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mattiedancer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
3.5
Writing: 3.75⭐️/5
The writing, the diction, and the word choice are not entirely dependent on Baer, as they are coming from source materials, but some poems shined through in a way only done through a good poet. Other poems, though, fell short, almost suggesting a shortness of thought or consideration given. Sometimes the source stood out more than the erasure when it should always land the other way. Overall, the collection contains truly stunning moments, but I found myself starved a bit between the stunning moments by really nothing substantial to live off of.
Approach: 3.5⭐️/5
I’m a bit torn here. The concept of the poetry is fantastic; the execution is less so. Where I didn’t love the approach was with the inclusion of some positive sources – not because of their positivity, but because the erasure form seemed to only mimic their point and not become its own thing. What I did like about the approach is what I like about all erasure poetry: it cuts away from a source to reveal something new. Certain poems in the collection did this with both ease and precision, slicing at the words to uncover something else so beautiful or so perfectly said that I couldn’t help but love it. But the poems just didn’t always do that.
Forms 3.5⭐️/5
This blends slightly with my point on the approach, but I did feel like sometimes Baer used the source too much, leaving it almost in its original form rather than pulling words back from its source to create something new. I wanted a bit more in terms of making the piece its own thing.
Who Should Read This Book?
- Feminist poets
- Fans of erasure poems
- Those who like a bit of politics in their poetry
- Those who want a bit of biteback in a poem
Content Warnings?
- Misogyny, sexism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, bullying, emotional abuse, physical abuse, violence, racism, homophobia, pregnancy
Post-Reading Rating: 4⭐️/5
Some poems were truly stunning. Others definitely fell short. A short but worthwhile read.
Final Rating: 3.5⭐️/5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
leannanecdote's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, and Body shaming
skudiklier's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
I love Kate Baer's poetry, including her erasure poems, so I was really excited to be able to read this. I read it all in one sitting, and my only complaint is that I wish it were longer!
I Hope This Finds You Well is made up of erasure poems Baer wrote using comments, messages, and quotes from people like Donald Trump and AOC. The comments and messages written to Baer range from harassment to heartfelt thanks, and Baer makes beautiful poetry and powerful statements out of all of them. I'm so impressed with the way she can see turns of phrase in hateful messages, and the way she can pull out the core of a statement in such a concise way.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes poetry, has been on the receiving end of rude messages from strangers, or is interested to know what it's like being a woman on the internet (though of course, as Baer notes, she's white and cis and thus doesn't experience the worse levels of harassment trans and POC folks do).
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the chance to review this ARC.
I Hope This Finds You Well is made up of erasure poems Baer wrote using comments, messages, and quotes from people like Donald Trump and AOC. The comments and messages written to Baer range from harassment to heartfelt thanks, and Baer makes beautiful poetry and powerful statements out of all of them. I'm so impressed with the way she can see turns of phrase in hateful messages, and the way she can pull out the core of a statement in such a concise way.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes poetry, has been on the receiving end of rude messages from strangers, or is interested to know what it's like being a woman on the internet (though of course, as Baer notes, she's white and cis and thus doesn't experience the worse levels of harassment trans and POC folks do).
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Perennial for the chance to review this ARC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Minor: Eating disorder
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