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bumblebee__'s review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
therestlessbookflea07's review against another edition
5.0
TW: Sexual assault, eating disorders, self-image issues, sexual and gender slurs, familial toxicity
A master collection of prose, poetry, and art wearing the narrations of growth, strength and embrace of femininity. Writing style is direct and frank-- Trista Mateer does not shy away the distorted and grimacing nature of life experiences, and allows the readers to brave the imageries created throughout the book. With the timeless wit of mythology, the literary piece easily builds an acknowledging collection for readers to continue reading. However, it also suggests to observe caution on applying the manner of 'absolutism' perception on the truths presented on the book in the midst of vividness and familiarity.
Bare and colored all at once, it places readers at the journey and discovery of self on healing, individuality and stings of truth. This can serve as a requirement read to all women, bearing its feminine wisdom and gradual self-awareness.
"They wanted you to believe that love is weak, that you cannot curse and kiss with the same mouth."[Prose]
"I'm afraid of never being understood. I'm afraid of being understood." [Prose]
"Not all gods are born. Plenty of us rise." [Prose]
"Even a match remembers the moment before it was struck." [Poetry]
###
(All insights from this book review are originally mine. Can be subject for healthy discourse/s. Thank you!)
A master collection of prose, poetry, and art wearing the narrations of growth, strength and embrace of femininity. Writing style is direct and frank-- Trista Mateer does not shy away the distorted and grimacing nature of life experiences, and allows the readers to brave the imageries created throughout the book. With the timeless wit of mythology, the literary piece easily builds an acknowledging collection for readers to continue reading. However, it also suggests to observe caution on applying the manner of 'absolutism' perception on the truths presented on the book in the midst of vividness and familiarity.
Bare and colored all at once, it places readers at the journey and discovery of self on healing, individuality and stings of truth. This can serve as a requirement read to all women, bearing its feminine wisdom and gradual self-awareness.
"They wanted you to believe that love is weak, that you cannot curse and kiss with the same mouth."[Prose]
"I'm afraid of never being understood. I'm afraid of being understood." [Prose]
"Not all gods are born. Plenty of us rise." [Prose]
"Even a match remembers the moment before it was struck." [Poetry]
###
(All insights from this book review are originally mine. Can be subject for healthy discourse/s. Thank you!)
lyssidoll's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
Another profound read from Trista! I will say this one didn’t quite hit my emotions the way “Persephone” did, but still held some beautiful, hard hitting truths about the plights of being a woman, being non-binary, being queer, and the men who often tell our stories (not always accurately). Never quite thought I would enjoy poetry the way I do now as an adult, but I eat these words up like pomegranate seeds (see what I did there?)
kristensreading's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.25
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Every Saturday or Sunday I scroll through all the available titles on Netgalley and then I pick one to request. And time after time after time this book whispered to me, reached out to me and time after time I picked another book instead. Until I couldn't ignore it any longer.
Let me start with a small disclaimer: The lay out of the e-book provided by Netgalley wasn't perfect and at some moments confusing and messed up. Which is a pity, because when it comes to poems and art we all know that the form is part of the story, just as much as the words are. I'm pretty sure that due to the lay out the book lost a little of its power, but I'm sure that will be totally fixed and perfect once the book is really released.
But even without the perfect lay out, the words still hold a lot of power and ring true. A lot of poems, a lot of words, a lot of sentences, resonated deeply with who I am and who I try to be. I loved how this book made me feel seen, heard and understood. I loved how this book gave me the feeling that who I am and what I feel is totally allowed to exist, that I don't need to change and don't owe anyone apologies.
But, what I loved most, was the view on Aphrodite, who has become a shallow display of how men think a woman representing love should be. This book also highlights her darker sides, her more intelligent sides, all those characteristics that have been erased and forgotten, because it's not female enough. I love how all the wars fought over love are included, the violence and all the different forms of love there can be. Love isn't just sweet and nice. It's fierce and violent too.
It's a lovely and empowering read for every woman who feels she's not female enough or thinks anything is wrong with her.
Every Saturday or Sunday I scroll through all the available titles on Netgalley and then I pick one to request. And time after time after time this book whispered to me, reached out to me and time after time I picked another book instead. Until I couldn't ignore it any longer.
Let me start with a small disclaimer: The lay out of the e-book provided by Netgalley wasn't perfect and at some moments confusing and messed up. Which is a pity, because when it comes to poems and art we all know that the form is part of the story, just as much as the words are. I'm pretty sure that due to the lay out the book lost a little of its power, but I'm sure that will be totally fixed and perfect once the book is really released.
But even without the perfect lay out, the words still hold a lot of power and ring true. A lot of poems, a lot of words, a lot of sentences, resonated deeply with who I am and who I try to be. I loved how this book made me feel seen, heard and understood. I loved how this book gave me the feeling that who I am and what I feel is totally allowed to exist, that I don't need to change and don't owe anyone apologies.
But, what I loved most, was the view on Aphrodite, who has become a shallow display of how men think a woman representing love should be. This book also highlights her darker sides, her more intelligent sides, all those characteristics that have been erased and forgotten, because it's not female enough. I love how all the wars fought over love are included, the violence and all the different forms of love there can be. Love isn't just sweet and nice. It's fierce and violent too.
It's a lovely and empowering read for every woman who feels she's not female enough or thinks anything is wrong with her.
sydreadstoomuch's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Loved it so much
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault
kstanpadg's review against another edition
5.0
i love millennial poetry books and this one is probably one of my favorites
“they vilified want but all of us are still full of it. even me. even still”
“i know why eve stole the fruit. i know why pandora opened the jar. can you really say you don’t?”
“they say i had no childhood. they say i rose from the sea fully formed, forced to bear the weight of other people’s desire”
“we forget what beauty is sometimes and why it’s important
she reads me her personal list of the most beautiful things and there are no people on it
she says…if u were only meant to be beautiful, we wouldn’t have put you down here in the dirt.”
“they vilified want but all of us are still full of it. even me. even still”
“i know why eve stole the fruit. i know why pandora opened the jar. can you really say you don’t?”
“they say i had no childhood. they say i rose from the sea fully formed, forced to bear the weight of other people’s desire”
“we forget what beauty is sometimes and why it’s important
she reads me her personal list of the most beautiful things and there are no people on it
she says…if u were only meant to be beautiful, we wouldn’t have put you down here in the dirt.”
03hannahleigh24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
hayley22ann's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
This is another stunning collection of poetry!