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jayisreading's review
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
This was a deeply introspective poetry collection that focused on a lot of themes, though they were primarily through the lens of being a queer Black person. Blain scrutinizes the legacy of colonialism and systemic racism in their poems and how this impacts those in a similar position as them, while also making the words across these pages deeply personal.
I was really taken to the way Blain structured this collection into three sections. The first section, Place, draws attention to locations that had particular meaning to the poet. The second section, "Art," is a reflection on the art world and Blain's relationship with it. The last section, "Child," is perhaps the most abstract, with contemplations on identity and positionality throughout their life. Blain moves deftly through political and social issues across time, which especially shine in their letters to various Black folks and are interspersed throughout this collection.
Despite the intensity and density of the themes in this collection, Blain's poems are incredibly accessible, so much that I think they are a great entry point for readers who are new to poetry and want to explore the mentioned themes above.
Some favorites: "Burning Sugar," "Dear Philando Castile," "Oakland," "Lézignan-Corbières," "Toronto," "I Hate White People in Art Galleries," "Dear Archibald Motley Jr.," "Dear Diaspora Child," "Everything on Earth," and "Spiritual Dysphoria"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Slavery, Racism, Police brutality, and Death
Minor: Rape
the_vegan_bookworm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Police brutality, Slavery, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Fatphobia, and Colonisation
Minor: Rape
spinesinaline's review
challenging
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Police brutality, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Colonisation, Death, and Bullying
Minor: Rape
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