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michaelion's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
1.0
I don't even wanna review this. I didn't even wanna read it. This was kinda more of a hate read.
For context, I looked up the author because I noticed this was part of a series (I wanted to make sure it could be read out of order) and I read a New Yorker article where he basically admits he's a clout chaser. He wants attention and fame and he'll do what he can to get it. That's exactly what this "poetry" collection feels like. Something the hoteps would gobble up. Something very shallow, very this is why we make fun of Instagram poets. The whole book is generic, vague, and lacks any real substance. (Which is ironic, because in the article he mentions how people don't discuss anything of substance anymore. He was talking about social media's affect on people but. Sir. You're an Instagram poet. On purpose. You chose this life. The call is coming from inside the house.) I think reading that article may have tainted my opinion beforehand, but I already knew as soon as I left the library and saw that this collection for Black women was written by a Black man that I'd be in for some bullshit.
For context, I looked up the author because I noticed this was part of a series (I wanted to make sure it could be read out of order) and I read a New Yorker article where he basically admits he's a clout chaser. He wants attention and fame and he'll do what he can to get it. That's exactly what this "poetry" collection feels like. Something the hoteps would gobble up. Something very shallow, very this is why we make fun of Instagram poets. The whole book is generic, vague, and lacks any real substance. (Which is ironic, because in the article he mentions how people don't discuss anything of substance anymore. He was talking about social media's affect on people but. Sir. You're an Instagram poet. On purpose. You chose this life. The call is coming from inside the house.) I think reading that article may have tainted my opinion beforehand, but I already knew as soon as I left the library and saw that this collection for Black women was written by a Black man that I'd be in for some bullshit.
(Actually, it's not even specifically for Black women. There isn't anything in here that is, there's no better way to say it, racially specific. Again, very generic.)
There's a lot of bad poetry out there for sure, but the thing that makes that poetry good regardless is that it someone gave an earnest effort to express their thoughts or feelings. This collection honestly lacks heart that's just naturally in poetry.
It reads like a self help book that doesn't really give advice? But also, it seems like it's supposed to be a book for women who've been hurt by men, but then it turns into advice to men about how to treat their woman so they don't lose them? Pick one.
I did give it an extra .25 for the thought that even just one Black girl out there would read this and feel comforted or motivated but. Yeah. That's it.
I did give it an extra .25 for the thought that even just one Black girl out there would read this and feel comforted or motivated but. Yeah. That's it.
It's also written in a way that's probably supposed to be read one story/poem at a time, but if you're reading it the way I did you notice how much he repeats things. Not just concepts, sometimes even whole sentences. Maybe it was made to be read one page per night but even then I can imagine any other reader also noticing how repetitive it can be.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
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