nick_jenkins's review against another edition
5.0
A visceral, unsparing collection that reminded me of Daniel Borzutzky in its sardonic appropriation of both images of violence and the language of violence, like some of the best literature it succeeds at re-sensitizing the reader to the actual terror of physical pain and the horror of human cruelty. But Majmudar is also one of the most linguistically agile contemporary poets I have encountered, copiously troping his way through a blizzard of puns and verbal transmogrifications.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
Reminder.
I couldn't remember why I gave up on this when I started reading it a few years back and I didn't have a did-not-finish tag. It became blatantly apparent partway in. The ode to the blowjob was irritating enough but I couldn't continue after a scene of abuse/sexual assault.
I couldn't remember why I gave up on this when I started reading it a few years back and I didn't have a did-not-finish tag. It became blatantly apparent partway in. The ode to the blowjob was irritating enough but I couldn't continue after a scene of abuse/sexual assault.
heatherer's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a fan of a lot of Amit Madmujar's poetry and this collection was no exception. He is masterful with language (and I'm grateful for the dictionary function on the kindle). I could have done without a couple of the poems that were pretty much pornographic and found a couple others to be obtuse (my usual complaint about poetry), but most of the collection was beautiful, thought-provoking, and worthy of multiple reads.
jossarian4's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this was a pretty crazy trip.
Some of the poetry was remarkable. Some of it was mediocre. Some of it was riveting, some of it was boring - but, that said, what was great was perfection, and what wasn't was still okay. This collection forced me to say the words: "I really love Crocodile Porn" so it has some inherent value. "Abecedarian" was Majmudar's epic here, a sex-infused look into the differences between men and women, and it was wonderful.
Highly recommend, with the caveat that some of the poems won't engage readers.
Some of the poetry was remarkable. Some of it was mediocre. Some of it was riveting, some of it was boring - but, that said, what was great was perfection, and what wasn't was still okay. This collection forced me to say the words: "I really love Crocodile Porn" so it has some inherent value. "Abecedarian" was Majmudar's epic here, a sex-infused look into the differences between men and women, and it was wonderful.
Highly recommend, with the caveat that some of the poems won't engage readers.
mallory10100's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
3.0
read this for school, it was kinda hard to understandÂ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Bullying, and Racism
helie's review against another edition
2.0
The title and cover made this book seem far more interesting and political than it was. So many of the poems felt like filler, and some sounded like responses to creative writing prompts.
The Abcedarian was the one poem that got kind of interesting for me. For that poem alone I might hold onto this for a while.
The Abcedarian was the one poem that got kind of interesting for me. For that poem alone I might hold onto this for a while.
esmithumland's review
4.0
I would have given this collection five stars, but the whole section about blowjobs (and non-consensual blowjobs?) really put me off.
yfbpodcast's review against another edition
1.0
Wow. This man went from writing one of my favorite books this year to one of my least favorites.
After three or four pages the extended ode to the BJ sort of lost it's charm. Just a little.
God this sucked. So misleading.
After three or four pages the extended ode to the BJ sort of lost it's charm. Just a little.
God this sucked. So misleading.
jackiijackii's review
5.0
I really loved these poems. "To Anne Sexton" is my favorite, I had to put the book down and come back after a while to reread that one.
debs71d4e's review
4.0
3.75 stars. There were a number of poems in this collection I read more than once.
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