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pedantichumbug's review
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
4.0
After I finished "Declination" I thought it was the best poem I had read in years, but then the last one... Just wow. The second half of the collection is much stronger, so keep on reading even if it doesn't sit well with you at first.
stefanicox's review against another edition
5.0
I never know how to talk about poetry, just that it feeds something deep within me, that it feels vital and nourishing. I loved the poems in Khadijah Queen’s Anodyne (forthcoming Aug 18th) for their quiet insistence. I appreciated the varied structures that the poems came in and all the topics covered: family, work, Black expectation, age, love, etc. Poetry is the best kind of window and Queen’s collection shines as one. Plus, I knew it would be a good book when I saw it was framed by a Kendrick Lamar quote. Also, check out that gorgeous cover.
(I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
(I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
spacestationtrustfund's review against another edition
3.0
In the event of an apocalypse, be ready to die / But do also remember galleries.These were very good. Sometimes modern poetry feels very by-the-numbers, but it was so evident that Khadijah Queen had a hell of a good time experimenting with form and structure when writing these poems, and that contributed significantly to my enjoyment! It's remarkable how much reading poetry can help you in writing poetry. I maintain that the best way to learn how to be a better writer—of literally anything—is to study poetry.
g_treads's review against another edition
3.0
a lot of it sounds like a foreign language, the way words are just put out there, but there's an obvious sincerity and highlight in the way the writer speaks of her family, her son, brother, grandmother. flowers and bird imagery. easy to read in one sitting.
angelasdream's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
I think the most memorable part of this reading experience is that I read a poem aloud to my daughter. She didn’t seem that interested but wrote her own poem the next day.