Scan barcode
yinflower's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, War, Animal death, Death of parent, and Death
danibee33's review
5.0
This poetry collection, and all of K-Ming Chang's work, is my whole personality.
kaoric's review
dark
emotional
reflective
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
3.75
valtimke's review
5.0
5 stars on some, 4 stars on most. I round up for poetry collections as long as there were multiple poems I thoroughly enjoyed, even if it isn't majority. My favorite poem was actually the last poem. I loved the pace of it--it had such a cool beat.
The 5 star poems for me were the ones about things her mother and grandmother told her. 4.5 star poems were the ones about men taking things from women. The 3-4 star poems were the ones mostly about her sexuality. I don't mind the element and she executed it well, I just can't resonate with her. I should be able to at least resonate with her on the passion of wanting to be understood by her parents, even if my need to be understood is different and not so much a need. They just came up a little short for me. I found I liked the pacing of the other poems better.
All in all, I would love to read from Kristin Chang in the future. This was a really great collection!
The 5 star poems for me were the ones about things her mother and grandmother told her. 4.5 star poems were the ones about men taking things from women. The 3-4 star poems were the ones mostly about her sexuality. I don't mind the element and she executed it well, I just can't resonate with her. I should be able to at least resonate with her on the passion of wanting to be understood by her parents, even if my need to be understood is different and not so much a need. They just came up a little short for me. I found I liked the pacing of the other poems better.
All in all, I would love to read from Kristin Chang in the future. This was a really great collection!
colyforniaroll's review
dark
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Standout poems:
The Chinese Sappho
Midas
Closet space
Heaven/Sky
The Chinese Sappho
Midas
Closet space
Heaven/Sky
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: War
ale_ja's review
5.0
this chapbook is my guiding light bc “Bury me in my body / so I’ll have something to eat / down here. Meat is a meritocracy // & I was born the best / to feed you. What can a man’s hands make / that mine cannot / butcher? Hunger is my wife & I / its knife. Worship is my whetstone / & the wound is my witness.” HELLO??? what is this if not manifesto, k-ming chang thank u always, for setting me on a path toward butchery
bananafreckles's review
5.0
The line breaks consistently left me GASPING. What an incredible collection!!
sam8834's review
5.0
Kristin Chang connects language to the various themes/elements in this chapbook (race, the body, queerness, family) in a mesmerizing way....languid and dizzying and assertive all at once. I can't remember the last time I read an emerging poet with such a strong voice. Looking forward to her future work.
chichio's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75