dlberglund's review
4.0
Poetic parable that speaks to us of repression and abuse of power, while asking under what conditions silence--of different kinds-- is the best policy. This is a unique kind of poetic prose, told in several voices across a community and an omniscient narrator. Relevant and powerful.
scrow1022's review
5.0
Oh wow. Exquisite writing, idea, conception. So needed in these times. A miracle.
desireeslibrary's review
4.0
I don't love reviewing poetry because I think you just need to experience it for yourself. Nothing I say will match the power of this collection of connected poems about the way we are complacent in the face of what we should be in arms about. Just an overall absolutely beautiful and powerful commentary on oppression, military violence, and resistance. WOW.
helterskelliter's review
5.0
“At the trial of God, we will ask: why did you allow all this?
And the answer will be an echo: why did you allow all this?” (40)
In this narrative collection of parables made poetry, a distant but familiar country reacts to turmoil and tragedy, a young deaf boy is shot in cold blood in the town square by an uncaring soldier. The boy is left to rot, the townspeople left to rage. Their rage becomes a demonstration, a protest against violence and cruelty.
The town is deaf but not silent.
Their grief is loud and unapologetic. How violence made public affects individuals is explored through vignettes about the private lives of these citizens. Their quiet pains, their deafening aches. It is a profound meditation on how war and tragedy, both so senseless, can taint a community.
This collections asks us how we can be silent in the face of unspeakable atrocities, how we can swallow our screams and pretend to forget. How can we live and love when war is in our streets, when innocent people are being gunned down in the streets by the very people who are supposed to protect them? How can we allow it? Too easily, unfortunately. Too quietly.
I HIGHLY recommend this collection!! It’s a must-read!
And the answer will be an echo: why did you allow all this?” (40)
In this narrative collection of parables made poetry, a distant but familiar country reacts to turmoil and tragedy, a young deaf boy is shot in cold blood in the town square by an uncaring soldier. The boy is left to rot, the townspeople left to rage. Their rage becomes a demonstration, a protest against violence and cruelty.
The town is deaf but not silent.
Their grief is loud and unapologetic. How violence made public affects individuals is explored through vignettes about the private lives of these citizens. Their quiet pains, their deafening aches. It is a profound meditation on how war and tragedy, both so senseless, can taint a community.
This collections asks us how we can be silent in the face of unspeakable atrocities, how we can swallow our screams and pretend to forget. How can we live and love when war is in our streets, when innocent people are being gunned down in the streets by the very people who are supposed to protect them? How can we allow it? Too easily, unfortunately. Too quietly.
I HIGHLY recommend this collection!! It’s a must-read!
karol99's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
camillatd's review
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
4.0
I think a lot of this went over my head, but it was certainly brilliant and emotive and well-crafted.
pelumitowuru's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
A quick read. Deaf Republic for a long time has been one of those collections I see in web weaving posts but never got the chance to read like Siken or Vuong. However, very different from these poets, Kaminsky writes a book about resistance and resistance against listening, against hearing, against obedience. Which one came first, silence or the words. Neither matters but the strength of what they can do. Silence is the passive resistance, and it is the building of more. Sure no one will talk to hear the stories but the silence exists as more than medium for survival. It is life