Reviews

The Second Sex by Michael Robbins

alanffm's review against another edition

3.0

Clearly written contemporary collection of poetry by Michael Robbins. I enjoyed this read and would recommend it to anyone looking for something new.

tiffanydasilva's review against another edition

4.0

I caught this book when i was browsing the bookshelves of my bookstore. Having never heard of his first poetry book, "Aliens v. Predator" I was completely blown away by his style. This can't be poetry right? It just seems.. too cool.

This book blended high/low brow culture, mixed in references about Ludacris, Michael Jackson, Edward Snowden, politics, religion and managed to drop "This is my handle; this is my spout." in a way that could only make you chuckle.

Some of my favorites:

"Who is the United States?
The grassy knoll elaborates.
Ask not what the Dew can do for you.
Ask about our special rates" - Sonnets to Edward Snowden

"The coyote drives her in a false-bottomed van.
He drops her in a desert. The bluffs are tan.
She'll get a job at Chili's picking up butts.
I feel ya, Ophelia, I say to my nuts.
And there is pansies. That's for thoughts." - The Second Sex

This isn't poetry that I'm used to seeing. It's sometimes grimey, and vile but it's a really interesting commentary on some of the crazy things that we are surrounded by everyday but don't really stop to think about it. I love the mix of advertisements, buzzwords, celebrity references and political statements.

emilydugranrut's review against another edition

2.0

Dude really likes Led Zeppelin.

I love pop culture references more than most people, but this... not for me.

jkwriting24's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

5.0

gwendolyn_kensinger's review against another edition

1.0

It’s not you it’s me.

drewsof's review against another edition

3.0

I'll tell you this: the good poems are so fucking good that they forgive the bad ones. It might just be nice if Robbins gave himself a chance to breathe and cull out the latter. But also, maybe the others wouldn't seem so special if they weren't surrounded by lesser friends. I feel like that's a concept Robbins would appreciate - or at least jot into a stanza, one left fluttering down behind as he races on forward at the speed of culture.

More at RB: http://ragingbiblioholism.com/2015/03/30/the-second-sex/

maloki's review

3.0

Contemporary poetry. Some poems better than others, as in any collection.
Some imagery makes me uncomfortable, but I understand that that's probably the point.