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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
"I have forgotten even the easy prayer I was supposed to use/ in emergencies something something I was not/born here I was not born here I was not." Kaveh Akbar sets language on fire. I don't know how else to describe this book than to say it's the literary equivalent of lying next to someone on their deathbed while they rapidly whisper truths all night in your ear as you drift in and out of sleep, but less morbid and more whimsical than that sounds. Read it; it'll make you more human.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
To say that it is a task to speak of pain and suffering and God is an understatement. Akbar does this beautifully which is likely not the appropriate word but I'll save the right word for later. What is sin in a world so indebted to its sins? Akbar's poetry does not provide any solid conclusion to this dilemma but straddles between what is given and what is received. 'Soot' is an invitation into the deep rich humus of Akbar's poetry. You could get planted in that first poem alone or grow your own roots through the rest.
This took me awhile to read but there are some truly fantastic poems in here, especially about alcoholism, sobriety and recovery, how we see ourselves, how others see us. Remarkable language and the kind of book that gets better with each reread.
Gorgeous poetry collection. I've already reread so many of them. My copy is already well loved with pencil markings of favorite lines and passages.
so good. chilling and incredibly real. highly recommend.
Not my favorite book of poetry I’ve ever read, but I really liked some of the poems and I could feel the struggle of the narrator as he battled his alcoholism and searched for meaning to fill the void left behind.
I haven’t read a poetry collection I enjoyed this much in a long long time
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Stunning!
