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jenna0010's review against another edition
3.0
This collection of poetry by Katherena Vermette plunges into the tirelessly beating heart of North End Winnipeg. The elms shadow the vulnerable sidewalks, the houses tired and worn, the River a hope and a current dragging a generation away onto its washed up shores. These poems are not melancholic, though. They glisten like the ice sparkling on fresh snow. The wildflowers will persist.
careinthelibrary's review against another edition
2.0
This is a tough book to rate. I thought the first half was okay, none of the poems standing out to me. Even now, I can't remember any of them. The second half was awesome in a tragic, beautifully written, emotional way that captured the plight and fight of Indigenous Canadians. The resistance to stereotypes, the tragedy of untimely death, the systemic violence of racism, sexism and classism.
whitedaylilies's review against another edition
emotional
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Body shaming, and Rape
aalamb's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
juliaamato05's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
lenareadstoomuch's review against another edition
read this in one sitting for english class
elizabethlk's review against another edition
5.0
I've been meaning to read Katherena Vermette's work for a little bit now, as I hear such positive things, and after reading volume one of A Girl Called Echo and realising it was fantastic (it's fantastic btw, and I absolutely recommend it), I figured I definitely needed to get on top of reading more of her work. So today I gave North End Love Songs a shot.
I've read a fair bit of poetry this year so far, and this is easily one of the best collections I have read. The first section, Poised For Flight, was incredibly beautiful. Using birds as the framework to tell women's stories just worked wonderfully. The second part, Nortendluvsong, was an interesting read, and I was captivated by the language used to describe the trees. The third part, November, is probably my favourite section. Vermette uses her poetry to tell the story of her own brother, who went missing when they were both teenagers, and was later found dead. Given the subject matter, it is quite obviously heartrending and emotional, but it is truly breathtaking, and this kind of poetry is what keeps me reading poetry, and is what keeps me writing poetry. The final section, I Am A North End Girl, is probably the most uniquely styled, but makes for an excellent read. Vermette tells a first person story through dozens of voices of women, each of them incredibly real.
I definitely recommend North End Love Songs. Vermette is an incredible writer, and an incredible poet. Anyone who likes poetry should read this. Anyone who lives in Canada should read this.
I've read a fair bit of poetry this year so far, and this is easily one of the best collections I have read. The first section, Poised For Flight, was incredibly beautiful. Using birds as the framework to tell women's stories just worked wonderfully. The second part, Nortendluvsong, was an interesting read, and I was captivated by the language used to describe the trees. The third part, November, is probably my favourite section. Vermette uses her poetry to tell the story of her own brother, who went missing when they were both teenagers, and was later found dead. Given the subject matter, it is quite obviously heartrending and emotional, but it is truly breathtaking, and this kind of poetry is what keeps me reading poetry, and is what keeps me writing poetry. The final section, I Am A North End Girl, is probably the most uniquely styled, but makes for an excellent read. Vermette tells a first person story through dozens of voices of women, each of them incredibly real.
I definitely recommend North End Love Songs. Vermette is an incredible writer, and an incredible poet. Anyone who likes poetry should read this. Anyone who lives in Canada should read this.
lstyr's review against another edition
3.0
Beautiful collection of poems that are steeped in nostalgia and Winnipeg landmarks! My favourite was the most heart breaking and about her brother. If you liked this definitely read "The Break" which I gave 5/5.
bethaniel's review against another edition
5.0
wow wow wow. i read "selkirk avenue" for class and wrote an essay about it and it never quite left my head so i picked up the source material. christ, some of these poems are gonna live in my ribcage for the rest of my life.