lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
It takes guts to write a book of apology and a sincere one at that. It's important to acknowledge mistakes and not just pretend they never happened though I do wonder if it's dragging it out for everyone involved.
myranda_the_bookwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I felt this was well done, and what it talks about it very important. I understand this is a revised version of itself, because the families of women whose words were used had not been asked permission and I admire that the author and publisher made the effort to make the changes needed to stop doing accidental harm. I just wish there was a little more that had replaced what needed to be taken out, and perhaps a little more time given to the poet to do so, because some of the pieces felt thinner than I think they were meant to be.
_mallc_'s review against another edition
4.0
Worth it for the introduction and afterword alone. A book with a troubled coming to be but the result is insight into a fascinating process with one of the best poets writing today (Lee Maracle) and some beautiful work.
brogan7's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
I knew nothing about this book when I requested it, and had I known I probably wouldn't have read it.
However, it is well worth reading the introduction by Lee Maracle, brilliant and savvy woman, for what she says poetry does and what it is a poet does in service to their poems.
However, it is well worth reading the introduction by Lee Maracle, brilliant and savvy woman, for what she says poetry does and what it is a poet does in service to their poems.
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
I Am a Body of Land is a great book of poetry, but not quite my favourite of Shannon Webb-Campbell's. However, after reading the acknowledgements in this book, I realize I didn't know the poet hadn't asked family members of MMIW to consent to the reproduction of their daughters/mothers/sisters' words in Webb-Campbell's previous book of poetry. A highly successful collection that inadvertently may have harmed vulnerable victims. However, it took courage to point out this failing in her next book and I know Webb-Campbell's intentions were good with Who Took My Sister? While this one was less impactful to me, it was still skillfully crafted and enjoyable. I fully recommend to fans of poetry and indigenous writings and perspectives.
stephanieridiculous's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
2.0
I feel bad giving this 2 stars, but there just wasn't a lot of meat, even for just 66 pages. There were four or five poems that I liked & read several times, but overall it didn't really resonate with me. I'm unsure if that's because I'm just not the authors intended audience, or because it was lacking something. That I can't tell probably isn't a good sign, though.
littlebookterror's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.0
Unsatisfactory would probably be my main feeling regarding this collection.
The more I dive into poetry and explore what I like and don't like, the more I come to appreciate introductions and afterwords, any more context I can gain to help me experience these poems fully. The story surrounding this collection was what drew me in initially. The topic of "who gets to tell this story", the complexities when it comes to diaspora and mixed-race voices, and the public shaming are still not yet fully hashed out and it's rare to see an author take on responsibility for their past mistakes and not shying away from the public.
It is therefore no surprise that I enjoyed the poems that grappled with those themes the most.
The more I dive into poetry and explore what I like and don't like, the more I come to appreciate introductions and afterwords, any more context I can gain to help me experience these poems fully. The story surrounding this collection was what drew me in initially. The topic of "who gets to tell this story", the complexities when it comes to diaspora and mixed-race voices, and the public shaming are still not yet fully hashed out and it's rare to see an author take on responsibility for their past mistakes and not shying away from the public.
It is therefore no surprise that I enjoyed the poems that grappled with those themes the most.
You called me out when I needed to be
called in. Your grandmothers and my grandmothers
gave us more than this. You say I’m not
Indian enough, like I don’t already know.
Otherwise, I felt unmoored by many pieces and while I do enjoy pondering why Webb-Campbell might have chosen to combine topics in this particular way or why she decided on this particular reading order, I don't feel I understand enough of her to be able to answer any of my questions. It's inaccessible to me in a way I can't quite put into words.
It is a theme she also explores, but in paragraphs like this
denial repeats to eradicate Mi’kmaq existence
one too many anglicized names
spin webs of displaced identity
or her frequent use of the words "we" and "us", she is exploring the boundaries of her self against her upbringing and her community. But in my case, it just didn't connect. Like her poem The-o-ry Crit-i-cal, it just felt like she was adding random words after each This is post without creating a narrative thread.
As usual, it is still a nice experience (poetry mood + rain ambiance = optimal conditions) even I did not connect fully with it.