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A review by jayisreading
The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes on by Franny Choi
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
… and yet, the world keeps moving forward, despite its multiple endings. Choi pointedly reminds us that apocalypses have always been a part of our human history, but it happens to be that only certain populations are thrown into such catastrophe(s), while the rest of the world ignorantly (willful or not) continues on.
… and yet, despite the brokenness of this world, despite these ends, there is still something on the horizon to look forward to, a particular strength in surviving the end and living beyond it. So many of these poems are filled with grief and anger, but there lingers a burning hope for something more in Choi’s language. For those who have lived and/or are living through the apocalypse, their world continues on because there’s still so much to live for.
You are meant to grapple with the content of these poems, as well as sit with the emotions that come with these poems. This is a bit of a departure in tone and style from Choi’s previous works, but I think The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On reveals her incredible talent with form and language, as well as her ability to synthesize an array of ideas and concepts. There’s much to take away from this collection, especially living in the world we’re in today.
Some favorites: “The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On,” “Poem with an End in Sight,” “Science Fiction Poetry,” “Grief Is a Thing with Tense Issues,” “Unlove Poem,” “Dispatches from a Future Great-Great-Granddaughter,” and “Waste”
… and yet, despite the brokenness of this world, despite these ends, there is still something on the horizon to look forward to, a particular strength in surviving the end and living beyond it. So many of these poems are filled with grief and anger, but there lingers a burning hope for something more in Choi’s language. For those who have lived and/or are living through the apocalypse, their world continues on because there’s still so much to live for.
You are meant to grapple with the content of these poems, as well as sit with the emotions that come with these poems. This is a bit of a departure in tone and style from Choi’s previous works, but I think The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On reveals her incredible talent with form and language, as well as her ability to synthesize an array of ideas and concepts. There’s much to take away from this collection, especially living in the world we’re in today.
Some favorites: “The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On,” “Poem with an End in Sight,” “Science Fiction Poetry,” “Grief Is a Thing with Tense Issues,” “Unlove Poem,” “Dispatches from a Future Great-Great-Granddaughter,” and “Waste”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, War, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexual violence, Colonisation, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicide and Police brutality