januaryghosts's review against another edition
4.0
I really wanted to love reading this each time it was assigned to me in my American lit classes, but I think I like the idea of Whitman more than I actually like reading Whitman. I do find many of these passages to be moving and captivating, but there are many times where it is just hard to get through. I do think that everyone should read this at one point or another, and it does deserve the acclaim it gets, but it is not always suited for the modern palette.
cheetahpig's review against another edition
2.0
Am I the only one who thinks that Whitman could have used a good stern editor to cut back some of his ecstatic rambling?
circelink's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- 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
laurarosessupposes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Beautiful passages throughout and written with such vibrancy and passion for life that it is hard to truly dislike this. However, it is repetitive and can be alienating if not in the right headspace to immerse yourself. I had to put it down on my more anxious days as Whitman's joy was so repetitive that nothing stood out to break through my haze of worrisome thoughts.
ian_'s review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
2.75
I love it and I hate it. I love it because the poet is so attuned to the present moment and finds joy in every little part of life. There are some beautiful lines in here. He romanticizes everything (although, perhaps to a fault--when you romanticize everything and create a page-long list of all the things you are romanticizing, is anything then really romantic?). But he also appears incredibly arrogant, a true egomaniac with no sense of epistemic humility, especially in Song of Myself. I read a scholarly article that said that maybe this wasn't the point of Whitman's verse, that there's a better way to look at it. And there might be some truth to that. He tempers the egoism with occasional lines that seem to assert a kind of humility. But even if you try really hard to see from a different perspective, when you're actually reading and experiencing the poetry it's really hard not to feel it strained under the weight of his ego.
robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
Well that was A LOT.
Nature poems feel like a hyperverbose Mary Oliver, not my preferred format.
Preferred shorter, quieter moments of description in between grand proclamations, where it only takes a few sentences instead of a great list, i.e. 'Sparkles From the Wheel'.
Long tracts on 'war's human cost is awful' which OF COURSE, but not a sentiment I want to read on repeat. Also long tracts on 'America, yay!' which seems to vacillate between entreating and proclaiming America to be great - suffice to say they didn't work for me.
Whitman seems to be optimistic and open minded to the point of naivete which doesn't mean he's immune to the missteps of how society viewed minorities at the time; I THINK he was pushing for equality, he SAID it a lot, but he kept describing black people and women in specific terms and exalting the able-bodied which, yeah, no.
Then there's all the sex and death which makes me think that a) the scholars suggesting bisexual/pansexual poet hypothesis are correct and b) like probably everybody who lives through a time of conflict, Whitman had unresolved trauma/obsession with what he witnessed (volunteering at hospital during American Civil War).
Estimate that given barriers (epic poetic structure and historical time of writing), I got 75% reading comprehension, 10% wincing as a modern reader.
Nature poems feel like a hyperverbose Mary Oliver, not my preferred format.
Preferred shorter, quieter moments of description in between grand proclamations, where it only takes a few sentences instead of a great list, i.e. 'Sparkles From the Wheel'.
Long tracts on 'war's human cost is awful' which OF COURSE, but not a sentiment I want to read on repeat. Also long tracts on 'America, yay!' which seems to vacillate between entreating and proclaiming America to be great - suffice to say they didn't work for me.
Whitman seems to be optimistic and open minded to the point of naivete which doesn't mean he's immune to the missteps of how society viewed minorities at the time; I THINK he was pushing for equality, he SAID it a lot, but he kept describing black people and women in specific terms and exalting the able-bodied which, yeah, no.
Then there's all the sex and death which makes me think that a) the scholars suggesting bisexual/pansexual poet hypothesis are correct and b) like probably everybody who lives through a time of conflict, Whitman had unresolved trauma/obsession with what he witnessed (volunteering at hospital during American Civil War).
Estimate that given barriers (epic poetic structure and historical time of writing), I got 75% reading comprehension, 10% wincing as a modern reader.
misslupinelady's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
amslersf's review against another edition
5.0
Another Brooklyn book! I understand why Whitman spent a life revising this piece. The beauty he sees and the lessons he unfolds were the total of what he saw and needed in this world. When I dig back into these leaves, it is indeed hard to see what else would be needed.
sanjana_datla's review against another edition
3.0
Whitmanian ideology: Progressive for its time and is of historical relevance because it marked a departure from old beliefs and a new era in arts, literature, and society.
Whitmanian poetry: So so so repetitive. The content of the poems are rich and revelatory, but he will take ten pages to say what can be said in one .
Whitmanian poetry: So so so repetitive. The content of the poems are rich and revelatory, but he will take ten pages to say what can be said in one .
bananax's review against another edition
5.0
Woah! I never found a collection of poetry this great. As part of the youth, I really recommend this book to people who is eager to find meaning in Life.