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thealbapoems's reviews
124 reviews
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn’t mean to finish this book in a day, but I did and that’s all you need to know about it. 215 pages of a genre bending poetry confessional email about the shitty state of real estate in London, desire, and property. Which, after reading this, you’ll be able to see are more closely intertwined than you might think. This long poem only works because of Frears’ mastery of voice and narrative, her style is powerful, moving, direct, and playful and at the same time vulnerable and opaque. The best collection I have read in long time. Potentially because I too have had to deal with an Ava. I will be buying Frears’ debut collection and counting the days until it arrives.
This is not a book for new poetry readers, but god is it good.
This is not a book for new poetry readers, but god is it good.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
A pressing and moving collection, dealing with war and the scars it leaves on a nation through the scars of grandmother’s hands.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have a terrible weakness for books like this, spanning over generations, love, war, and more than anything, that delightful magical realism that keeps me turning the pages. A family, a haunted man and his redemption after years of rage and misguided decisions, a house turned labyrinth, a woman who spoke to the dead and played the piano with her mind.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
A somewhat challenging but striking collection that utilizes Agnes Martin’s oeuvre to explore, through shape poems, themes of identity, grief, and death. Chang’s style deceives, it might seem simple upon a first read, but much like Martin’s work, it contains a terrible weight in its lines. An inspiring read.
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bizarre, haunting, at times beautiful read. Oddly enough it reminds me of My Year of Rest and Relaxation in the way that I can see how this book influenced it. The protagonist only communicates with the readers through brief journal like entries that stop as she stops communicating with those around her. This novel will stay with me for a while, amongst many things because of the scene where Yeonghe describes how her dad made her eat the dog that bit her, in a short but profoundly disturbing piece of foreshadowing. Kang explores bodily autonomy, familial relations, and the expectation of women as daughters, wives, and mothers. I hope that at the end Yeonghe never makes it to the hospital, and is finally able to do what she wants, and becomes a tree in that ambulance, with her sister next to her.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Striking exploration of sexuality and gender and religion. Of family, tradition and comfort. The weaving of the verses from the Quran underline the tension, and eventually the home coming. The rhythm is hard to shake off.
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
A poignant reflection on grief. Elegy for a wedding will sit with me for a long time. The language surprises and soothes.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
This collection had some brilliant lines and striking poems. I enjoyed the weaving of the narrative, and the recurring motifs to give continuity. Allen’s voice reminded me of Diane Seuss, maybe the theme of grief and love is to blame for this. Will be re-reading these poems again.
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a book I had been meaning to read for a while, it’s good, entertaining, and left me thinking about the plot when I put it down. I can see why it’s such a classic in schools, but I think I read it a little too late. The writing style reflects the narrator, but I couldn’t help thinking that it might have not been entirely deliberate, seeing as Hinton was 17 when she wrote it.