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thrilled's review against another edition
1.0
these poems feel like they were assembled by a random word generator.
leighbeevee's review against another edition
2.0
I was hoping for more. There was a lot of playful language and playing with language. But nothing remarkable.
percystjoan's review against another edition
5.0
absolutely NO ONE is doing it like her.
halloween
the corpse had a motion detector
and when you approached it
it sat up and stretched out its arms
its eyes rolled back to white
and then the most peculiar thing-
it turned its head around,
all the way around, 360,
then said something supid.
it wasn't gross or funny
in no way frightening
rather sweetly sad especially
when that head turned round
and reminded me of my mother
and at the thought of my mother
there was a corpse in me,
it sat up and stretched out its arms
rolled those eyeballs back
turned its head all the way around
then said something stupid
like old long since mum.
if only i'd sung the whole song.
should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
[also: a morning person, nixie, little stream, patience, and special delivery.]
halloween
the corpse had a motion detector
and when you approached it
it sat up and stretched out its arms
its eyes rolled back to white
and then the most peculiar thing-
it turned its head around,
all the way around, 360,
then said something supid.
it wasn't gross or funny
in no way frightening
rather sweetly sad especially
when that head turned round
and reminded me of my mother
and at the thought of my mother
there was a corpse in me,
it sat up and stretched out its arms
rolled those eyeballs back
turned its head all the way around
then said something stupid
like old long since mum.
if only i'd sung the whole song.
should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
[also: a morning person, nixie, little stream, patience, and special delivery.]
leighwitz's review against another edition
4.0
Mary is delightful as always. She makes me curious about the mundane, and somehow excited by her weariness? I’m not sure I can describe it any other way. Lovers of her Trances of the Blast will enjoy this collection.
laynescherer's review against another edition
3.0
It’s always hard to read a collection by an author who has made a deep impression on you that doesn’t hit the same mark. I’ve loved The Most of It and Madness, Rack, and Honey so dearly. Dunce did not resonate. Ruefle’s work is lovely and enjoyable, but this would not be one I would recommend starting with if you’re new to her work.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
RATING: 3 STARS
Mary Ruefle is great with words and enjoyed a few of the poems, but I also didn't seem to understand many more of them. I am new to reading more contemporary poets, and always felt a bit dumb in my college English courses. I felt like I was missing the point everyone else was seeing. I will try more by this author as I do like her writing.
Mary Ruefle is great with words and enjoyed a few of the poems, but I also didn't seem to understand many more of them. I am new to reading more contemporary poets, and always felt a bit dumb in my college English courses. I felt like I was missing the point everyone else was seeing. I will try more by this author as I do like her writing.
miffybooks's review against another edition
3.0
not on the same level as ruefle’s prose or her essays, but STILL an endearingly delightful read that knows when to make you smile and when to hit you in the heart. that image of her mother’s funeral is gorgeous, and i was amazed by the ways she kept returning to it. that image is an example of the groundedness i wish the rest of the collection had, as it felt pretty absurd/abstract and hard to grasp at a lot of points. made me really miss how well structured her prose is. highly recommend reading several poems in one sitting, i think this book’s at its best when youre rapidly absorbing it!! good book i love u mary
ameliethemoomin's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
from crackerbell :
"I grew up
I became myself and
was haunted by it
and I loved to wander, utterly alone"
"I grew up
I became myself and
was haunted by it
and I loved to wander, utterly alone"