Reviews with content warning for Drug abuse - När min bror var Aztec

Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'

När min bror var Aztec by Natalie Díaz

20 reviews

bobbygw's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

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nairijan's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

One of my favorite modern poets, Natalie Diaz absolutely took my breath away with this first collection of poems. When My Brother Was an Aztec really foregrounds dysfunction, within the individual, the family, and the colonized society. Beautifully drawing on and honoring mythology and history, this collection of poem shines with unforgettable imagery and a mastery of poetic craft (in the abecadarian, tercets, and ghazal within).

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yinflower's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

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lidia7's review against another edition

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emotional medium-paced

from Prayers or Oubliettes

The world has tired of tears.
We weep owls now. They live longer.
They know their way in the dark.

favorite poem: My Brother at 3 A.M.

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gabbygarcia's review against another edition

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challenging dark medium-paced

3.0

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readingwithkaitlyn's review against another edition

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dark reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

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edilund's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious tense

5.0

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cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

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4.0

This collection of poetry is challenging as it deals a lot with addiction and reservation life. My favorite poems were: Why I Hate Raisins, Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination, A Woman With No Legs, Reservation Mary, Cloud Watching, The Last Mojave Indian Barbie, Jimmy Eagle's Hot Cowboy Boot Blues, The Facts of Art, How to Go to Dinner with a Brother on Drugs, Downhill Triplets, and Orange Alert

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jayisreading's review against another edition

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emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

Having read Postcolonial Love Poem and loving it, I was excited to pick up When My Brother Was an Aztec. Díaz primarily focuses on her brother’s drug addiction, as well as its impact on his loved ones. However, interspersed were poems that explore other themes such as Mojave life and erotic, queer love. I was pleasantly surprised to see poems that focused on the latter, but I can’t deny that they kind of felt out-of-place.

Reading her debut collection, I see that Díaz always had an incredible grasp of language to create stunning imagery and rhythm that makes me appreciate Postcolonial Love Poem even more. It’s just incredible what she’s able to do with words to evoke so many emotions and metaphors.

Some favorites: “Abecedarian Requiring Further Examination of Anglikan Seraphym Subjugation of a Wild Indian Rezervation,” “Why I Hate Raisins,” “Cloud Watching,” “How to Go to Dinner with a Brother on Drugs,” “I Watch Her Eat the Apple,” and “I Lean Out the Window and She Nods Off in Bed, the Needle Gently Rocking on the Bedside Table”

Read for the Sealey Challenge.

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birdbeakbeast's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad

4.5

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