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espressoreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
5.0
It breaks a heart beautifully.
harlando's review against another edition
3.0
Poetry collections are tough. I liked several of the poems here and disliked or was unmoved by the majority. Does that make it a bad book? I don't think so. It's a fair collection and I would read more of Powers poetry.
War is his best subject and all of my favorites from this volume are directly concerned with battle and its consequences. The title poem along with Blue Star Mother and Independence day are good examples. The poems that veer away from war are plain and flat rather than bad.
War is his best subject and all of my favorites from this volume are directly concerned with battle and its consequences. The title poem along with Blue Star Mother and Independence day are good examples. The poems that veer away from war are plain and flat rather than bad.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. The author is so good at saying things in concise, thoughtful ways. Very powerful stuff.
wmmcmanlypants's review against another edition
5.0
Edit: I'm a Kevin Powers fan now.
Wow. Second best poetry book I've read this year so far. I really like Powers' writing style and the images he creates. I wasn't a big fan of a lot of line breaks ending with "of", "the", etc, but I still want to be able to write as well as this guy.
Wow. Second best poetry book I've read this year so far. I really like Powers' writing style and the images he creates. I wasn't a big fan of a lot of line breaks ending with "of", "the", etc, but I still want to be able to write as well as this guy.
emilydugranrut's review against another edition
3.0
Nothing too advanced, but a fitting collection to read on this weekend in which America celebrates it’s jingoistic passions.
gohawks's review against another edition
3.0
If I'm honest, I don't feel as if I have adequate tools with which to assess contemporary poetry. William Carlos Williams was as contemporary as I've gotten in school and the rules seem to change often. Nonetheless, I will endeavor to do my best here. Powers is very talented, having previously written a highly acclaimed novel which I greatly enjoyed. This is a small collection of his poetry written about his experiences, many of which have to do with the Iraq War. His most insightful, searing, and beautiful poems are the ones about his experiences with war. Somehow these are much more deeply felt than any of the other poems which are impressive in their own ways, but they feel as if they are being read from under glass with careful inspection and distance. Powers' war poems are much more naked and raw and real. Because he is so talented, I can only hope that he writes more and finds a way to connect as deeply as other subjects.
marginaliant's review against another edition
3.0
Best poems: After Leaving McGuire Veterans’ Hospital for the Last Time, Meditations on a Main Supply Route, Songs in Plank Time.