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uglyclogs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
annamickreads's review against another edition
5.0
In college we had the opportunity to speak with Sally Wen Mao during our senior seminar and I just think that everything she writes about in this collection is gorgeous, heartfelt, and full of vivid imagery.
Several professional reviewers have likened her to a modern-day Sylvia Plath and I would have to agree, although I would argue that the same degree of melancholy isn't present, but rather a jagged line between hunger and love.
Mao counters descriptions of honey and sweetness with fury and decay, and her focus on the natural cycle of life and death takes a lot of her floral imagery to new heights.
Some of my favorite poems are "Drop-Kick Aria," "Flight Perils" "Pickpocket" and "Suspension Theory."
Several professional reviewers have likened her to a modern-day Sylvia Plath and I would have to agree, although I would argue that the same degree of melancholy isn't present, but rather a jagged line between hunger and love.
Mao counters descriptions of honey and sweetness with fury and decay, and her focus on the natural cycle of life and death takes a lot of her floral imagery to new heights.
Some of my favorite poems are "Drop-Kick Aria," "Flight Perils" "Pickpocket" and "Suspension Theory."
hrpuffinstuff's review against another edition
challenging
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
4.25
forgereads17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
lelex's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this. Learned a lot of new words and had my dictionary open most of the time, like a few other reviews recommended. My favorites were Sonnets for Kudryavka, Apology, with Stigma, and Drop-kick Aria. The continual references to dire wolves and bees and various animals was so so good.
"I don't teach my girls to brave the violence of sun, sons, or stings. When resources run out, don't sit there and behave. Abandon hive."
"Under the hives you shiver, you prowl; oh puff adder, ibex, blood hook & bees: what can the sand or teeth believe?"
"Mammal as asteroid, ultimate runaway. Who are you, whose kismet matches the greats - a martyr for thought, like Socrates? Will you drink the hemlock of space? You, Laika, original cosmonaut."
"The lightning in my temple wards off wolves."
"I stirred five bullets in your burned porridge, stole the money you sewed into the mattress, and took a bus south of my sorrow"
"I won't go to bed hungry. I wait for your footsteps, slicing an apple with a borrowed knife."
"If I could do girlhood again, I'd ask to be scarier. Less whimpering - more pyromaniac urges, more flirting with kerosene."
"I don't teach my girls to brave the violence of sun, sons, or stings. When resources run out, don't sit there and behave. Abandon hive."
"Under the hives you shiver, you prowl; oh puff adder, ibex, blood hook & bees: what can the sand or teeth believe?"
"Mammal as asteroid, ultimate runaway. Who are you, whose kismet matches the greats - a martyr for thought, like Socrates? Will you drink the hemlock of space? You, Laika, original cosmonaut."
"The lightning in my temple wards off wolves."
"I stirred five bullets in your burned porridge, stole the money you sewed into the mattress, and took a bus south of my sorrow"
"I won't go to bed hungry. I wait for your footsteps, slicing an apple with a borrowed knife."
"If I could do girlhood again, I'd ask to be scarier. Less whimpering - more pyromaniac urges, more flirting with kerosene."
f18's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
Valentine for a Flytrap despite being the first poem in the book remains my favourite.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, and Animal death