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bookgoodfeelgood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
stephbeaudoin20's review
5.0
Spectral Evidence: Poems by Gregory Pardlo
The poets know. I treasured this book of poems. I have so many highlights from the book.
Tall Poppies is my absolute favorite poem in this book. It says so much in just 2 pages. A Callarse (To Keep Quiet) by Pablo Neruda meant so much to me I printed it and kept it close. Tall Poppies has that same effect.
My other favorites are
confutation
[Sonnet] – if you don't know, now you know, this data has been around for centuries and yet it still plagues our health system
Epistemology of the Phone Booth
Theater Selfie
Trigger Warning
This is my 4th book for #24for24
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The poets know. I treasured this book of poems. I have so many highlights from the book.
Tall Poppies is my absolute favorite poem in this book. It says so much in just 2 pages. A Callarse (To Keep Quiet) by Pablo Neruda meant so much to me I printed it and kept it close. Tall Poppies has that same effect.
My other favorites are
confutation
[Sonnet] – if you don't know, now you know, this data has been around for centuries and yet it still plagues our health system
Epistemology of the Phone Booth
Theater Selfie
Trigger Warning
This is my 4th book for #24for24
I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
genrejourneys's review
5.0
Rating: 4.5/5 (rounded up)
(Gifted a copy on NetGalley in exchange for a review)
What are we afraid of? How do we all agree on what that subject of fear is? How does the past help us, or fail to, understand these questions? “Spectral Evidence”, a poetry collection by Gregory Pardlo tackles the past, racism, grief, and the dangers of knowing or failing to know. It’s a massive task, but Pardlo manages an excellent exploration through a variety of poems, plays, and images to make some striking points.
From witch hunts to police violence and then into personal family life, this collection covers many places and times. Pardlo’s prose ranges from simple to abstract, as broad and intriguing as his topics. “The future is a palagrized memoir” he writes as he tries to reason out who can palagrize it and whose memoir it is. The reader is encouraged to ask themselves the same questions. There may not be easy or even available answers, but the process is partially the point. I do feel that there were moments where the collection went a bit too broad, but the ambition is impressive even as every part of the project comes together. Some examples of themes clicked better than others and, while not required and googling it might very well be the point, some more context on the historical poems would have been helpful. Even the better known ones took a moment for me to realize the topic of. I do acknowledge that my own experiences shaped my ability to recognize them though.
Given the subject material and the sheer range of topics Pardlo is covering, this can be a weighty read. However it is a rewarding one, particularly if you can read it in its entirety the first time around. Poetry lovers should pick this up whenever they get the chance.
(Gifted a copy on NetGalley in exchange for a review)
What are we afraid of? How do we all agree on what that subject of fear is? How does the past help us, or fail to, understand these questions? “Spectral Evidence”, a poetry collection by Gregory Pardlo tackles the past, racism, grief, and the dangers of knowing or failing to know. It’s a massive task, but Pardlo manages an excellent exploration through a variety of poems, plays, and images to make some striking points.
From witch hunts to police violence and then into personal family life, this collection covers many places and times. Pardlo’s prose ranges from simple to abstract, as broad and intriguing as his topics. “The future is a palagrized memoir” he writes as he tries to reason out who can palagrize it and whose memoir it is. The reader is encouraged to ask themselves the same questions. There may not be easy or even available answers, but the process is partially the point. I do feel that there were moments where the collection went a bit too broad, but the ambition is impressive even as every part of the project comes together. Some examples of themes clicked better than others and, while not required and googling it might very well be the point, some more context on the historical poems would have been helpful. Even the better known ones took a moment for me to realize the topic of. I do acknowledge that my own experiences shaped my ability to recognize them though.
Given the subject material and the sheer range of topics Pardlo is covering, this can be a weighty read. However it is a rewarding one, particularly if you can read it in its entirety the first time around. Poetry lovers should pick this up whenever they get the chance.
undermeyou's review
4.0
I loved the concept of this, and the author’s note made me think this was going to be an easy five star for me, but it ended up feeling a bit all over the place. Some pieces really felt like they were being forced to fit into this collection just because they existed and needed somewhere to go, more than I felt I could easily justify.
Thank you to NetGalley & Knopf for the ARC
Thank you to NetGalley & Knopf for the ARC
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