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inamerata's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and War
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Suicide, and Cannibalism
megan_bbender's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed going through these poems. Every single one of them was thought-provoking. My personal favourite out of the poems in this book is Midnight In The Foreign Food Aisle. It is obvious that Warsan Shire writes from the heart.
Many of these poems were so deep and held so much meaning that I didn't even have thoughts about them, I just sat with them after reading them.
Graphic: Death, Rape, Blood, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Grief, and Deportation
Minor: Cursing
venetiana's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Death, Eating disorder, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, War, and Deportation
sharonus's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Grief, and War
Minor: Suicide, Abortion, and Suicide attempt
annemaries_shelves's review against another edition
4.5
I loved how she tackled the themes of girlhood and womanhood, experiences of being a refugee and immigrant, grief, trauma, celebrations of life, death, family, and more. Each of the four sections offered something unique to the stories she was telling.
There are some really heavy subjects/topics and references in this collection, so be aware.
CW: FGM and gender violence, child abuse and death, rape, death, eating disorders, famine, war and racism, and others.
Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Violence, Grief, and War
lotte111's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Grief, War, and Injury/Injury detail
booksandteatime's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Racism, Sexual assault, Islamophobia, Grief, Colonisation, and War
deedireads's review against another edition
5.0
TL;DR REVIEW:
Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head is a masterful collection of poems by a master poet on womanhood, trauma, and the refugee experience. They’re heavy, but hard-hitting and moving.
For you if: You want to read poetry that adds to your view of the world and humanity.
FULL REVIEW:
Thank you, Random House, for the advanced electronic copy of this book! It’s the first full-length poetry collection from Warsan Shire, the award-winning Somali British poet who worked with Beyonce on Lemonade and Black is King. So yes, it’s as good as you’re expecting.
The poems draw from her own experiences, loved ones’ experiences, headlines, etc. to shape a journey through womanhood, motherhood, daughterhood, being a refugee and immigrant, abuse, trauma, and defiant hope.
I feel like I need to reread this to get the full effect, but I was especially impressed with how Shire merges pop culture and poetry to make the collection feel not only modern but current and timely. She has something to say here, and you’re certainly going to hear it. And, of course, there are lines and couplets and stanzas that come out of nowhere punch you in the gut.
It’s a quick read, but worth it if you are a fan of poetry (and maybe even if you’re not).
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny, Xenophobia, and Grief