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lothika's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
one of my fav annotated books
casparb's review
There are so many questions but what an endeavour and a highly inhabitable prose poetry it's a nice reference point thank you luke
piwa's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
heidi_downing's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
A very interesting, creative and gripping take on reinventing what Shakespeare means in contemporary society as well as amplifying the interesting ways of structuring prose poems. Kennard's vision is both unique and ambitious. At points, this collection felt very farfetched, and some poems didn't always fully meet the pivotal hook of the book's mission (a drab party). There were occasional points where it would have been interesting to see the collection structured differently, for instance I think Kennard could have chosen a stronger poem to end with. All the responses to the sonnets are original and delightful, even if at times confusingly abstract. Overall, this poetry collection feels like a fun puzzle for readers and encourages us to go back and engage/revisit the classical work of the bard, and there is absolutely no prior expectation for you to be a Shakespeare expert in order to enjoy any of these poems. There are some great one-liners and stand-out moments, just to pick some at random I really enjoyed 'Sometimes nostalgia is just a self-microwaving cup of coffee which will never cool sufficiently to bring it to your lips' (p.69) or 'I have a friend who breaks into uncontrollable screaming at the first sign of small talk' (p.83).
emsemsems's review
5.0
Funny how the latte has become one of the laziest class signifiers, as if every dead high-street didn't contain at least two Costas. — from Sonnet 37
A late review, this (understatement). Forgot to write one, and decided I would like to do one. But I’ve definitely re-read it a few times now because more than anything Kennard’s poems make me laugh, smile, scoff, or something in between all of that, a bit of everything; well whatever it is, they’ve always left me with bubbly feelings. Make of that what you will.
I want you to feel loved and known or known and loved or, failing that, because really who can expect such extravagance, I want the ache to be transfigured into something you can use. Otherwise, knowing that you exist, that at this moment you are waiting for a train, that you have had to start the same page again because you weren't concentrating, that you are tired, that if someone asked you something they would get to hear your voice. — from Sonnet 37
I think I like this collection a little better than [b:Cain|30300813|Cain|Luke Kennard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486708186l/30300813._SY75_.jpg|50782986]. That one’s bit battered, and bruised with a lot of re-reading now (definitely dog-eared beyond recovery) because I’ve sometimes let friends keep it for a little while, got it back; and also brought it with me when I travelled/moved? Don’t have much else to say other than I’ve always liked Kennard’s writing. Still do. And will probably always try to get myself a copy of anything written by him.
Left a couple ‘sonnets’ (/prose poems?) from this collection below for anyone who wants a bit of an introductory taste. I like one a little more than the other (at this moment). But maybe tomorrow I’ll like the one I like less now a little more than the one I like a little more today. But who knows? In any case, I feel differently about them every time I read them (again). And that’s the only way I want to read/experience them (again and again).
‘The hearts, roughly the size of footballs on chicken legs, running blindly through a forest. The hearts, hunted for sport. The hearts, factory-farmed for food. The hearts, kept idiosyncratic pets by rich idiots. The hearts sitting as at miniature school desks in front of a whiteboard with a diagram of a brain on it. The hearts, breast-feeding in a dimly lit room just to keep them quiet not because they're hungry. The hearts, asking for the same song over and over again. The hearts, finally exclaiming What more do you fucking want from me? The hearts, drinking wine from hourglasses. The hearts standing outside their wood-frame houses while a heart with a clipboard unloads a truckload of hearts and says, Here are the hearts you ordered. The hearts trying to explain their process because you did ask even though they can tell they're boring you. The hearts letting their hair down for once. The hearts, at a sleepover playing Never Have I Ever. The hearts, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, sorry.’ — Sonnet 22
‘When I read the 'About' section about bands and fantasise about being in a band I like to fantasise about being the member of the band who, following the lead singer's side-project gaining traction and taking up an increasing amount of their attention, is taking indefinite time out to focus on my health. I imagine the drummer calling me one day, on my landline, and asking how I'm doing. I live in a wood-frame house and I have a small dog I take for very short walks on the beach. Mostly I wear a towel gown over my blue striped pyjamas. In the evenings I drink low- alcohol beer. I should probably head out and buy a bunch of cleaning products because everything is running low. I'm good, I say, I'm good, Brandon, thank you for checking in, thank you for reaching out. I'm finally reading library books. I feel tired all the time, but I sleep a lot, and the small dog gets me out every day to take the air. I eat a lot of cereal because you can get a lot of nutrients from cereal. I'll ask Brandon how things are going on the road and he'll say, Oh, you know.’ — Sonnet 122
fjcookie's review
challenging
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.75
I think this book went over my head
veeraerikaeklund's review
4.0
This is a lovely collection that’s like 50% self-help, 50% cool poetry that isn’t really poetry but Diary entries??
Also we stan the Sad Horse.
Also we stan the Sad Horse.
justanothersamsmith's review
3.0
Dryly funny and full of wit. Shame about the at times stumbling pace. Hats off to the premise though — completely original and incredibly stupid in the absolute best way.