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spicycronereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This is not the kind of poetry that you sink into. This is the kind of poetry where you tiptoe around its jagged edges and appreciate the view from a distance.
Diaz‘s collection of poetry deals with the violence of ongoing colonization, but also the restorative power of love and heritage. Not in a way that alleviates any of us from responsibility, but in a way that suggests a path towards a better future. She does this with haunting lyricism and, often, black humor. I’ve no doubt that not being queer or indigenous there are subtleties of language and imagery that I missed. But I still found it a powerful read.
Favorites in this collection are “American Arithmetic,” “Top Ten Reasons Indians are Good at Basketball,” “Snake-light,” and “Cranes, Mafiosos, and a Polaroid Camera,” which deals with her relationship with her brother who has substance abuse and mental health issues.
Diaz‘s collection of poetry deals with the violence of ongoing colonization, but also the restorative power of love and heritage. Not in a way that alleviates any of us from responsibility, but in a way that suggests a path towards a better future. She does this with haunting lyricism and, often, black humor. I’ve no doubt that not being queer or indigenous there are subtleties of language and imagery that I missed. But I still found it a powerful read.
Favorites in this collection are “American Arithmetic,” “Top Ten Reasons Indians are Good at Basketball,” “Snake-light,” and “Cranes, Mafiosos, and a Polaroid Camera,” which deals with her relationship with her brother who has substance abuse and mental health issues.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug abuse, Mental illness, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Colonisation