Reviews

Transformations by Anne Sexton, Barbara Swan, Kurt Vonnegut

raloveridge's review against another edition

5.0

I'd only ever read parts of Transformations, so I never had the full narrative that Sexton so skillfully pieces together. Brilliant poems on their own, but read together, the collection is a very grim(m) (har har, pun intended) look at some classic fairy tales. I'm itching to write a paper on her use of food and consumption...another time, maybe.

charlotteklopfer's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

5.0

emmah45's review against another edition

dark tense fast-paced

4.0

This is not my general vibe with poetry, but WOW it was disturbing! Like I definitely appreciate it as art even though it wasn't my style. I'm finding myself still thinking about some poems days after I read them. It took me a minute to "get" these poems, but they are definitely powerful.

ivyeori's review against another edition

dark 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? N/A

4.5

shaunnow38's review

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

ediecas's review against another edition

dark funny sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

This was a really fascinating retelling, or 'transformation' of the classic fairytales - I especially loved Sexton's prologues, with links to the real world. They really made for an immersive experience and raised some interesting questions about the messages fairytales tend to transmit. An apt comparison can be made between this collection and Angela Carter's 'The Bloody Chamber', which has a similar premise, and tendency to extract + exaggerate the sexual undertones lying latent in folktales. (Though, I do prefer Sexton's style of writing to Carter's - this is just a matter of personal taste.)

As I think a few other people have mentions, some of the topics brought up in these poems take on an unsettling tone when you're aware of some of the things that have come out about Sexton's life - however, I do think this collection is overall worth a read.

readingwithgoose's review against another edition

fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

2.5

caydencj's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

babyspic6's review against another edition

fast-paced

margztgz's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.75

I picked this up because of a poetry class I'm taking where we have been reading Sexton and I found her style to be interesting in class. I liked how this collection reimagined classic fairytales through poetry but most of the poems weren't memorable for me or connected to me. Regardless I still find her work interesting.

I will say that I found some of these poems unsettling, especially "snow white and the seven dwarfs" and "rapunzel" because of the context of abuse of her daughter. There was a lot of writing that seems like a reference to that... made me uncomfortable to say the least!