Reviews

Howl, Kaddish and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg, William Carlos Williams

bibliolucinda's review against another edition

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3.0

“Money! Money! Money! shrieking mad celestial money of illusion! Money made of nothing, starvation, suicide! Money of failure! Money of death! Money against Eternity! and eternity's strong mills grind out vast paper of Illusion!”

sapphicurse's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn't get along with all of the poems in here, but I still really enjoyed and appreciated it.
I love Howl, it's so expressive and haunting and deserves its praise (especially part II!! woah!).
By far my favourite was Death to Van Gogh's Ear !! what a beast of a poem

bouquetofroses's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Oh Ginsberg, after I read you, you showed me a new form of poetry. You showed me how lyrical you are. And upon reflection, you may just be someone that has inspired me.

jesskhall's review

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challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

3.5

ellejayz's review

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4.0

Fantastic.

shadesofpemberley's review

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challenging dark funny

4.5

sarah_dietrich's review against another edition

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1.0

Ginsberg's writing is fantastic, Howl and Kaddish come screaming off the page.

Ginsberg was a terrible person. He was a member and a vocal supporter of NAMBLA, a pro-pedophilia organisation. Ginsberg claims he joined to advocate for free speech, which feels pretty disingenuous. At the time when Ginsberg was publicly supporting NAMBLA, the organisation was campaigning to decriminalise the age of consent, which would make it legal for adults to have sex with children.

How do you rate an amazing book when it's written by someone with such violent beliefs? Giving it 1 star is the only thing that feels right.

itsprobable's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

3.5

vero8's review

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

5.0

Poetry is of course a matter of (very) personal taste, but I found these texts to be incredibly visceral. It’s a hand churning your guts. It makes you feel, and think things… if you dare. 

madeyesjojo's review

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0