Reviews

Felon: Poems by Reginald Dwayne Betts

isabellesbooks's review against another edition

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3.5

It’s always difficult for me to rate poetry collections. This one was a mixed bag; some poems I thought were fantastic, and others were strung together like gibberish. Lots of run on sentences and confusion on my part, but the author was brutally honest in a way I really appreciated. Overall I love the concept and the fact that this book exists, but some of it fell through for me. Still worth reading for the perspective, and oh gosh, those blackout court document poems that will hit you in the gut.

buttercupita's review against another edition

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Not going to rate this because I don't have the chops to rate poetry collections (don't know that I've ever read through an entire one before....). This was the perfect companion piece to Cuz, a memoir I read last month in which Danielle Allen examined the too short and very sad life of her 15 year old cousin who was incarcerated for over 10 years and then murdered once freed. Felon helps capture what might have been his voice (there are some glimmers in Cuz, but this is a much fuller view.). Enlightening and moving.

bookiewookie94's review against another edition

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fast-paced

4.0

lovelifebooks55's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.75

amandarosetea's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced

5.0

<\3

xmhughes's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars

mad_taylh's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad slow-paced

4.0

"Them fools say you can become anything when it's over/ Told 'em straight up, ain't nothing to resurrect after prison." 

barium_squirrel's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

kvreadsandrecs's review against another edition

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4.0

Wow. This man is haunted and his poetry feels like a way out. This is so good and the audiobook makes really takes it to another level. I wasn't expecting the blues, but man, those guitar riffs match perfectly. If you read one poem from this collection, make sure it's "In Missouri". Damn.

meganat0r's review against another edition

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4.0

Deep. Profound. Tragic. The kind of book you don’t want to put down but have a hard time keeping focus. I’m keeping it.