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dfculver's review against another edition
3.0
I like the imagery, and the poems, but at the same time, I am confused by each poem's set up. I'm not always completely sure where to start or finish.
I expect this is primarily because this is only the third book of modern poetry I have ever read.
I expect this is primarily because this is only the third book of modern poetry I have ever read.
skateanddonate's review against another edition
3.0
Not sure what to say about this book. It has a great title! Unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations. I guess I was expecting a book of poems that created a story from the title. Maybe it was just me, but these were the most frustrating poems. Maybe they are what other have called "innovative." To me they were just plain frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I love abstract poetry. What I don't love is poems in a format that you HAVE TO read them forward, backward, sideways and skip lines to understand how they flow. To me that was d*mn irritating. kind of like writing a poem then putting the lines in a blender and randomly spitting them out on the page for the reader to figure out what order the lines should go in. At least it was a great title which has gotten me thinking about a plot for my next book.
laurelinwonder's review against another edition
5.0
I finished this collection the other day, but I've been trying to find the words to review it. I'd like to quote Goodreads reviewer Farren to being:
"This is not a noir murder mystery. This is a book about the peculiar loathing of and desire to murder the childhood self. The narrative reality and chronological progression is fractured--the poems surface in just the same way that thoughts and memories do, in an unpredictable associative progression. Childhood, puberty, sexual violence, fake wood-paneled rec rooms, slumber parties, panties, dead horses. This book activated all kinds of mewling childhood memories. Will have to re-read and re-read and re-read."
A stylistic note is that many of the poems here are printed in columns, you know the style: there are two columns of phrases, so that you can read the poem left to write, or top to bottom and then top to bottom again. McGlynn’s poetic eyes are split: one serving as photographer, while the other acts as profiler, so that we are witness to what occurs within, and beyond, the frame. Working in a lyrical investigative mode, often using a columnar fragmentation. Needless to say, this is an intriguing work that can be read a few times, and more is likely to unfurl.
"This is not a noir murder mystery. This is a book about the peculiar loathing of and desire to murder the childhood self. The narrative reality and chronological progression is fractured--the poems surface in just the same way that thoughts and memories do, in an unpredictable associative progression. Childhood, puberty, sexual violence, fake wood-paneled rec rooms, slumber parties, panties, dead horses. This book activated all kinds of mewling childhood memories. Will have to re-read and re-read and re-read."
A stylistic note is that many of the poems here are printed in columns, you know the style: there are two columns of phrases, so that you can read the poem left to write, or top to bottom and then top to bottom again. McGlynn’s poetic eyes are split: one serving as photographer, while the other acts as profiler, so that we are witness to what occurs within, and beyond, the frame. Working in a lyrical investigative mode, often using a columnar fragmentation. Needless to say, this is an intriguing work that can be read a few times, and more is likely to unfurl.
beatrice27's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
poetkoala's review against another edition
4.0
This title was suggested to me by my Stand Up Poetry professor when I asked him if there were other things outside of our anthology that I should be reading. Because of the recommend-er, I figured that the subject matter would be humorous. Judging the book by its cover, I realized that I was mistaken.
(Brianna enters her local library and retrieves her poetry books from the inter-library loan shelves. On top of her pile is a book of poetry by Karyna McGlynn. She slides her stack of books onto the check-out counter.)
Brianna: (rain-soaked but cheery, carrying a large duffel bag) I'd like to check out these books, please!
(Librarian, who knows Brianna, looks at the cover and the title of the book on top of her stack and gives her a look that says something along the lines of, "Trying to tell me something, Brianna? Is this a confession?")
Brianna: (realizing what the look must be about) Oh! I've been writing a poem a day since September, so I needed more poetry to read.
Librarian: (raises his eyebrows) Good for you, Brianna. But you know copying poems from here doesn't count...
(Brianna chuckles nervously and stuffs the books in her duffel, leaving the library hastily.)
I have no intention of copying poems out of this book, but I had hoped I could use it as some sort of inspiration. On a whole, this book is nothing that I had expected. Significantly darker and more sexually charged than I would have expected, Kill a Girl is a fascinating read.
(Brianna enters her local library and retrieves her poetry books from the inter-library loan shelves. On top of her pile is a book of poetry by Karyna McGlynn. She slides her stack of books onto the check-out counter.)
Brianna: (rain-soaked but cheery, carrying a large duffel bag) I'd like to check out these books, please!
(Librarian, who knows Brianna, looks at the cover and the title of the book on top of her stack and gives her a look that says something along the lines of, "Trying to tell me something, Brianna? Is this a confession?")
Brianna: (realizing what the look must be about) Oh! I've been writing a poem a day since September, so I needed more poetry to read.
Librarian: (raises his eyebrows) Good for you, Brianna. But you know copying poems from here doesn't count...
(Brianna chuckles nervously and stuffs the books in her duffel, leaving the library hastily.)
I have no intention of copying poems out of this book, but I had hoped I could use it as some sort of inspiration. On a whole, this book is nothing that I had expected. Significantly darker and more sexually charged than I would have expected, Kill a Girl is a fascinating read.
vulpasvulpas's review against another edition
3.0
for me, mcglynn is a lyricist of poetic opulence, but much to my dismay I had difficulty connecting with this piece on my first read. gutsy and nearing self-indulgent in its form, I regretfully just didn't have enough time to spend with it. her anomalous verses need time to marinate, and while a few of the poems suction-cupped their exceptional odes over my eyes, I still felt I was doing a disservice to her overall prowess by rushing through in order to meet its due date. this one is heavily deserving an intimate re-read.
decafjess's review against another edition
2.0
To paraphrase another reviewer, it had some memorable lines, but I had no idea what was going on through the book and that doesn't appeal to me.
areaxbiologist's review against another edition
4.0
There are nasty, dark and dreadful horrors seeping up through the cracks (line breaks) in these poems. After reading, I'm still wondering about trauma and it's immediacy. I liked "Oh, You Really Don't Want to Go into the Library" and the title poem. Really raw.
skateanddonate's review
3.0
Not sure what to say about this book. It has a great title! Unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations. I guess I was expecting a book of poems that created a story from the title. Maybe it was just me, but these were the most frustrating poems. Maybe they are what other have called "innovative." To me they were just plain frustrating. Don't get me wrong, I love abstract poetry. What I don't love is poems in a format that you HAVE TO read them forward, backward, sideways and skip lines to understand how they flow. To me that was d*mn irritating. kind of like writing a poem then putting the lines in a blender and randomly spitting them out on the page for the reader to figure out what order the lines should go in. At least it was a great title which has gotten me thinking about a plot for my next book.