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theuncultured's review
5.0
I absolutely love reading Ginsberg out loud, mostly to myself, while facing a mirror or an empty wall. You definitely get a grander feeling when the words are vocalized. It's as if the entire thing becomes present and pleasantly melancholic. I don't know if it's true that that is how his poems were meant to be read - I mean, I've never heard of another group of people (or a generation) that have come together to bring out the most verbally beautiful sentences with such infinite writing, so who knows?
Ginsberg's words come alive in this one, the rhythm is absolutely brilliant, the lines as controversial and raw as you've always known them. Some of the poems in this collection were new to me (I will never forget that it took me two days to finish 'Kaddish' due to its sheer power) and some I've read before, but all in all, this is a book for the shelves.
Ginsberg's words come alive in this one, the rhythm is absolutely brilliant, the lines as controversial and raw as you've always known them. Some of the poems in this collection were new to me (I will never forget that it took me two days to finish 'Kaddish' due to its sheer power) and some I've read before, but all in all, this is a book for the shelves.
sba_reads's review
5.0
I have a few of Ginsberg's other poetry collections, but I was drawn to this short collection because of other poems I hadn't yet read. He was a genius with words! He managed to conjure up the emotions, the turmoil of a decrepit society purely using beautiful and moving language. I'm moving my literary tastes into reading more Beat Generation pieces. Ginsberg never gets old!
This collection is short, but poignant. It's one of those books you can keep in your bag whenever you are out and about and need inspiration or something to make you think deeply about the unchanging world from back then to now. It's pretty cool.
This collection is short, but poignant. It's one of those books you can keep in your bag whenever you are out and about and need inspiration or something to make you think deeply about the unchanging world from back then to now. It's pretty cool.
croissantmusain13's review
3.0
This is a very hesitant 3 stars though I'm more sure that I'd do 3,5⭐ should the system allows, but sure, 3,5 in spirit it is.
I'm neither in love nor dislike this book, Ginsberg's works are rather hard to digest in one read, so I've marked down some pieces I'd like to revisist again, either for a better understanding or to really get what the heck was going on in that time being.
"Kaddish" and "Ignu" are probably the most confusing to me; while "Sunflower Sutra" and "Death to Van Gogh's Ear" are my favourites among others.
In a more illustrative way, I suppose I could say that there are some certain parts read like you're staring at a painting of Hieronymus Bosch - colourful, lots of things going on at the same time and you would be a bit lost at which details should you pay attention to.
I'm neither in love nor dislike this book, Ginsberg's works are rather hard to digest in one read, so I've marked down some pieces I'd like to revisist again, either for a better understanding or to really get what the heck was going on in that time being.
"Kaddish" and "Ignu" are probably the most confusing to me; while "Sunflower Sutra" and "Death to Van Gogh's Ear" are my favourites among others.
In a more illustrative way, I suppose I could say that there are some certain parts read like you're staring at a painting of Hieronymus Bosch - colourful, lots of things going on at the same time and you would be a bit lost at which details should you pay attention to.
absentjean's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-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
4.75
alitasharing's review
2.0
Devastating. Brutal. Poems of exquisite suffering. I think some part of me has changed in reading these poems. Some hidden eyes within myself now flutter open; looking, seeing - taking in.
This collection is arresting despite some of the poems' absurd vagueness and hyperspecific references.
Ginsberg writes with the openness of a laceration - the sinew, blood, and tendon of his life laid out for all to read. I cried reading Kaddish, I was stirred reading Ignu.
This man can write poetry that is both a punch in the gut and a kiss on the forehead.
Update (24 June 2021):
It has come to my attention that Ginsberg was a pedophile.
Allen Ginsburg, whose work is widely regarded as great American literature, was a member of NAMBLA (the North American Man/Boy Love Association) - a US pro-pedophilia group. This changes a lot. Even though I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and his writing, I believe that it is often impossible to separate artists from their art - the latter is borne of the former, and thus, bears the characteristics of its parent. Yes, in time it may change and an artist may acknowledge that who they were is no longer who they wish to be. I believe in leaving room for growth and healing for everyone.
But it is different for artists who are now dead. Their life's works (what they made, did and said) speak for them. And Ginsberg was on some real garbage.
Now look, the dude did a lot. He talked openly about his support for communism, was a major proponent of freedom for gay people and even worked to demystify drugs. It's undeniable that he believed in some wonderful and radical ideas. But Ginsberg he was a pedophile and that I cannot abide.
So, I am changing my rating. I am changing it because I have learned something about the author that will change the way I see their art. The love and respect I have for this work has soured and decayed. I can appreciate it from a technical standpoint but I am sick of watching white men be worshipped and idolised without acknowledgement of their harmful, horrible ideas and the things they supported.
Whoever you are or may be, I still think you should read this book but let it be with the knowledge that it was written by a man who once said, "...I’m a member of NAMBLA because I love boys too—everybody does, who has a little humanity." And that is a pretty gross thing to say.
This collection is arresting despite some of the poems' absurd vagueness and hyperspecific references.
Ginsberg writes with the openness of a laceration - the sinew, blood, and tendon of his life laid out for all to read. I cried reading Kaddish, I was stirred reading Ignu.
This man can write poetry that is both a punch in the gut and a kiss on the forehead.
Update (24 June 2021):
It has come to my attention that Ginsberg was a pedophile.
Allen Ginsburg, whose work is widely regarded as great American literature, was a member of NAMBLA (the North American Man/Boy Love Association) - a US pro-pedophilia group. This changes a lot. Even though I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and his writing, I believe that it is often impossible to separate artists from their art - the latter is borne of the former, and thus, bears the characteristics of its parent. Yes, in time it may change and an artist may acknowledge that who they were is no longer who they wish to be. I believe in leaving room for growth and healing for everyone.
But it is different for artists who are now dead. Their life's works (what they made, did and said) speak for them. And Ginsberg was on some real garbage.
Now look, the dude did a lot. He talked openly about his support for communism, was a major proponent of freedom for gay people and even worked to demystify drugs. It's undeniable that he believed in some wonderful and radical ideas. But Ginsberg he was a pedophile and that I cannot abide.
So, I am changing my rating. I am changing it because I have learned something about the author that will change the way I see their art. The love and respect I have for this work has soured and decayed. I can appreciate it from a technical standpoint but I am sick of watching white men be worshipped and idolised without acknowledgement of their harmful, horrible ideas and the things they supported.
Whoever you are or may be, I still think you should read this book but let it be with the knowledge that it was written by a man who once said, "...I’m a member of NAMBLA because I love boys too—everybody does, who has a little humanity." And that is a pretty gross thing to say.
nietlucht's review
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
4.25