Reviews

The Terrible Stories by Lucille Clifton

tywissman's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional 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

5.0

thebutterflycollection's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0

kjboldon's review

Go to review page

5.0

The title does not lie. These poems are full of sadness, fear, and rage. Spare and powerful.

royallyreading's review

Go to review page

dark reflective sad tense 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

3.0

candelibri's review

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced

4.0

I find myself being drawn especially to Clifton’s take on religious figures. Her characterizations especially are so succinct and poignant - and sometimes only in 8 lines or less. “From the book of David” specifically spoke to me. I can’t wait to explore Clifton’s work further.

lottpoet's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

chavonnwshen's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

laura_christine's review

Go to review page

5.0

Beautiful, haunting, sad

jadareyes1's review

Go to review page

5.0

4.5 // ending a collection with the image of a harp...legend.

fave poems:
"rust" (this might be my favorite clifton poem ever)
"amazons"
"1994"
"hag riding"
"shadows"
"entering the south" (

andrewreads's review

Go to review page

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

3.5