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savshelfinger's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
mostly reactionary but I guess that’s the essence of the times
lyriclorelei's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I wasn't really a fan of the more journal/prose ones.
inamerata's review
2.0
My favorite poems were "No" and "Your Empty Bowl." The latter in particular had vivid and memorable imagery. However, most of the other pieces didn't stand out much -- especially reading the sincere-but-common post-Trump distress now in 2023 -- and I'm not a fan of the formatting or rambling entries style. I did like the line break calibration page in the ebook, and the notes/references at the back, though.
aeeklund's review
4.0
My feelings about this one are complicated.
It was written - and reflects on - the very early days of Trump's presidency. As such, it's a perfect representation and interrogation of those times. And we need those. This also means that reading this book is exhausting (for very good reasons). Some readers may need a little more time before tackling.
Levin also interrogates childhood illness, the impacts of which ripple outward into her adult life. Her explorations are necessary, and a welcome addition to the canon of poets writing about the body and its struggle with the spirit (something soaring yoked to something weighted). As a reader with a chronic illness, these poems reverberated within me, and it was so, so welcome to see them on the page.
Because of both of these elements, this book requires some effort on the part of the reader. This is not to discourage anyone from reading this book, because it has a lot to say and is also comforting in how it represents the shared anguishes and anxieties of those who watched 2017 unfold with horror. I do recommend you proceed with gentleness toward yourself as you enter, and grace with yourself as you continue.
It was written - and reflects on - the very early days of Trump's presidency. As such, it's a perfect representation and interrogation of those times. And we need those. This also means that reading this book is exhausting (for very good reasons). Some readers may need a little more time before tackling.
Levin also interrogates childhood illness, the impacts of which ripple outward into her adult life. Her explorations are necessary, and a welcome addition to the canon of poets writing about the body and its struggle with the spirit (something soaring yoked to something weighted). As a reader with a chronic illness, these poems reverberated within me, and it was so, so welcome to see them on the page.
Because of both of these elements, this book requires some effort on the part of the reader. This is not to discourage anyone from reading this book, because it has a lot to say and is also comforting in how it represents the shared anguishes and anxieties of those who watched 2017 unfold with horror. I do recommend you proceed with gentleness toward yourself as you enter, and grace with yourself as you continue.
llinsalata's review
5.0
An unexpected and treasured mirror in the midst of this dumpster fire of a world.
avery_madison's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
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