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toniclark's review against another edition
5.0
I already knew, from having read Beasley's work online, that I was a fan before reading this collection. But really, this is an astonishing and accomplished first book.
While I very much liked the "Allergy Girl" sequence, I thought that the poems later in the book (especially the third section) were more accomplished.
The speaker is educated, intellectual, wise perhaps beyond her years. Truly an artist.
Strong voice and beautiful language, effective images, and stellar endings. So what else could you ask for? I'm bowled over. And I should add, I found this inspiring to read as a poet. It make me want to push the books aside and get back to writing.
Oh! Just found out that she has another collection out. Hurray. I'm all over it. . . .
My only carp. Here we go again:
"Do you know that when I lay down, the loosening muscles // cause me to grow an inch taller?"
Here are some poems available online:
"Drink"
"You"
"The Angels," "My Los Alamos," and "Fireproof" from Coconut. ("The Angels" is one of my favorites from Theories of Falling.
And there are a lot of poems to read and hear (as well as some Q & A with Beasley) at From the Fishouse.
Here are links to 3 poems not from this volume, but published in Poetry Magazine.
While I very much liked the "Allergy Girl" sequence, I thought that the poems later in the book (especially the third section) were more accomplished.
The speaker is educated, intellectual, wise perhaps beyond her years. Truly an artist.
Strong voice and beautiful language, effective images, and stellar endings. So what else could you ask for? I'm bowled over. And I should add, I found this inspiring to read as a poet. It make me want to push the books aside and get back to writing.
Oh! Just found out that she has another collection out. Hurray. I'm all over it. . . .
My only carp. Here we go again:
"Do you know that when I lay down, the loosening muscles // cause me to grow an inch taller?"
Here are some poems available online:
"Drink"
"You"
"The Angels," "My Los Alamos," and "Fireproof" from Coconut. ("The Angels" is one of my favorites from Theories of Falling.
And there are a lot of poems to read and hear (as well as some Q & A with Beasley) at From the Fishouse.
Here are links to 3 poems not from this volume, but published in Poetry Magazine.
bound_by_books's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! I really enjoyed reading this collection. I love poetry, and this particular collection blew me away. I was able to meet Sandra at a poetry reading and she made all of her poems come to life even more than they already did. They were each very relatable. I have to say my favorite was the Allergy Girl series. There was so much insight into the world of a girl who had so many allergies, some fatal. So I was able to understand the author a little better. I was also able to read this and I Was The Jukebox the same day, so I'm excited to start her novel. :)
shuly's review against another edition
5.0
I grabbed this on a whim because I saw that it was edited by Marie Howe, and I had just finished reading a collection of hers that I really enjoyed (What the Living Do) and it seemed serendipitous. From one allergy girl to another, I really enjoy the way that she elevates the imagery of allergy attacks, and this has become one of my favorite collections.
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