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Reviews tagging 'Sexual assault'
I Would Leave Me If I Could: A Collection of Poetry by Halsey
64 reviews
its_hay's review against another edition
3.0
I do have to mention that Halsey's poetry is NOT bad; she's close to good but needs a guiding hand. She paints intense imagery that can be beautiful and also terrifying. The strongest poem is "The Lighthouse" (which is entirely different from the song of the same name).
The issue is that she falls into treating poetry like a song with the very apparent rhyming and the rhythm/flow of it would be more impactful if heard aloud versus read. I've even found bits of lyrics from later albums in here. While rhyming in poetry is not a bad thing, her approach seems like these were songs she left unfinished/untouched. It felt like she handed those bits off to a publishing house and they didn't bother to guide her with editing.
This is far better than some of the other more mainstream poetry I've read just on the power of imagery alone. However, it also is an example of how just because you can write for one medium pretty well that it doesn't necessarily mean that skill will transfer to another at the same caliber.
Minor: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Abortion
weecait's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault
mandareads222's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, and Blood
Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
siebensommer's review against another edition
I spent a long time
substituting honest with sarcastic
and I cursed my tongue for being mean.
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
shadow_cat94's review against another edition
2.5
It travels from her childhood through adulthood touching between romanti relationships, family dynamics, traumatic experiences, drug abuse from friends and partners, and the impacts of fame to sum up some of the overarching subjects. Please check the triggers before deciding to read this book if you struggle with any heavy topics.
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Blood, Abortion, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
cassiecraycray's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Drug abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion
pand_books's review against another edition
2.0
- while Halsey does bring up important topics that are personal to her, - feminism, abortion, abusive relationships, etc. - the execution of these topics is not the best.
- the ideas for these poems are great...
- ... but they could do with stronger imagery, more self-reflection, fewer fluff/cutting of lines, more thoughtful line breaks, and more unique use of diction.
- these poems, unfortunately, read like first drafts. I know that's a harsh critique (and my apologies to the poet) but I see the potential there. With some more editing, I could see these poems being stronger and getting their point across in a more impactful way.
- the poet tells us directly in lines and even in the title what the poem is "about" as if we may not get the message. instead of showing us what the poem is "about," letting the reader piece it together with the elements used throughout the poem, the poet jumps the gun and tells the reader outright - perhaps there isn't enough imagery or poetic devices for the reader to see the message.
- lots of use of cliche metaphors and similies.
- cannot get over the lines: "But my head down / on a mattress / famous actress / and she skrrrt'n me" (American Woman, 64).
While I gave this two stars, which I rarely do, there are a few select poems worth reading from this collection. The two stars are because so much was lacking from the collection as a whole.
Poems worth reading from this collection:
- The Professional
- Lullabye
- The Painter
- Fun Girl
- The Cave
Graphic: Sexual violence and Abortion
Moderate: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
fadeddpages's review against another edition
4.5
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Abortion, and Alcohol
earthflesh's review against another edition
1.75
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Mental illness
Minor: Child death
chelseamann's review
5.0
Moderate: Miscarriage and Sexual assault