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savaging's review against another edition
3.0
I've loved other Tsvetaeva poems I've encountered, but this collection didn't resonate as much with me. Maybe it's the poems that were selected, or maybe it's the translation. The translator seemed to prioritize rhyme over rhythm or syntax, which felt bad to me.
jackstewart_1's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably one of the most emotionally raw and heartbreaking poetry collections i’ve ever read. They become even more harrowing when you consider the context behind each one in regards to her life. Definitely would recommend for anyone who’s interested in poetry.
alice_sherwood12's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
beautyistruth's review against another edition
5.0
Big in Russia but somewhat neglected for other audiences, which is a shame.
Tsvetaeva had a very interesting life and lived a difficult life in ways e.g. through a famine (her younger daughter starved to death in an orphanage - Marina thought she might get food there), the Russian revolution, her husband and daughter were convicted on espionage charges, she sometimes lived abroad, she committed suicide, etc.
Even though I haven't seen anyone else say so, it seems obvious to me that she is part-confessionalist a poet because if you're going to read her, I would recommend that you read up some on her life for background because it helps, to know what she is referencing, and a lot of her poems are about very personal things e.g. that Poem of the End is about the end of a love affair she had with a soldier. Poems about the revolution or war interested me as well and I was glad I have some background knowledge of it.
Possibly a poet's poet. Lots of poems reference being a poet or creating poetry and Marina is driven to this vocation above anything else. You get the sense that she is a true outsider, relentlessly honest to herself, but she was not ungenerous since she admired others, like Rilke and Akhmatova and wrote poems to them.
For early twentieth century poetry she is original as well.
In general her poetry is emotionally wracking as well as intense and intellectual, using metaphors, symbolism and rhyme with tumultuous and flowing effect. I gather that it is quite raw and real despite the undeniable craftsmanship involved behind it, which reflects an emotional and physical reality to me. It is not easy to read but it is rewarding. One of the best poets I have discovered in quite a while. She goes "beyond". She pushes the bounds and reaches a terrifying yet such exceptionally high or profound a space. As another reviewer mentioned, one downside may be that her egoism may be off-putting but if you can suspend that and see her genius for what it is, she is not really lying.
Tsvetaeva had a very interesting life and lived a difficult life in ways e.g. through a famine (her younger daughter starved to death in an orphanage - Marina thought she might get food there), the Russian revolution, her husband and daughter were convicted on espionage charges, she sometimes lived abroad, she committed suicide, etc.
Even though I haven't seen anyone else say so, it seems obvious to me that she is part-confessionalist a poet because if you're going to read her, I would recommend that you read up some on her life for background because it helps, to know what she is referencing, and a lot of her poems are about very personal things e.g. that Poem of the End is about the end of a love affair she had with a soldier. Poems about the revolution or war interested me as well and I was glad I have some background knowledge of it.
Possibly a poet's poet. Lots of poems reference being a poet or creating poetry and Marina is driven to this vocation above anything else. You get the sense that she is a true outsider, relentlessly honest to herself, but she was not ungenerous since she admired others, like Rilke and Akhmatova and wrote poems to them.
For early twentieth century poetry she is original as well.
In general her poetry is emotionally wracking as well as intense and intellectual, using metaphors, symbolism and rhyme with tumultuous and flowing effect. I gather that it is quite raw and real despite the undeniable craftsmanship involved behind it, which reflects an emotional and physical reality to me. It is not easy to read but it is rewarding. One of the best poets I have discovered in quite a while. She goes "beyond". She pushes the bounds and reaches a terrifying yet such exceptionally high or profound a space. As another reviewer mentioned, one downside may be that her egoism may be off-putting but if you can suspend that and see her genius for what it is, she is not really lying.
louanna's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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
4.5