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tiredandspice's review against another edition
5.0
Marcus Wickers writes poems about being a black man in America and living in the Midwest suburbs, working in academia. I have no experience with any of this, but his writing still reaches you. Maybe you, like me, cannot relate or understand his day-to-day, but you can definitely appreciate his poems (that often read like lyrical journals). His writing is personal and expressive, two things vital for poetry, and this collection is one of the most original things I've read in quite a while.
Want to read some poetry? Read this
Want to read some poetry? Read this
shaniquekee's review against another edition
5.0
The poems here run the gamut of the (American) black male experience, touching everything from respectability politics, police brutality, love, emotion, racism, family, and the American dream. So real.
meghan_is_reading's review against another edition
Life, hey. (I won't pretend I understood everything to be had here)
messbauer's review against another edition
3.0
Some powerful, incisive poems in this collection, but also a number that didn't quite land for me. Overall very solid.
nathuffman97's review against another edition
4.0
Very good but I feel like I didn't catch all of the references. Maybe need a playlist or a list of recommended reading first to fully appreciate all Wicker has to offer here.
elliotvanz's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really solid collection from Wicker. The language has punch, the metaphors are fresh, and the poems are emotionally resonate. This was a fantastic collection to read right now, while movements like Black Lives Matter bring more coverage to topics like police violence, which this book addresses. Wicker really brings home his experiences as a black man in America, and his words cut me to the quick. I'm thankful to have read this. The only reason I'm not rating this higher is just a matter of personal taste - there are numerous poems in here that speak to faith and God, and I just don't connect to that experience. If you are looking for quality poetry collections that speak about race Silencer should absolutely be included on any list.
Many thanks to Mariner for the review copy.
Many thanks to Mariner for the review copy.
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