Reviews

Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution by Julia Alvarez

literatureaesthetic's review against another edition

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3.0

I couldn't have read this poetry collection at a better time. With the Black Lives Matter movement, we see the world fight back against injustice. This poetry collection is doing the same, it argues against all forms of inequality. The poems are raw, and full of pain and anger. They're an embodiment of hope, change, desperation, feminism, strength and

sr_yancey's review

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I only wish I could read these poems in their original languages and contexts.

thebookhippie's review against another edition

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4.0

Very good.

robertrivasplata's review

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4.5

Collection of Latin American poems of resistance & protest from the last hundred years or so. Includes poets from the French-speaking Caribbean, & Brazil, also includes a number of poets writing in Mayan, Mapuche, Miskito, Quechua, among other indigenous languages. Each poem is presented in English & the original language it is written in, which is interesting to see the choices the translators made, & it's also great for someone learning Spanish, Mayan, etc. I liked the poet & translator bios at the end, but I wouldn't have minded even more info about all of them, & about the contexts of the poems themselves. I will need to look up music by Rebeca Lane, Margarita Losada Vargas, & Victor Jara. Interesting to note that most of the Nicaraguan Poets were prominent supporters of the FMLN//Sandinistas, but then broke with them in the late 80s-90s, perhaps supporting my theory that wars empower the psychos, & leave the poets out in the cold. 

clasea2's review against another edition

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5.0

Great jumping off point for getting into Latin American poetry

bizymtteacher's review against another edition

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5.0

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eArc.

This was an excellent book of poetry and I plan to purchase a copy for my class library. I also plan to share some of the poems with my poetry class. Often I read a book of poetry and it has a few good poems but this book really has a wealth of moving and strong poems, that I think will really appeal to students and lend themselves to being discussed and used with so many topics we discuss in literature. The author notes/ mini bios were great too and I think they add to the poems especially when sharing with students.
So many moving passages in this book and I really can't wait to share it with students! I highly recommend this book.

pearamour's review against another edition

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3.0

deathtomartyrs's review

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fast-paced

3.5

celadon's review against another edition

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5.0

I have to say, this might be one of my favorite poetry anthologies of all time.

Resistencia takes poets from the Latine diaspora and presents one poem from each of them. It is only the beginning for reading work from the diaspora, but it gives you a wide, fruitful taste. It’s worth looking into individual artists (I will when I get a chance) but this is the perfect introduction, an amuse-bouche so to speak.

The poems were translated into English, most of them originating in Spañish. But others were translated from French, Portuguese, Mayan, and other indigenous dialects too. I savored reading them in Spañish, with English as a guide. The words rolled off my tongue beautifully when I read aloud, filling me with a simmering warmth. I have so much more appreciation for the poems because I could read them in their mother tongue.

This is an essential read for poetry lovers, those who want to expand their lexicon of reading, or just want something different from conventional English literature.

It is a warcry of a book, a bold compilation that burns with fury, and thrills with passion. From poems political, social, and intimate, Resistencia has it all. It forces you to stare unblinking at the bones that our civilization is built on. Compels you to reimagine, rebuild, and rebirth ourselves once more. Who can start the avalanche of change better than the activists in this book?

bookstobechill's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.0