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rachfinke's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting meditation on consumption, excess, and capitalism. I was wrapped for the entire time. Much of the text is ephemeral and of the moment. But what is the outlook? What's lasting? Perhaps White's next book will take a stance. What happens when the angel dust wears off––when the club lights turn on? Is it the impending and sudden doom of the future?
nerdqueen666's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, really.
I'm a big fan of the author and her world. I think what she has to express is important. As others have noted, though, this collection was at times underwhelming. Any number of the 1-2 line poems felt more like tweets printed out and bound on pink paper--which is certainly an aesthetic unto itself, no doubt! But if we're taking the aesthetic there, then /really/ push it there, you know? Because leaving anyone guessing about such things, especially in poetry, is just going to give them room to doubt you.
ANYWAY! I am glad I bought this book and read what it contained and will continue to appreciate this artist's existence despite many very clear flaws with this particular facet of said existence.
I'm a big fan of the author and her world. I think what she has to express is important. As others have noted, though, this collection was at times underwhelming. Any number of the 1-2 line poems felt more like tweets printed out and bound on pink paper--which is certainly an aesthetic unto itself, no doubt! But if we're taking the aesthetic there, then /really/ push it there, you know? Because leaving anyone guessing about such things, especially in poetry, is just going to give them room to doubt you.
ANYWAY! I am glad I bought this book and read what it contained and will continue to appreciate this artist's existence despite many very clear flaws with this particular facet of said existence.
kell_xavi's review against another edition
3.0
I'll need to reread some of the longer pieces, because there are levels to the language that I couldn't get inside on the first go. I want to note as well that these poems are sometimes addressed to/around sex workers, so I'm not the right audience to speak on them.
"the poet is a sort of prostitute,"/ wrote Nietzsche, who failed this
Much of White's poetry is in the interweaving of aesthetics with erotics, flesh and emotion. It's Marilyn Monroe, Lana del Rey, Katy Perry, Amy Winehouse and fka twigs at a bacchanal. It's Moulin Rouge, [b:Baby Geisha|11085070|Baby Geisha|Trinie Dalton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328774733l/11085070._SX50_.jpg|16006768], and [a:Melissa Broder|3192838|Melissa Broder|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573943268p2/3192838.jpg]. It's tricksy and weird. It's sassy, messy, queer, and sad.
I fall asleep/ leave the candles/ running
I do think this collection could've been more concise. Some individual poems lavished in the surfaces of language rather than connecting to fuller meanings. Some pages were half-formed ideas costumed as poems. White has talent in writing, but the collection as a whole read as an experiment towards a text, rather than the text itself.
One of my favourite parts:
pussy pays the bills/ pussy keeps the lights on/ anyone who thinks sex/ is something inherently precious/ is not your friend// it's true, sometimes I have to get extremely drunk/ but it isn't like/ poor me,/ in a strapless sequin dress/ it's just these people are all too stupid/ to have all this money (Cabaret)
Poems I liked best:
Monologue Beyond Midnight
The Heart is Delirious Above All Things*
Celebrity Stage
Kiss From a Rose in a Glass Pipe
Monistat Seven Day*
Porn Carousel
Diamonds
Infinity Spring
Doves
"the poet is a sort of prostitute,"/ wrote Nietzsche, who failed this
Much of White's poetry is in the interweaving of aesthetics with erotics, flesh and emotion. It's Marilyn Monroe, Lana del Rey, Katy Perry, Amy Winehouse and fka twigs at a bacchanal. It's Moulin Rouge, [b:Baby Geisha|11085070|Baby Geisha|Trinie Dalton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328774733l/11085070._SX50_.jpg|16006768], and [a:Melissa Broder|3192838|Melissa Broder|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573943268p2/3192838.jpg]. It's tricksy and weird. It's sassy, messy, queer, and sad.
I fall asleep/ leave the candles/ running
I do think this collection could've been more concise. Some individual poems lavished in the surfaces of language rather than connecting to fuller meanings. Some pages were half-formed ideas costumed as poems. White has talent in writing, but the collection as a whole read as an experiment towards a text, rather than the text itself.
One of my favourite parts:
pussy pays the bills/ pussy keeps the lights on/ anyone who thinks sex/ is something inherently precious/ is not your friend// it's true, sometimes I have to get extremely drunk/ but it isn't like/ poor me,/ in a strapless sequin dress/ it's just these people are all too stupid/ to have all this money (Cabaret)
Poems I liked best:
Monologue Beyond Midnight
The Heart is Delirious Above All Things*
Celebrity Stage
Kiss From a Rose in a Glass Pipe
Monistat Seven Day*
Porn Carousel
Diamonds
Infinity Spring
Doves
mollygorelick's review
dark
funny
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
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