Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

I Would Leave Me If I Could: A Collection of Poetry by Halsey

30 reviews

mandareads222's review

dark emotional sad slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Blood

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

maggiezz's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Mental illness

shadow_cat94's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

2.5

Halsey's first poetry book is written in free-verse touching on a variety of topics and a style similar to her music rather than more classic/lyrical poetry. I liked some of these poems more than others, but most of thems I personally felt like they could have used more work before publication or were starting ideas rather than whole poems (one was even a portion of a song of hers).

It travels from her childhood through adulthood touching between romanti  relationships, family dynamics, traumatic experiences, drug abuse from friends and partners, and the impacts of fame to sum up some of the overarching subjects. Please check the triggers before deciding to read this book if you struggle with any heavy topics.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Blood, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt

pand_books's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

2.0

 mini review:
- while Halsey does bring up important topics that are personal to her, - feminism, abortion, abusive relationships, etc. - the execution of these topics is not the best.
- the ideas for these poems are great...
- ... but they could do with stronger imagery, more self-reflection, fewer fluff/cutting of lines, more thoughtful line breaks, and more unique use of diction.
- these poems, unfortunately, read like first drafts. I know that's a harsh critique (and my apologies to the poet) but I see the potential there. With some more editing, I could see these poems being stronger and getting their point across in a more impactful way.
- the poet tells us directly in lines and even in the title what the poem is "about" as if we may not get the message. instead of showing us what the poem is "about," letting the reader piece it together with the elements used throughout the poem, the poet jumps the gun and tells the reader outright - perhaps there isn't enough imagery or poetic devices for the reader to see the message.
- lots of use of cliche metaphors and similies.
- cannot get over the lines: "But my head down / on a mattress / famous actress / and she skrrrt'n me" (American Woman, 64).

While I gave this two stars, which I rarely do, there are a few select poems worth reading from this collection. The two stars are because so much was lacking from the collection as a whole.

Poems worth reading from this collection:
- The Professional
- Lullabye
- The Painter
- Fun Girl
- The Cave 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence and Abortion

Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

earthflesh's review

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

1.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness

Minor: Child death

lostinthesound's review

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Blood

Moderate: Addiction

bashsbooks's review against another edition

dark emotional slow-paced

2.5

Halsey writes poetry like she writes songs. Therefore, I would say you will like this if you like Halsey songs, and you will not like this if you like standard contemporary poetry. I have song and poem related brainrot, so I was FASCINATED to see a book that so clearly showed me what the differences are between the two. But if that doesn't really interest you, then I would not really recommend it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Body shaming, Miscarriage, and Vomit

pagesofnectar's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

You wish to burn alive 
in the flame of a love unrequited.
It's simple.
Write.

Sooo, let's say this is maybe an actual 3.5, since that's more representative of the percentage of poems I liked, but I rounded it up to a 4, because:

•  I'm a nice person 

and 

• you know what, I'm not at all ashamed to say that I had a great time with this poetry collection! 

I found many lyrics relatable and touching and the ones I couldn't relate to 100% were conveying very important experiences and it's chilling to think that some of them are autobiographical. I actually found some parts to be very well crafted and poetically powerful and some of them really moved me and made me appreciate her writing! What I loved most was how honest, spontaneous and heartfelt I found all of it to be. It feels like this woman wears her heart on her sleeve and it's nice to get that from "celebrities" - what I mean is, I guess, that reading her poetry you get that she feels deeply and expresses herself honestly and I loved to see that!
A big part of the poems read a bit too much like songs for my taste as if she couldn't release all of them as songs and put them into this poetry collection instead!
Overall a very pleasant reading experience, with quite a few lyrics that I appreciated a lot!

Has my heart,
once so full of love,
finally drained itself like a yellow raisin?
Will the children begin to notice?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Infertility, Abortion, and Alcohol

cosmic_blooms's review against another edition

dark emotional fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

nat_kiverse's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail