110 reviews for:

Cannibal

Safiya Sinclair

4.04 AVERAGE

powisamy's review against another edition

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RTC

So this year, I have been trying to read more poetry as I do like it but I think finding something that you truly connect with is hard.

After picking this up randomly in a book shop I was really excited. This was elevated by the fact that people's whose reviews I really trust enjoyed this book.

I think the thing with Cannibal is that while I completely get what Safiya Sinclair was going for, it was hard for me to connect with every single poem. Like others there were standouts but for a lot of them I lacked a connection and that dampened my overall audience.

I do understand why people love this and it might be something that I have to pick up again sometime.

sg_book_nerd's review against another edition

4.5

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

sophiejuhlin's review against another edition

3.0

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Her language is lovely, rich, sensory. So many of the poems feel “pitched” the same way, not even just in consistently using a similar form, but in the emotional and linguistic progression itself. Emotionally, many poems take me on the same ride, use the same pacing.

simonemaybe's review against another edition

4.5

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

ebweeks's review against another edition

emotional reflective fast-paced

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Not going to add a star rating to this. I liked some of it, didn't like others. Parts were really beautiful and interesting, other parts I didn't really get because the language was confusing. 

ooohgoshtara's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense medium-paced

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Safiya Sinclair's writing is immersive and emotional.

noshyira's review against another edition

2.25

challenging dark informative tense medium-paced

inlaraland's review against another edition

5.0

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"The word "Cannibal", the English variant of the Spanish word "Canibal" comes from the word "Caribal", a reference to the native Carib people in the West Indies, who Columbus thought ate human flesh and from whom the word "Caribbean" originated. By virtue of being "Caribbean", all "West Indian" people are already, in a purely linguistic sense, born savage"

This quote introduces you to Safiya Sinclair's collection of poems - "Cannibal". These poems are broken down into five different sections and confront the themes of post-colonial identity, history, race, womanhood, otherness and exile. This collage of extradorinay pieces are incredibly lyrical - reminding me of old songs and tales. The language is powerful, the messages breathtaking and there is this beautiful balance between the social commentary and storytelling which is perfect if you enjoying reading myths and poems.

ellamk's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark reflective tense 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

thebookishmindset's review against another edition

3.5

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated