scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
So inventive, so deep-hearted. Did not expect the turn these pieces took at the end but it only made the whole experience deeper. And these poems then give new depth to the characters/stories it builds on, as if to say, but yes, of course, these held that meaning all along. Simply stunning.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
5.0
It feels like I've been punched in the gut. This collection peers into the lives and minds of those affected by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which led to the (preventable) Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011. These stories, imagined or not, remain relevant in today's climate and political landscape. I'm old enough to clearly remember when these events happened. I was about to graduate from high school, and I remember that not a lot of the adults around me cared. But they should have. Just as we should all care about what's happening today.
carsonrmowery's review against another edition
5.0
Last night I had the opportunity to listed to Dr. Roripaugh read some poems from this collection, and they were remarkable. Now, after finishing the collection in its entirety, I can assure you that it is stunning. Roripaugh's ability to manipulate language to create haunting, beautiful images feels completely new and unlike anything I've read so far. I highly recommend this collection.
vgmsonnet's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t even remember what algorithm led me to Lee Ann Roripaugh’s Tsunami vs. the Fukushima 50, but I’m grateful to it. Who can resist an epigram from Godzilla?
Inspired by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster, Roripaugh’s poems give voice to the forces of nature (primarily the tsunami) and to its (or, as imagined, her) various victims and ghosts.
I loved Roripaugh’s combination of imagery- images from the natural world exist beside human/pop culture/tech ones and inform each other in surprising and incisive ways. This helped me wrap my head around so much that I didn’t know about, but I still had to make frequent use of Google as I read through the collection.
Standout poems were:
“radioactive man”
“miki endo as flint marko (aka sandman)”
“hulk smash”
“white tsubame”
“ghosts of the tohoku coast”
Though it’s not exactly an accessible collection, I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in eco/docu poetry.
Inspired by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster, Roripaugh’s poems give voice to the forces of nature (primarily the tsunami) and to its (or, as imagined, her) various victims and ghosts.
I loved Roripaugh’s combination of imagery- images from the natural world exist beside human/pop culture/tech ones and inform each other in surprising and incisive ways. This helped me wrap my head around so much that I didn’t know about, but I still had to make frequent use of Google as I read through the collection.
Standout poems were:
“radioactive man”
“miki endo as flint marko (aka sandman)”
“hulk smash”
“white tsubame”
“ghosts of the tohoku coast”
Though it’s not exactly an accessible collection, I definitely recommend it for anyone interested in eco/docu poetry.
jonathanwlodarski's review against another edition
4.0
Some of these poems were really doing it for me and some felt like they were stretching their own concept/conceit too thin.
3.5/5
3.5/5
dracoaestas's review
4.0
Imaginative poetry with incredible language/style. I'm always a fan of using a sci-fi premise (in this case, superheroes and kaiju) to explore real systems or traumas.