skyroamer's review
1.0
I’ll start off with one positive: there were peeks into decency within maybe two or three poems. The longer poems with imagery (like the people and their lives) hinted at something but fell flat, as if the poet didn’t know how to wrap everything together and took on too many perspectives in one poem. I can’t exactly refer to the poem itself as the poems (from my memory) did not have titles. If each character in the poem had gotten their own poem fleshed out, I would’ve enjoyed it more. Again, I wish I could say which poem this was, but you’d have to have read the book to know.
There were many poor word choices in many poems where the poet had a tone that was harshly changed from let’s say sentimental to brash. Also, referring to something as “childlike” within a romantic poem about physical intimacy doesn’t sit well with me. I’m all for simplicity if done well, but the poet threw in words where they did not fit.
Also:
Writing
a sentence
like
this
does not
make
something
a poem.
I didn’t feel any emotions while reading except confusion as to how this has so many good reviews.
There were many poor word choices in many poems where the poet had a tone that was harshly changed from let’s say sentimental to brash. Also, referring to something as “childlike” within a romantic poem about physical intimacy doesn’t sit well with me. I’m all for simplicity if done well, but the poet threw in words where they did not fit.
Also:
Writing
a sentence
like
this
does not
make
something
a poem.
I didn’t feel any emotions while reading except confusion as to how this has so many good reviews.
cstefko's review against another edition
3.0
2.75 stars
This collection has been on my radar for a long time, but I just got around to reading it. It's refreshing to read a poet who writes short poems and is still committed to craft. In other words, she's no Instapoet. Which isn't to say that there weren't plenty of poems here that felt too simplistic, but there are also a lot of thoughtful, original poems. I wouldn't say that this is a must-read collection. It's a quick and accessible read though, and fairly cohesive in tone and subject. As always with translations, I wish that I could read it in the original language to see how it changes the poems.
This collection has been on my radar for a long time, but I just got around to reading it. It's refreshing to read a poet who writes short poems and is still committed to craft. In other words, she's no Instapoet. Which isn't to say that there weren't plenty of poems here that felt too simplistic, but there are also a lot of thoughtful, original poems. I wouldn't say that this is a must-read collection. It's a quick and accessible read though, and fairly cohesive in tone and subject. As always with translations, I wish that I could read it in the original language to see how it changes the poems.
sarahlou79's review against another edition
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
4.0
jtaylor_98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.0
aneumann's review against another edition
5.0
This was gorgeous. I really loved it and the author’s style. I can’t wait to read her other translated work, though sadly only a few books have been translated from Russian.
notesquotesscarletmotes's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
Pointed, thoughtful, vivid.
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
DNF at 33%.
None of these poems connected with me, too short and bland to leave any impact. Nothing particularly offensive, just had absolutely no resonance, so I didn't bother to finish.
None of these poems connected with me, too short and bland to leave any impact. Nothing particularly offensive, just had absolutely no resonance, so I didn't bother to finish.
ilovewongkarwai's review against another edition
2.0
Estaba emocionada por este libro porque 1) Vera es rusa y 2) había leído un par de poemas de ella y me parecieron bonitos. Lo malo es que, en mi opinión, justo esos poemas que se pueden encontrar en tumblr son los únicos buenos en esta colección; la mayoría se me hicieron bastante malos, lo cual me enoja porque Vera en entrevistas me cae muy bien y la forma en la que habla de sus poemas me hizo imaginar que encontraría algo totalmente diferente. No sé si sea porque a lo mejor lo mío no son los poemas cortos (creo que soy la única entre mi grupo de conocidos a la que no le gusta nada Rupi Kaur, y algunos poemas de Vera me recordaron a ella) o porque la traducción es mala (en una entrevista la misma Vera habla de cosas que se pierden en la traducción cuando sus poemas se publican en inglés), pero bueno, pues el resultado fue ése, que no me gustó y me siento más bien frustrada con este libro. Quería que me gustara, así que intentaré con algo más.
megmerante's review against another edition
4.0
I loved these brief yet poignant looks into the maturing love a woman felt in love, in marriage, as a mother, and as a child. Pavlova's words resonated deeply as someone figuring out her self in all these relationships, and then reeling in accordance with the pain that sometimes came with them.
"If there was nothing to regret,
there was nothing to desire" (9).
"If there was nothing to regret,
there was nothing to desire" (9).