Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Poyums by Len Pennie

5 reviews

scruffie's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Stalking

cclift1114's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Len Pennie, I hope that I cried more in reading this than you did in writing it, because I feel like I cried enough. 

This collection of poems is beautiful and I really don’t think I can capture in a review my feelings. All I can do is recommend it, especially to those who are women, to those who are feminists, to those who struggle with mental health, to those who are survivors of domestic violence. If you fall within any of those categories, you will surely find plenty of poems that resonate with you within this book. 

As Pennie points out, the poems are clearly motivated by spite, but what I most appreciate are the notes of hope and strength that these poems typically end on. 

I loved how Pennie incorporates the Scots language into the poems, especially because she is so skillful with it. It is still widely comprehensible to an English-speaking reader because of how repetitive she is with the language across the poems so you get to recognize the meaning across multiple contexts. It’s almost like she’s a linguist and knows what she’s doing with it (wink, wink). 

For those that still might be hesitant because of the Scots, I’d recommend reading the poems out loud. Or better yet, do what I did halfway through the book and read the physical book while you listen along with the audiobook. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Mental illness

sabrinaslivingliterature's review

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Absolutely fantastic book of poyums! Made me laugh, cry and get absolutely furious. The combination of Scots and English is brilliant and really powerful. 100% recommend to everyone!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Self harm, Emotional abuse, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Sexual assault

bailorg's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Suicide

booksillremember's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I read the book while listening to the audio book performed by the author which is absolutely the way to go (and also makes the Scots poyums easier to understand for those of us with no guid Scots tongue in our heids). How can you write poems so raw and refined at the same time? 

I am 10 years older than you, Len. I hope I’ll get to read and listen to your voice when you’re my age (and every other age).

‘So, A’ll see yous aw next year; A promise yous this, just the same way as day follaes night, we’ll see yin another, jist twa broukit bairns, held thegither wae duct tape an spite.’

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Homophobia