buttermellow's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Slavery and Physical abuse
cozybec's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
5.0
"I pay cash to prove myself / no shoplifter. Still, I abscond with my black feelings" (The Shop At Monticello)
In Petrosino's White Blood the traditional ideals of Virginia are juxtaposed against it's deep and dark history of slavery. It's not enough to call this collection one that's rooted in history, with it's poems about Jefferson and the documentation of freed slaves, this is a collection full of raw emotion, full of pain and reminders that though many would prefer to overlook the darkness in the past, it still remains.
I adored these poems. The collection stands so well by itself, but also each part is strong in it's own right. The blackout/omission poetry sections were some of my favorites, using the same passages over and over and choosing to rearrange what words (and sometimes letters) are seen. I want to be this prolific in my life. I want to invoke images like Petrosino so effortlessly does.
Easily one of my favorite poetry collections I've picked up on a whim.
Content Warnings: racism/slavery
In Petrosino's White Blood the traditional ideals of Virginia are juxtaposed against it's deep and dark history of slavery. It's not enough to call this collection one that's rooted in history, with it's poems about Jefferson and the documentation of freed slaves, this is a collection full of raw emotion, full of pain and reminders that though many would prefer to overlook the darkness in the past, it still remains.
I adored these poems. The collection stands so well by itself, but also each part is strong in it's own right. The blackout/omission poetry sections were some of my favorites, using the same passages over and over and choosing to rearrange what words (and sometimes letters) are seen. I want to be this prolific in my life. I want to invoke images like Petrosino so effortlessly does.
Easily one of my favorite poetry collections I've picked up on a whim.
Content Warnings: racism/slavery
abbylayne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.75
vivdavis's review against another edition
5.0
A testament to what a poet can do the archives. Absolutely stunning.
barbarajean's review against another edition
4.0
This collection explores a variety of forms, from free verse and erasure poems (created from the author’s results from an ancestry test), to variations on more classic forms like the sonnet and the villanelle. The author explores her own ancestry and roots in Virginia and also interrogates Virginia’s history of slavery, including Thomas Jefferson. There were lots of references I had to look up for more context, and I learned so much—can’t believe I didn’t know about Sally Hemmings before. Powerful & eye-opening.
literarymarvel's review against another edition
4.0
Though I had some trouble comprehending what the meanings behind some of the more sparse poems were, the notes in the back of the book really helped. I think I might have to reread these poems now that I have a better understanding of where they are rooted.
But a really lovely collection about heritage and history and blackness.
But a really lovely collection about heritage and history and blackness.
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