A review by mattiedancer
On Balance by Sinéad Morrissey

emotional reflective

• 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

4.25

Writing: 4.75⭐️/5 

Morrissey maintains a captivating claim on the poetic language. I enjoyed reading this collection, always curious about the diction Morrissey would choose to convey her images and emotions. Several times throughout this collection I had to stop to consider the language used, and many lines I wrote down, keeping close for later. During some poems, Morrissey lost me a bit – a very small and slight complaint.

Approach: 4⭐️/5

I’m torn on this mark, because so many times did Morrissey choose brilliant approaches to her work, crafting her themes, her meanings, her emotions carefully in partnership with the poem. However, some poems fell short for me, falling back on a lack of or a looser form that didn’t always help the poem hit as hard. Overall, still enjoyable.

Who Should Read This Book? 

• Fans of poetry
• Those interested in history and poetry
• Those who love somewhat narrative poems with strong imagery 
• Those who like a touch of feminism in their poetry

Content Warnings? 

Post-Reading Rating:  4⭐️/5

A hopeful feeling.

Final Rating: 4.25⭐️/5