A review by 12dejamoo
Feminine Gospels by Carol Ann Duffy

challenging funny medium-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? Yes

2.0

I always wonder when I read Carol Ann Duffy if I actually don't like her poetry very much or if I think I don't so I then convince myself I don't. But I thought about it all week and talked to my sister and we both agreed that she's just not that enjoyable to read. All her poems are about ~womanhood~ and in a really surface-level way. And yes maybe this came in 2002 and Feminism was at a different place but it's hard to read in 2022. I really quite liked the Laughter of Stafford Girls' High (although I think it was a little too long - the ending was good but I think the part before the ending dragged a little bit). Other poems felt weirdly victim-blame-y (see Diet). Also the poems like Tall, Loud etc were so boring. She has a habit of over-using repetition. In some places I admit it's effective but in others it just feels so pointless agh I don't know
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