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jugglingpup's review against another edition
3.0
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This is not the first book of poetry I have read of Pratt’s, but I liked this one much more than the other I read. I am not really a poetry fan so I did not like the formatting choices or the poetry portion of this book, instead I really enjoyed reading Pratt’s story. The poems focused on her feelings around losing custody of her two children when she came out as a lesbian. This was a terrible time in her life, but she handles it and seems to be getting through.
While I did not like how meta this was at times (mentioning how her sons were reading the poems made me feel like she was detached from it and not putting her heart into the work anymore), I did enjoy seeing how her and her sons progressed. The more Pratt mentioned that she showed off her poems or that she wrote poems to deal the less attached I got. It felt like she was trying to hammer home the point that she was not hiding, but the fact that she came out and stayed out is enough to show that she not hiding anymore.
While this book of poetry was more powerful than some of her others, it does not compare with her prose. I only started reading her because of her long term partner Leslie Feinberg. As a stand-alone piece this one left me feeling like I knew very intimately a small portion of the poet’s life. I was very pleased and surprised by the level of intimacy that Pratt gives us through these poems.
It was a quick and easy read. Pratt is usually an easy read as she writes very accessibly and emotionally. While it was not my favorite book, I would probably read it again (probably due to not remembering having read it as I easily forget poetry I have read).
This is not the first book of poetry I have read of Pratt’s, but I liked this one much more than the other I read. I am not really a poetry fan so I did not like the formatting choices or the poetry portion of this book, instead I really enjoyed reading Pratt’s story. The poems focused on her feelings around losing custody of her two children when she came out as a lesbian. This was a terrible time in her life, but she handles it and seems to be getting through.
While I did not like how meta this was at times (mentioning how her sons were reading the poems made me feel like she was detached from it and not putting her heart into the work anymore), I did enjoy seeing how her and her sons progressed. The more Pratt mentioned that she showed off her poems or that she wrote poems to deal the less attached I got. It felt like she was trying to hammer home the point that she was not hiding, but the fact that she came out and stayed out is enough to show that she not hiding anymore.
While this book of poetry was more powerful than some of her others, it does not compare with her prose. I only started reading her because of her long term partner Leslie Feinberg. As a stand-alone piece this one left me feeling like I knew very intimately a small portion of the poet’s life. I was very pleased and surprised by the level of intimacy that Pratt gives us through these poems.
It was a quick and easy read. Pratt is usually an easy read as she writes very accessibly and emotionally. While it was not my favorite book, I would probably read it again (probably due to not remembering having read it as I easily forget poetry I have read).
kebbymoxie's review
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I may read this again a few more times before returning it to the library (and likely buy my own copy). In particular the title poem and "My Life You Are Talking About" were particularly well loved by me, though also quite sad as many of the poems contained are given the nature of the book as a whole.
kasper_au's review
4.0
3-4 stars. Queer Women Book Club read
Crime Against Nature read as a story, chronicling Minnie Bruce Pratt's relationship with her family and as "a woman, a mother, a lesbian". As such, I find it hard to separate the poems here as I think they must be read sequentially. Even so, the two poems that stood out to me most were:
Justice, Come Down
Crime Against Nature
"But I didn't write this story until now when
they are too old for either law or father to seize
or prevent from hearing my words, or from watching
as I advance in the scandalous ancient way of women:
our assault on enemies, walking forward, skirts lifted,
to show the silent mouth, the terrible power, our secret."
Crime Against Nature read as a story, chronicling Minnie Bruce Pratt's relationship with her family and as "a woman, a mother, a lesbian". As such, I find it hard to separate the poems here as I think they must be read sequentially. Even so, the two poems that stood out to me most were:
Justice, Come Down
Crime Against Nature
"But I didn't write this story until now when
they are too old for either law or father to seize
or prevent from hearing my words, or from watching
as I advance in the scandalous ancient way of women:
our assault on enemies, walking forward, skirts lifted,
to show the silent mouth, the terrible power, our secret."