this personal sense that sets this poetry book apart from others. It is visceral. It is personal. It is authentic. It is real. And for me, that's where the best poetry emerges from. I'll definitely read more from Omar Sakr and the publisher.
4 stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Omar Sakr
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
First of all, what an illustrious, vivid imagery and heartbreak this poetry book elicits. It evoked my anger, my tears, helplessness, and yet, it also made me feel less alone. I'm not Arab so I'm not the targeted audience, but the emotions of the poet resonated with me because I often share them, too. Torn between countries and languages, queer and not completely seen and understood.
The poems have this story-telling quality like they narrate a story. I loved that aspect. However, some of their wording didn't resonate with me as much as I'd like to rate it with 5 stars. But that doesn't negate how fantastic and visceral this poetry book is. I truly believe my lack of 100% connection to the book is due to this unexplained personal, subjective intangible aspect, and not due to the quality of the poems.
I also loved how the poet infused his queer identity, language, overall sense of identity, religion, culture, and history. It was done masterfully, and it's this personal sense that sets this poetry book apart from others. It is visceral. It is personal. It is authentic. It is real. And for me, that's where the best poetry emerges from. I'll definitely read more from Omar Sakr and the publisher.
4 stars – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Omar Sakr
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
mickeyyjr's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
2.5
Good, not great. It has some interesting takes, but nothing that blew me. Sometimes I felt it lacked coherence, as if the purpose of the poem changed half way through; but maybe that's just me.
bugail's review against another edition
5.0
Read it in one sitting & then went back & read my favorite poems again. This only book I’ve ever annotated in pen.
broughtyoubooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
homosexual's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an arc of this collection!
Some favorites from this collection:
Self-Portrait as Poetry Defending Itself
The Exhibition of Autobiography
Extermination
At the Site of the Future Memorial
Every Day
A Beautiful Child
This was a very solid collection, although I think it would have been better had the poems been grouped thematically. They totally could have been and I just missed the connections. But it just felt like emotional whiplash every now and again. Some of my favorite poems from this collection had to do with the author's queerness and his relationships with his family members.
I enjoyed more poems than I did not, and would highly recommend to anyone that is interested in poetry.
Some favorites from this collection:
Self-Portrait as Poetry Defending Itself
The Exhibition of Autobiography
Extermination
At the Site of the Future Memorial
Every Day
A Beautiful Child
This was a very solid collection, although I think it would have been better had the poems been grouped thematically. They totally could have been and I just missed the connections. But it just felt like emotional whiplash every now and again. Some of my favorite poems from this collection had to do with the author's queerness and his relationships with his family members.
I enjoyed more poems than I did not, and would highly recommend to anyone that is interested in poetry.
meganori's review against another edition
4.0
This felt like a timely read.
I'm just starting to read poetry and I have no idea how to rate and review it. This was good though!
I'm just starting to read poetry and I have no idea how to rate and review it. This was good though!