I appreciate WCW for basically inventing the casual American style of poetry and that his subject matter centered on everyday circumstances of life anI appreciate WCW for basically inventing the casual American style of poetry and that his subject matter centered on everyday circumstances of life and the lives of common people. While he seems to have had definite philosophic and aesthetic ideas, it also seems that he demanded a poetry that spoke for itself. That, in itself, is what I think makes WCW's poetry accessible. However, WCW is not my favorite poet. While I like some of his poetry, I also don't care for most of it and my rating reflects this. The great thing about poetry is that it doesn't matter what I think. Everyone can enjoy what they like. ...more
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Acevedo expresses so much in so few words. Her poetry was brilliant with simple lines full of I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, Acevedo expresses so much in so few words. Her poetry was brilliant with simple lines full of angst and hope and love and sadness and all the things that fuel a teenage girl. But I also felt that the story was a bit limited because it was only poetry, as if we're reading X's poetry journal, and so we don't get a balanced view. Everything is skewed from X's point of view at the time she writes the poem. So all the characters (Twin, Caridad, her mother, her father, Father Sean, Ms. Galinao, Aman) are all caricatures, and in some cases, stereotypes instead of fleshed out and developed characters. And none really have a voice because all are voiced through X's interpretation.
I can see why this was an award winner. It is a powerful read, even more so for it's target demographic. 3.5 stars rounded up....more
I'm not sure what to think or how to describe what I'm feeling. This book is an interesting mix of poetry and short stories that were also poetic. TheI'm not sure what to think or how to describe what I'm feeling. This book is an interesting mix of poetry and short stories that were also poetic. The stories are not beautiful or fantastic but they are sad and real, which makes them lovely in their own way. Especially the last one, "Salt," which will stomp your heart into tiny little pieces and not apologize for it. The poetry is what really ties this collection together. ...more
I picked up this book simply because it had a typewriter on its cover for a reading challenge. I did not know what it was about when I started it. I sI picked up this book simply because it had a typewriter on its cover for a reading challenge. I did not know what it was about when I started it. I started it and couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. I found the essays thought provoking....more
I wasn't really familiar with Jenny Slate before picking this audiobook up at the library. I honestly picked it up becauThis book isn't for everyone.
I wasn't really familiar with Jenny Slate before picking this audiobook up at the library. I honestly picked it up because (1) I needed an audiobook for a reading challenge and wanted one on the shorter side and (2) the title appealed to me. Then I listened to it. And it was weird. And beautiful. And rambling. And honest. And imaginative. And a bit much. I'd actually say it works better as poetry than essays, but it's hard to classify it as any one thing.
Jenny has a distinctive voice. At first, I couldn't place it until I looked at her IMDB profile. She was the voice of Gidget in The Secret Lives of Pets. Then I couldn't stop picturing Gidget.
Like any essay/poetry book, some I liked and some I didn't. She writes about the end of her marriage, her grief over Trump's electoral victory, the joy of family and friendship, her hopes for a bright romantic future, and her steps toward self-acceptance and self-love. Her essays touch on her personal life but in a vague, fuzzy, metaphorical, imaginative way. She is opening the curtain, but only a bit. Just giving a glimpse into her inner, little weirds, world. There's humor, but this is not a humorous book. It is a densely packed book, full of thoughts, emotions, magical realism, life. This is a book to be savored and revisited because I think I will find new things upon a reread.
My favorites were I Died: Listening, Color-spirit, Beach animals, Holding the dog, Geranium, Tart, and I Died: Bronze Tree.