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alanffm's review against another edition
1.0
Nihilistic, poorly written, and boring. Inventory explores the negative impacts of globalization on Western culture in, frankly, unoriginal and unhelpful ways. Through seven poems addressing different issues, Brand tries to show that responsibility for the planet should have come before responsibility for one's own happiness--but that it does not matter anyway since we are all already screwed. The examples she provides to make her point-- that of a woman finding the news cycle unbearable to watch, an exploration of the complete cultural decimation of Native Americans, and an uncomfortable walk through Cairo, among other examples-- are unoriginal and did not resonate with me at all.
The work feels simplistic and does not possess the layered complexity one hopes to find in real literature.
The work feels simplistic and does not possess the layered complexity one hopes to find in real literature.
abbygaelobrien's review against another edition
4.0
at first i was kinda confused but once i got to part iii i really got into this! this was a sad read but also gave hope within all the bad that was mentioned.
“the physical world is not interested in us, it does what it does, it’s own inventory of time, of light and dark”
“the physical world is not interested in us, it does what it does, it’s own inventory of time, of light and dark”
planetsusan's review against another edition
3.0
-I originally read this book for my uni's English course. It's nice to read current books, especially ones written by authors of colour (who are also Canadian)!
I think we need an updated collection for 2021, with everything going on feels so overwhelming- with the pandemic, climate change, and all the other complicated aspects (the wars, racism) etc.
I liked Brand's take on privilege in American society and how easy it is for us to forget our conscience and go about our normal lives- since we aren't personally affected. It's less of an issue nowadays, but I think there is some importance on focusing on the news and showing empathy. But of course, Brand struggles with grief at focusing on all the bad things in the world. I'm glad at the end there was a hopeful message of all the good feelings in the world. There's the idea that you can experience both- paying attention, keeping yourself accountable, but also finding good things in the world (so you don't burnout).
There were some confusing lines, but I think the book itself was brilliantly written and the concept of an inventory was cool.
I think we need an updated collection for 2021, with everything going on feels so overwhelming- with the pandemic, climate change, and all the other complicated aspects (the wars, racism) etc.
I liked Brand's take on privilege in American society and how easy it is for us to forget our conscience and go about our normal lives- since we aren't personally affected. It's less of an issue nowadays, but I think there is some importance on focusing on the news and showing empathy. But of course, Brand struggles with grief at focusing on all the bad things in the world. I'm glad at the end there was a hopeful message of all the good feelings in the world. There's the idea that you can experience both- paying attention, keeping yourself accountable, but also finding good things in the world (so you don't burnout).
There were some confusing lines, but I think the book itself was brilliantly written and the concept of an inventory was cool.
faloodamooda's review
dark
emotional
fast-paced
3.5
very good work but her writing style isn’t for me
kdryan's review against another edition
5.0
I return to my dog earred and well-marked edition of Inventory frequently - too frequently. Everytime I begin to feel overwhelmed and at risk of allowing massive, horrifying, systemic violence become something I am unaffected by, I return to Brand. I returned to Inventory today, hoping to find the strength I needed in light of all that has happened. Once again, I felt so lucky to have been introduced to this work. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to pick it up, to sit with the discomfort of having deaths rattled off as poetry, to feel struggle settle into a sonnet. And, to be reminded that there are lists of good small things that give us reasons to wake up again tomorrow and continue to demand a world that does not glorify violence.