Put Me Down, I'm Terrible [BOOK REVIEW]

I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Put Me Down, I’m Terrible by Katie Lewington is a short poetry book based on the mundanity in life. We read about a couple in the car, a dentist, a donut shop, etc. throughout poetry. You’re looking at normal situations through a poet’s mindset. 

I adored the concept of poetry about something simple instead of complex situations that aren’t always relatable or outrageously befuddling. Yet, there’s something about this short poetry book that doesn’t fit right with me. I noticed unnecessary rhyming as an attempt of creating a reasonable stanza. I don’t know if it was the PDF file I was given, but there were several fragments I felt uncomfortable reading. Not because I felt offended or uneasy, I just don’t think it worked at points. It didn’t read poetically as much as it read like disordered dialogue. 

I’m tedious when it comes to rating poetry because I haven’t read many great modern poets. Yet, the modern poets I have read usually have a put together short book of poems that coincide and slowly begin to wrap around each other. I like poems to be substantial with a definite goal or purpose they’re trying to convey. Within Put Me Down, I’m Terrible, I didn’t feel that. I know it’s supposed to be several different mundane experiences. It just seems as if the author has left herself room to add poems that will help build the cohesion it’s lacking.

Don’t get me wrong, the idea is fantastic. It just needs to be executed differently. I enjoyed a few of the poems: CG, Is The Grass Any Greener?, Monday, etc. This author definitely has potential but I don’t find this book to be a strong point.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ 2/5

You can find this book on Amazon.

Find all my reviews on my blog and Goodreads!

Slam Poetry Recommendations

Good afternoon everyone! Last night, I found myself in the deep hole of slam poetry on Youtube and decided to share with you some of my favorites. If you don't know what slam poetry is, it's just poetry that's written to be performed/spoken. They are usually performed at poetry slams which are events dedicated to people performing their poetry.

• "Pocket-Sized Feminism" by Blythe Baird
• "Rigged Game" by Dylan Garity
• "Explaining My Depression to My Mother" by Sabrina Benaim
• "Somewhere in America" by Belissa Escoloedo, Zariya Allen, and Rhiannon McGavin
• "OCD" by Neil Hilborn
• "21" by Patrick Roche
• "Relapse" by Blythe Baird
• "Social Anxiety at 130 BPM" by Aaron Burstein
• "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" by Olivia Gatwood
• "When a Fat Girl Gets Skinny" by Blythe Baird

If you want my full playlist on Youtube, just click here.

The Sun and Her Flowers [REVIEW]

• Paperback 
• 256 pages
• Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing

      my rating: ★★★/★★★★★ (3/5 stars)

“From Rupi Kaur, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of milk and honey, comes her long-awaited second collection of poetry. A vibrant and transcendent journey about growth and healing. Ancestry and honoring one’s roots. Expatriation and rising up to find a home within yourself.”

mini review

I think Rupi Kaur is a great person and I’ve seen her art on Tumblr before Milk & Honey came out so obviously, I end up reading her poetry. I was not a fan of Milk & Honey at all. I don’t know if it was the hype or I just genuinely hated it but I didn’t like it. You’d think I wouldn’t read her second poetry book because of this but nah, I read it anyway. I read them in one sitting so why not? 

I have to admit, I enjoyed this one a bit more. I still can’t wrap my head around her type of “poetry” because it doesn’t make me really think or feel anything? There’s a few that I bookmarked but other than that, it was a pretty average poetry book. I wouldn’t buy a physical copy. The art was kind of bad, too?? I don’t know if that’s because it was on the kindle but it was laughable. A long with some of the poems in there. I would’ve given it 4 stars if it weren’t for some of the dumb poems I came across. #rip

The Witch Doesn't Burn in This One [REVIEW]

                     

      ｔｈｅ ｗｉｔｃｈ ｄｏｅｓｎ＇ｔ ｂｕｒｎ ｉｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｏｎｅ

                                                    

   by Amanda Lovelace

• Paperback
• 208 pages
• Published on March 6th, 2018
• Andrews McMeel Publishing

my rating: ★★★★½ / ★★★★★ (4.5/5 stars)

❝The witch: supernaturally powerful, inscrutably independent, and now—indestructible. These moving, relatable poems encourage resilience and embolden women to take control of their own stories. Enemies try to judge, oppress, and marginalize her, but the witch doesn’t burn in this one.❞

                                                          mini review

**I received this as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

I read this book throughout the entire month of February when usually i’d devour it. I had to read it via my phone because the copy I was given wasn’t suitable for kindle but I can tell you this now, it’s definitely something I’d read in one sitting.

I’m not a fan of modern poetry collections for reasons I’ve explained in my reviews of them but I happen to love these. This book is so finely put together in a way that every poem makes sense and completely connects to the theme which in this case, is definitely feminism and loving yourself. Feminism and poetry were just meant to be because I bookmarked almost half of this book. Although some of the poems are simple, they hold so much value and as a reader, I love that. Compared to this last book, I ended up enjoying this one even more because it seems like the author/poet has expanded her work into something more creative and in-depth. It was incredibly inspiring and overall the most wonderful reading experience.

I’m also thrilled this is a series of some sort? I can’t wait to read the next one!