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bookswithmaddi's review against another edition
3.0
[3 stars ]
I’m realizing more and more as I delve further into poetry how much I really dislike “Instagram poetry”. I feel like no matter who it’s by it all sounds the same to me. I thought that this collection had a lot of timely, unique, important ideas. I enjoyed reading the pieces on race and injustice (perhaps enjoyed isn’t the right word as they spoke about horrible things, but these were the ones I found the most interesting). I think it’s because it’s a topic I haven’t seen covered much in poetry in the way it was here, at least the poetry I’ve read. I liked how it drew from personal experience, how you could feel kaur’s anger and betrayal through the pages.
My main criticism of this book was the pieces which talked about love and relationships and things along that line; they just didn’t feel original to me. A lot of them felt overdone like I had heard it before in another collection. I spent a lot of this book appreciating her diction and prose but not connecting to it because of the format it was in. I think her writing would be so well suited to a collection of short stories or essays. I would read that so fast. I feel like kaur has really important things to say, and the talent to say it, I just think she wrote it in the wrong medium. I genuinely think short stories or essays would work so well for her writing style.
Also, I realize there actually was a short story in the middle of this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I thought it was too short like there was more to be said and it was cut off. I hope kaur continues in this strain of writing in the future.
Overall, I genuinely appreciated this collection. It said very important things, especially about racism and current issues along that strain. Kaur’s voice is an undeniably powerful one. I truly believe she will only get better from here and I can’t wait to see what that is.
I’m realizing more and more as I delve further into poetry how much I really dislike “Instagram poetry”. I feel like no matter who it’s by it all sounds the same to me. I thought that this collection had a lot of timely, unique, important ideas. I enjoyed reading the pieces on race and injustice (perhaps enjoyed isn’t the right word as they spoke about horrible things, but these were the ones I found the most interesting). I think it’s because it’s a topic I haven’t seen covered much in poetry in the way it was here, at least the poetry I’ve read. I liked how it drew from personal experience, how you could feel kaur’s anger and betrayal through the pages.
My main criticism of this book was the pieces which talked about love and relationships and things along that line; they just didn’t feel original to me. A lot of them felt overdone like I had heard it before in another collection. I spent a lot of this book appreciating her diction and prose but not connecting to it because of the format it was in. I think her writing would be so well suited to a collection of short stories or essays. I would read that so fast. I feel like kaur has really important things to say, and the talent to say it, I just think she wrote it in the wrong medium. I genuinely think short stories or essays would work so well for her writing style.
Also, I realize there actually was a short story in the middle of this and I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I thought it was too short like there was more to be said and it was cut off. I hope kaur continues in this strain of writing in the future.
Overall, I genuinely appreciated this collection. It said very important things, especially about racism and current issues along that strain. Kaur’s voice is an undeniably powerful one. I truly believe she will only get better from here and I can’t wait to see what that is.
thebookishunicorn's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful novel in verse that uses poems, short stories, and illustrations to explore many topics such as: domestic abuse, sexual violence, police violence, racism, feminism, living as a Punjabi in white cities, sexism, mental illness (anxiety, depression), self love, and immigration.
I have some of my favorites below:
"i'm not here to be your example of the good girl
until i'm your warning sign for the wayward one"
"this art spans far beyond image.
it has the potential to heal you. to
break you. to expand you. to birth
a new you. your work. your heart.
mean so much more than the
hollow gaze of a hollow audience.
love, the way your art draws air
into your own lungs has always
been reason enough."
"of course pain matters.
but it's not a weapon that should
be pointed at anyone least of all
those who you call loved ones.
the pain explains but
it doesn't justify.
it never justifies."
I have some of my favorites below:
"i'm not here to be your example of the good girl
until i'm your warning sign for the wayward one"
"this art spans far beyond image.
it has the potential to heal you. to
break you. to expand you. to birth
a new you. your work. your heart.
mean so much more than the
hollow gaze of a hollow audience.
love, the way your art draws air
into your own lungs has always
been reason enough."
"of course pain matters.
but it's not a weapon that should
be pointed at anyone least of all
those who you call loved ones.
the pain explains but
it doesn't justify.
it never justifies."
srtoups's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written poetry from a perspective I will never get to understand myself.
alex_munoz's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
flowerwineandbooks's review against another edition
5.0
This is the type of poetry the world needs to see more of. It's brutally honest and equally comforting...real. I felt like I was reading a very personal piece of Jasmin's inner thoughts, but I also felt like she was speaking directly to my soul at times. Every piece was full of beautiful rough edges. (I feel like I can't explain this book of poetry without a oxymoron)
This book was speaking to me, and in a way I think it was both meant to and not meant to. Things I needed to hear, both about myself and about the larger world and the experiences of people who are not exactly like me. I learned a lot from Jasmin. These poems will grow your mind, as well as your spirit.
This book was speaking to me, and in a way I think it was both meant to and not meant to. Things I needed to hear, both about myself and about the larger world and the experiences of people who are not exactly like me. I learned a lot from Jasmin. These poems will grow your mind, as well as your spirit.
joannaautumn's review against another edition
4.0
I thought that this was going to be a generic Instagram poetry collection. Well, it wasn't. This collection has depth and a lot of the poems I liked. I like the longer poems in here more than the shorter ones, and I will pick up another book from this author.
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
Really powerful, moving YA #ownvoices novel in verse by a Canadian poet. The book features a South Asian daughter sent to America to get a better education but who suffers a deep trauma before she even leaves and has the trajectory of her whole life upended. Fast forward to when her daughter is a teenager and we get her perspective living as a child of an immigrant and dealing with anti-Asian racism in America. Highly recommend especially for fans of Rupi Kaur or Elizabeth Acevedo! I'm looking forward to reading her latest book soon.
Favorite lines:
"My skin was a siren that was always too loud."
TW: rape, anti-Asian racism
Favorite lines:
"My skin was a siren that was always too loud."
TW: rape, anti-Asian racism
ycelpaulino's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75