Reviews

Refuse: Poems by Julian Randall

heartwurm's review against another edition

3.0

3.5! A lot of the poems I felt a bit lost in, the poems I liked most were the avant garde poems written in the footnotes of poems, or ones on pages 59, 61, and 66 where poems were reprised to reveal new meanings. Throughout reading it I could understand why this collection won the Cave Canem poetry prize, for me personally I wish it leaned more into the avant garde and obscure ways the author approached poetry. I felt the strongest poems were the more sparse ones. Overall a good collection.

jesshooves's review against another edition

“I steady plot the course of history / by the lengths of presidencies / sundial dictating a shadow / All I can remember about time / is what man wanted me dead then”

—From poem “The Author Is Often Mistaken for Obama’s Long Lost Son”

manaledi's review against another edition

4.0

I knew Julian in college and had heard him perform some of his poems before. It's amazing to see the breadth and power of his language and experiences in this book.

jackiejoyreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

scrow1022's review against another edition

5.0

Oh, I love this collection. Language. Forms. Story, in individual poems and across the whole. Compelling, beautiful, impressed and grateful for it all.

lgschmidt's review against another edition

5.0

A must read! I was unable to go to a reading of this at The University if Mississippi, but I wish I could’ve heard his poems read in his voice. I had to read this slowly to absorb the meaning of each one. Highly recommend!

meaghanelizabook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Police brutality

introyert's review against another edition

4.0

I had the pleasure & privilege of listening to Julian Randall recite poetry from this book at Twice Sold Tales in Farmington, Maine. Reading the rest of the book to myself felt disingenuous compared to the breadth he gives his poetry with his own voice. These are deeply personal poems told with rich verse and they pay homage to many figures (Obama, Frank Ocean, Donald Glover). The images used to accompany such sad material are visceral and compelling to read. I enjoyed this book and would recommend to anyone who is a fan of free verse, slam poetry, or who needs to get out of their comfort zone in subject, author, and narrative.

sims4's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

umusings's review

4.0

muscular graceful & beautiful. randall writes with careful cartography & a tender / honest rendering of the painful