Reviews

Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones

kmgard's review

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

lydia_hennessy's review

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

brdwilliams's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

No one writes (or reads!) poetry like Saeed Jones. Simply breathtaking.

khakipantsofsex's review

challenging dark reflective

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Violence, and Hate crime

Moderate: Gun violence, Domestic abuse, and Death

Minor: Terminal illness, Animal death, and Drug use

annanymity's review against another edition

challenging emotional

5.0

avisreadsandreads's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Violence, and Racism

Moderate: Gun violence and Homophobia

Minor: Drug use

laila4343's review

4.0

Powerful, visceral poems of desire, longing, and fear.

jelomath's review against another edition

emotional reflective

4.0

lareinadehades's review

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.5

richardleis's review

5.0

Prelude to Bruise is incredible. I'll be revisiting these poems again and again in coming days and decades. A lot of what Saeed Jones is writing about feels familiar to me, and what isn't is eye-opening and takes my breath away, often by punching me hard in the gut.

Like Citizen by Claudia Rankine, Prelude to Bruise leaves me in awe with strong feelings of guilt and hope.