This is a classic for a reason. Nothing I say about this novel will diminish its relevance, but I must be honest with myself and others when I say that I didn’t really enjoy it.
All tagged poetry
Martyr! – Kaveh Akbar
Expectation: Writers jumping from poetry to fiction often struggle with pacing and characterization, so I expected an ostentatious mess.
Reality: Akbar's poetic prose and captivating characters shine through the non-linear structure, making “Martyr!” an engaging read despite its occasional superfluousness.
Punching the Air – Ibi Zoboi
Expectation: An exploration of criminal justice inequities framed around the true story of one of the “Central Park jogger” teens.
Reality: While the verses are beautiful, the story and characterizations fell victim to typical YA tropes versus breaking new ground.
Clap When You Land – Elizabeth Acevedo
Expectation: A sullen “Parent Trap”-esque young adult novel about two half sisters learning about one another through tragedy.
Reality: A gorgeously understated book-in-verse that delivered strong character development and real emotion without pandering to YA trends.
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis – Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson
While it may be too in-depth for those seeking general information – honestly, it sometimes felt like reading a textbook – the editors, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine K. Wilkinson have compiled a primer on the vernacular, key issues and political lightning rods.
The Sun and Her Flowers – Rupi Kaur
The brief “poems” and corresponding animation make this a quick read and it’s worth the time. I loved the way she used the title – always placed at the end – to emphasize the theme or key takeaway. In many ways this made the collection feel lyrical, in that you could easily add music and make it a song.
Time Is A Mother – Ocean Vuong
Maybe my expectations were too high, but “Mother” felt a bit too avant-garde for this casual reader of poetry and instead of being consumed by his words, I felt they created a wall.
Call Us What We Carry – Amanda Gorman
Amanda Gorman’s poetry collection shows that we are in for a renaissance of self-reflection and collective processing as artists begin to unpack the past two years.
Leaves of Grass – Walt Whitman
While I’m glad to have read a small portion of this very American collection, I wouldn’t recommend most readers start with this unabridged version of “Leaves” unless you’re prepared to seek out the must-read poems from the often confusing and repetitive filler.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong
Expectation: A story about straddling two worlds.
Reality: One of the most beautifully written novels I’ve ever read.
Brown Girl Dreaming – Jacqueline Woodson
Targeted to middle grade readers, “Brown Girl Dreaming” is an exceptional introduction to more mature books in verse and poetry, and an accessible conversation starter about the experiences of BIPOC people in the southern United States during the tail-end of the Civil Rights era.
On Cats – Charles Bukowski
If you’re a fan of Bukowski, this collection is likely a must read as it features many previously unpublished works. But if you’re a cat lover looking for saccharine sweet stories, you won’t find them here.
The Black Flamingo – Dean Atta
Written for younger readers, it’s an accessible introduction to conversations about intersectionality as we see Michael process the various facets of his identity before fully embracing and sharing openly the parts that make him feel seen, not as a “this or that,” but as a person.
Do You Have Literary Genre Bias?
How often do you step outside your literary comfort zone?
Don’t Call Us Dead – Danez Smith
Smith’s writing is accessible, especially to novice poetry readers, but it also challenges and enlightens on each page. I’d encourage others to read this collection, especially as many of us are trying to educate ourselves on what it means to be a person of color in America.