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lucytaylor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
1.0
There were only two good poems in this book…Satan Says and Late…the rest were basically the same sorta thing.
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
5.0
There is something to be said about 1980 confessionalism, and Sharon Olds was one of the first to show us what could be done. It's not for everyone, to be taken to the edge and dangled inside the dark precipice, only to be pulled back, and pushed back in. If Olds can do one thing, its to say it how it is, without holding back, but also with such style. Much of Olds' work left me without air.
abbylw's review against another edition
5.0
This book was recommended to me after I wrote a poem in the same vein. The subject matter is personal and poignant, and her voice is distinct and powerful. I loved every second of reading these poems, and I know they will be something I return to again and again.
elturko64's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first poetry series from Sharon Olds and it was fantastic. Her poems were vivid, filled with great writing and some gut punches. This is not a poetry book filled with flowery verses but rather one that feels personal and abrasive. Olds poems goes into her childhood, womanhood, mothering, and a personal journey. If I had a complaint I think for me that some poems didn't have as much as effect on me compared to the other poems. Maybe because I didn't understand it or maybe it didn't appeal to me either way I just couldn't grasp some of the poems. That being said some of the other poems such as talking about her husband, kids, or her sister really had a deep impact on me. Overall definitely recommend really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to read more of Sharon Old's books.
rjbedell's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Every word in this book is carefully chosen and potent. I read it in one sitting - very rare as I usually need time to digest poems - and it had me at turns horrified, impressed, laughing, and always riveted.
deirdrekoala's review against another edition
4.0
The intensity of Sharon Olds' verse is a punch to the gut--but that's my preferred reaction to poetry. Some of the images were difficult for me, but her language is beautiful.
allegraanne's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
zoemig's review against another edition
4.0
"Once you lose someone it is never exactly
the same person who comes back"
-Feared Drowned
It is a bit odd to be writing a review of a book I have already written an exam on, but I realized that even though I had covered this book in my English course "Modern American Poetry" it was the one book of poetry, because it was the last we covered during a feverish rush of end of the semester, that I hadn't properly read. So because Olds is talented and deserving of a proper read, I decided to sit down and go through the book cover to cover for the first time. It says a lot about a writer that you want to read their works again- after completing a course in which they were covered. Usually books have all joy sucked out of them by dry analysis but the thing about Olds is that the more you read her poetry, the more layers you discover.
Olds is a confessional poet, following in the tradition of Lowell, Plath and Sexton (whom were also covered in my course). Her poetry covers topics such as family life, relationships, and particularly in "Satan Says" the abuse that she experienced at the hands of her father, while her mother (compared to a pimp in the title poem) stood idly by. Satan Says has a distinct narrative that you miss if you read only excerpts of it, as the poems occur in a chronological order. The book is also divided into four sections, each covering a different portion of Olds' life, from Daughter, to Woman, to Mother to Journey. It is a skilled way of dividing up the poetry and it is clear she put a lot of thought not only into the poems themselves, but how they are organized.
This is her first book of poetry, and it has a rawness to it that I hope is not lost in subsequent work. Often when reading published poetry I find it has been polished to the point of being dull and emotionless- certainly not the case with Satan Says. The only way to describe this book is to say it is bloody and violent and fervent. It is also written from a uniquely female perspective- so although of course I would recommend her poetry to anyone, I am honestly not sure it would have the same impact on a male reader (and since my class had only two males both who rarely attended I didn't get much insight into that). Olds also has a very interesting way of playing with language, such as in "The Love Object" where she says "I am taking the word love away from the boy" as if she is recognizing both the limitations and the beauty of language. This beautiful self-awareness is what epitomizes Satan Says for me- life may be terrible or wonderful, but whatever it is, Olds does not shriek away from it but instead faces it head on.
the same person who comes back"
-Feared Drowned
It is a bit odd to be writing a review of a book I have already written an exam on, but I realized that even though I had covered this book in my English course "Modern American Poetry" it was the one book of poetry, because it was the last we covered during a feverish rush of end of the semester, that I hadn't properly read. So because Olds is talented and deserving of a proper read, I decided to sit down and go through the book cover to cover for the first time. It says a lot about a writer that you want to read their works again- after completing a course in which they were covered. Usually books have all joy sucked out of them by dry analysis but the thing about Olds is that the more you read her poetry, the more layers you discover.
Olds is a confessional poet, following in the tradition of Lowell, Plath and Sexton (whom were also covered in my course). Her poetry covers topics such as family life, relationships, and particularly in "Satan Says" the abuse that she experienced at the hands of her father, while her mother (compared to a pimp in the title poem) stood idly by. Satan Says has a distinct narrative that you miss if you read only excerpts of it, as the poems occur in a chronological order. The book is also divided into four sections, each covering a different portion of Olds' life, from Daughter, to Woman, to Mother to Journey. It is a skilled way of dividing up the poetry and it is clear she put a lot of thought not only into the poems themselves, but how they are organized.
This is her first book of poetry, and it has a rawness to it that I hope is not lost in subsequent work. Often when reading published poetry I find it has been polished to the point of being dull and emotionless- certainly not the case with Satan Says. The only way to describe this book is to say it is bloody and violent and fervent. It is also written from a uniquely female perspective- so although of course I would recommend her poetry to anyone, I am honestly not sure it would have the same impact on a male reader (and since my class had only two males both who rarely attended I didn't get much insight into that). Olds also has a very interesting way of playing with language, such as in "The Love Object" where she says "I am taking the word love away from the boy" as if she is recognizing both the limitations and the beauty of language. This beautiful self-awareness is what epitomizes Satan Says for me- life may be terrible or wonderful, but whatever it is, Olds does not shriek away from it but instead faces it head on.
meeshubish's review against another edition
5.0
I don't usually review books, so it says something that I'm willing to write about this one.
I stumbled upon this book by chance and I have not regretted it ever since.
It is hard for me to accept that this book is a debut effort due to its brilliance. I have never been moved by poetry as much as I have by this book. It's honest and unapologetic, it makes you think. The symbolism is not too hard to grasp and the language is delectable to say the least (and the generous use of profanity just won my heart over).
The way the author divided the book is amazing, it shows the cycle that she went through from childhood to motherhood and the journey throughout.
Overall, it is confessionalism at its finest. It'll be a book that you'll read over and over.
I stumbled upon this book by chance and I have not regretted it ever since.
It is hard for me to accept that this book is a debut effort due to its brilliance. I have never been moved by poetry as much as I have by this book. It's honest and unapologetic, it makes you think. The symbolism is not too hard to grasp and the language is delectable to say the least (and the generous use of profanity just won my heart over).
The way the author divided the book is amazing, it shows the cycle that she went through from childhood to motherhood and the journey throughout.
Overall, it is confessionalism at its finest. It'll be a book that you'll read over and over.