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el_entrenador_loco's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
megansoetaert's review against another edition
3.5
amazing imagery of Jamaica & New York, sexuality, and emotions about work
readwithev's review against another edition
5.0
McKay’s collection is a mix of activism, romance, inner turmoil, desire for change and belonging, and observations of the city. Favorites from the collection include:
The Tropics in New York
Flame-Heart
On Broadway
The Barrier
The White City
The Mother
In Bondage
Heritage
The Harlem Dancer
Outcast
The Lynching
Absence
A Memory of June
One Year After
Tormented
The Tropics in New York
Flame-Heart
On Broadway
The Barrier
The White City
The Mother
In Bondage
Heritage
The Harlem Dancer
Outcast
The Lynching
Absence
A Memory of June
One Year After
Tormented
florizona's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
Sonnets, botany and physical love? Five stars. The contrasts between the environs of McCay’s youth in lushly tropical Jamaica and the cold wet city of NYC hit hard as well, with nature a force for love and health and the populous city a force for racism, illness, overwork. I love the odes to Spanish Needle, jasmine, flame lilies, and the celebration of languor in French Leave.
sisteray's review
4.0
So, I really liked this, but, despite some amazing moments, I didn’t love it the way I wanted to.
It’s hard to fully assess this work without recognizing that McKay was intentionally using sonnets as a way to talk heavy subjects with a lilting aristocratic form. He could talk about sex, slavery, institutional racism, capitalism, prostitution, marijuana and rebellion kind of under the radar because the format makes light of these.
That said, the sonnet for did frequently interfere with my absolute enjoyment of his otherwise fantastic lyricism.
Still, there are some truly powerful pieces in this, sitting right next to some wondrous delights.
It’s hard to fully assess this work without recognizing that McKay was intentionally using sonnets as a way to talk heavy subjects with a lilting aristocratic form. He could talk about sex, slavery, institutional racism, capitalism, prostitution, marijuana and rebellion kind of under the radar because the format makes light of these.
That said, the sonnet for did frequently interfere with my absolute enjoyment of his otherwise fantastic lyricism.
Still, there are some truly powerful pieces in this, sitting right next to some wondrous delights.
hannahmarierobbins's review
3.5
These are beautiful lyrical poems. I read them knowing of Claude McKay but not having read anything by him. 100% worth your time but written in a style that admire rather than enjoy
jasbeingjas's review
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Absolutely stunning prose. The first I’ve read from this author and excited to explore all of their other works.