Reviews with content warning for Rape - I Would Leave Me If I Could: A Collection of Poetry

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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fadeddpages's review against another edition

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emotional reflective

4.5

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earthflesh's review

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dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

1.75

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emmehooks's review against another edition

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dark reflective fast-paced

3.5

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siriface's review

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

4.0

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jbabbm's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

I enjoyed reading this but the experience could've been better.

I read this while also listening to it at the same time which allowed me to experiment how Halsey actually meant the poems to be read instead of just providing a rhythm for them myself.

Halsey is actually, from my opinion, a great songwriter and singer and a lot of her poems were reminiscent of her songs for me. However, some of the poems in here did seem to me to diverge from the common theme and mood of the collection. Additionally, the audiobook version does add or skips words as well as excluding one whole poem from the narration.

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bashsbooks's review against another edition

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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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