A review by jayisreading
Mad Honey Symposium by Sally Wen Mao

challenging reflective medium-paced

4.5

Reading this collection was such a strange and surreal experience, wow. The primary theme of intoxicating honey is the base, with other themes building on this ranging from race to (im)migration and to madness. Something I noticed from her previous collection that carried over to this collection is this kind of observing of the world, though Mad Honey Symposium is anything but restrained and, instead, is laden with incredible imagery and ideas.

I loved the way Mao played with language, whether it be its form or sound. It made this collection all the more alluring and fascinating to read.

Some favorites: “Apiology, with Stigma,” “Flight Perils,” “The Pickpocket,” “Migration Suite,” “Yellow Fever,” “The Unraveling,” and “Drop-kick Aria”

Read for the Sealey Challenge.
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