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achilleanshelves's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings - Transphobia including use of the T-Slur, depression and mentionings of self-harm.
This was so powerful, wow. J. Jennifer Espinoza's writing is so engaging and so emotive that I powered through this in one sitting and had my emotions thoroughly and repeatedly battered.
This was so powerful, wow. J. Jennifer Espinoza's writing is so engaging and so emotive that I powered through this in one sitting and had my emotions thoroughly and repeatedly battered.
scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
Oh. So many of these. I wanted to take pictures of whole poems and post them to share, quote lines. Such spare language and how devastating and beautiful in its precision and evocation.
These poems made me think of my own experience, of a life spent dreaming years away, and I see some of that in here too. And endurance in spades.
These poems made me think of my own experience, of a life spent dreaming years away, and I see some of that in here too. And endurance in spades.
sadieh's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
sad
5.0
it took me so long to get through this because this book absolutely ripped me open in a raw and painful and necessary way. I’d finish a poem and read it again and then read it three more times to make sure it had fully sunk in. I’d finish a poem and flip back four pages to reread that one again too. This book is a beautiful act of survival. I finished the last line and immediately went to preorder her book that comes out a year from today.
cblueweaver's review against another edition
5.0
Lyrical, melancholy, and occasionally convicting, Espinoza's debut is excellent. It is by turns hopeful and tragic. I wish so deeply it was less tragic.
lelex's review against another edition
4.0
All these movie moments and hand cutting wind in half dreams come for me as if sent by some light that wants to watch me survive.
There should be awards given out for things like showering, going to the grocery store, and breathing, but no one cares. I care. Lots of people care but ultimately no one cares.
All that womanhood caught in the roof of my mouth was like honey.
I don't know how to tell you this but I'm ten leaves floating in a pool of rainwater that you hop over on your way to work every day.
There are trees outside my window filled with dozens of hummingbirds. I want to offer them the sugar from my tongue because they would never think to ask for it.
I'm no longer interested in suffering as entertainment meaning I'm no longer interested in entertainment or suffering.
I can get through anything if I change the shape of it enough.
Outside in the dirt I measure suffering and make a choice.
Soon I will turn 28. I am approaching the sky. Every birthday after 30 will feel like a statistical anomaly because it literally will be. It's okay to feel what is true in your hands and in your teeth. It doesn't have to heal you or set you free. It just has to remind you that you exist. I hardly exist and it's fine.
Bookend my body with all your rain until I grow into something better.
There should be awards given out for things like showering, going to the grocery store, and breathing, but no one cares. I care. Lots of people care but ultimately no one cares.
All that womanhood caught in the roof of my mouth was like honey.
I don't know how to tell you this but I'm ten leaves floating in a pool of rainwater that you hop over on your way to work every day.
There are trees outside my window filled with dozens of hummingbirds. I want to offer them the sugar from my tongue because they would never think to ask for it.
I'm no longer interested in suffering as entertainment meaning I'm no longer interested in entertainment or suffering.
I can get through anything if I change the shape of it enough.
Outside in the dirt I measure suffering and make a choice.
Soon I will turn 28. I am approaching the sky. Every birthday after 30 will feel like a statistical anomaly because it literally will be. It's okay to feel what is true in your hands and in your teeth. It doesn't have to heal you or set you free. It just has to remind you that you exist. I hardly exist and it's fine.
Bookend my body with all your rain until I grow into something better.
andibutts's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
My favorites were "I Imagine All My Cis Friends Laughing at Tranny Jokes" and "In the Men's Group."
jaredpence's review against another edition
4.0
Challenging to read (both stylistically and emotionally), but rewarding.