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stephvt's review
5.0
I'm happy that President Obama exposed the nation to Richard Blanco. I was so moved by his reading at the inauguration, I immediately sought out his other work. My favorite poems are always those that leave me with conflicted emotions. This collection did precisely that - I began to read the namesake poem to my husband and found myself unable to finish, bursting into tears. That's the best compliment I can give.
the_tragician's review
5.0
This book as a whole is absolutely wonderful, but Queer Theory According to My Grandmother has to be my all-time favorite poem out of here. As someone who also grew up with family members that are anti-queer, reading someone else’s experiences was sad but also empowering, because it made me realize that I’m not alone. Furthermore, Blanco’s descriptions as a whole were really immersive and detailed.
abetterbradley's review
April is National Poetry Month. I have become a really big fan of Richard Blanco. His prose poems have an almost short, short story quality to them.
My favorites from this collection: Queer Theory: According to My Grandmother, Birthday Portrait and Since Unfinished.
My favorites from this collection: Queer Theory: According to My Grandmother, Birthday Portrait and Since Unfinished.
maxwelldunn's review
4.0
I picked this up off a library shelf with no idea whatsoever of who Richard Blanco is or anything about this collection. My goal this year is to write more poetry, and I figured if I'm trying to write more I better read more as well. Well, what a great first collection to start the year. Blanco is a master of blending nostalgia with personal reflection and yet avoids making it saccharine. At the same time, he doesn't only reflect on the trauma or tragedies of his childhood; he blends the good and bad with clear images that convey emotions so well—it's like you are inside his brain. I will admit the first few poems didn't hook me, but I'm so glad I took my time with this collection, reading a few poems each day. It really allowed me to stew in his writing and style, and by the end I was sold.
Favorite poems include: "Of Consequence, Inconsequently", "The Port Pilot", "My Brother on Mt. Barker", "My Father, My Hands", "Cheers to Hyakutake," and "Since Unfinished".
Favorite poems include: "Of Consequence, Inconsequently", "The Port Pilot", "My Brother on Mt. Barker", "My Father, My Hands", "Cheers to Hyakutake," and "Since Unfinished".
hannahlee's review
3.0
I really enjoyed delving into Blanco's work and experiences through this collection. His work is very personal, as each poem shares thoughts and feelings swirling around his familial connections, relationships, and sexual and cultural identities. There weren't a lot of stand-out pieces for me, but overall a very consistent set of poems, each one providing a window into another person's experience.
johnwon's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful. Unassuming.
A few pieces felt exploratory/formulaic. But they're outweighed by several that are quite stunning. The rest feel easy and graceful. Overall, they render a complex relationship with immigrant identity and family, exile and nostalgia, finding and making home, history, and love/loss.
A few pieces felt exploratory/formulaic. But they're outweighed by several that are quite stunning. The rest feel easy and graceful. Overall, they render a complex relationship with immigrant identity and family, exile and nostalgia, finding and making home, history, and love/loss.
butch's review against another edition
5.0
as a gay cuban reading a gay cuban's work, blanco's poetry was absolutely sublime. i savored and took my time getting through this and it's no surprise i ended up crying more than once. beautifully intimate and poignant. it's definitely a collection i will keep rereading in the years to come.
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