mxpringle's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Sexual assault, Self harm, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Racism
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, and Sexual violence
aglclark's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Suicide, Homophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
hngisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Sexual violence and Sexual assault
thatenbyisisreads's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Self harm, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
atla98's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, and Toxic relationship
rdebner's review against another edition
4.5
Minor: Sexual violence and Biphobia
nerdybookies's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Sexual violence
suzyreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.5
After having read so much of their work, there’s a familiarity that travels across genres. This poetry collection is fiery and covers many difficult topics that you might be familiar with if you’ve read any of their other autobiographical work, but it also includes a distinct gentleness and an acknowledgment of the possibility of transformation.
While reading, I was struck by how religious this book was, with biblical references woven throughout. During the talk, Emezi spoke about how so much of who they are is deeply religious, speaking particularly about religion as ritual, religion as being an entity that is in service to a community rather than as a hierarchical relationship.
The “What If” poems, imagining Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as family friends, were some of my favorites, particularly “what if jesus was my big brother” and “what if mary auntie explained mortality”
I also loved the poems that were more dense blocks of text, which Emezi described as “a practice in releasing constraint.” esp the poem “disclosure”!!
other favorites: i was born in a great length of river, sanctuary, “but why did you feel you had to kill yourself, baby love?”
Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Self harm, Homophobia, Sexual violence, and Violence