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thebooknerdscorner's review against another edition
3.0
An ode to the life of Matthew Shepard, a college student who died too young due to the injustice of a hate crime.
I really appreciate what this book is doing. It is shining a spotlight on a gay boy by the name of Matt Shepard who was killed by two arrogant young men that thought they were better than him, just because Matt was gay. It breaks my heart to read stories like this, but I know that they are all too common.
Despite the fact that I love the author's passion for the topic, the actual poetry itself was rather lackluster, in my opinion. Many of the poems felt really cheesy and the ones that featured inanimate objects/random animals really didn't do much for me. Many of the poems just felt clunky and like a way to fill the pages of a book.
However, the author's note at the end was beautiful. It was cool to hear how heavily affected Newman was by her chance meeting with Mr. Shepard's college community and hometown only days after his death. The fact that she was so heavily touched by the community's grief that she wrote about it years later is quite amazing.
Overall, "October Mourning" did a great job of introducing me to Matthew Shepard and did still tug at my heartstrings despite some of the poems being overly cheesy. I hope that this collection continues to spread awareness about what happened to Shepard and about the horrific hate crimes that members of the LGBTQIA+ community still have to deal with to this day. I pray that this will become an issue of the past erelong, but it will take a collective effort to install change if we want anything of value to stick. Just as Newman preaches, I beg of you to do your part to stop homophobia today.
I really appreciate what this book is doing. It is shining a spotlight on a gay boy by the name of Matt Shepard who was killed by two arrogant young men that thought they were better than him, just because Matt was gay. It breaks my heart to read stories like this, but I know that they are all too common.
Despite the fact that I love the author's passion for the topic, the actual poetry itself was rather lackluster, in my opinion. Many of the poems felt really cheesy and the ones that featured inanimate objects/random animals really didn't do much for me. Many of the poems just felt clunky and like a way to fill the pages of a book.
However, the author's note at the end was beautiful. It was cool to hear how heavily affected Newman was by her chance meeting with Mr. Shepard's college community and hometown only days after his death. The fact that she was so heavily touched by the community's grief that she wrote about it years later is quite amazing.
Overall, "October Mourning" did a great job of introducing me to Matthew Shepard and did still tug at my heartstrings despite some of the poems being overly cheesy. I hope that this collection continues to spread awareness about what happened to Shepard and about the horrific hate crimes that members of the LGBTQIA+ community still have to deal with to this day. I pray that this will become an issue of the past erelong, but it will take a collective effort to install change if we want anything of value to stick. Just as Newman preaches, I beg of you to do your part to stop homophobia today.
lorenzosivilotti's review against another edition
4.0
Its power and import lies less in the individual poems (though there are some truly excellent ones) than in the compiled accretion of their sum.
8/10
8/10
reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
So sad, I remember hearing about this in the news when it happened.
I like that the author decided to write it in verse because it definitely makes the books unique to others like it.
I like that the author decided to write it in verse because it definitely makes the books unique to others like it.
tracie's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit to not being a huge poetry lover. Generally I don't understand it and it just makes me frustrated. A couple of years ago I picked up this book for the Read Harder challenge about the murder of Matthew Shepard and it has stayed with me. The poems are from the viewpoint of Matthew and his murderers but also from his parents, the police, the doe, the fence and even his cat. It is a YA book so the narrative is simple and accessible which let me connect with it in a way I may not have otherwise. Packed a hell of a punch to my soul. Absolutely not a read in public book as I discovered on my bus ride home one night.
fatimahafya's review against another edition
5.0
Very sad...shows the reality of what can happen in the world.
elbell1012's review against another edition
5.0
incredibly moving prose. Many of the poems brought me to tears or very close to it, some made me angry, and others prompted me to explore further hate crimes from the same year. Overall, I recommend this to any members or allies of the lgbt+ community.
buttermellow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping and Grief
Minor: Religious bigotry
rjdenney's review against another edition
5.0
Heart-wrenching and beautiful. I'd recommend this book to everyone.
mollywetta's review against another edition
3.0
Well, that was very sad. This is a great collection for those too young to remember these events. The sparse style and ironic tone has lots of appeal. These poems are moving and accessible. Read my full review on my blog.
breakfastgrey's review against another edition
3.0
This one will hit you like a bag of bricks. It's a short read, but definitely an important one. I do have somewhat mixed feelings regarding some of the puns and personification, though. It feels somewhat inappropriate considering the subject matter?