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The first book of poems from an acclaimed young author, whose meteoric rise has already landed them on the cover of Time Magazine. In their bold debut poetry collection, Akwaeke Emezi-award-winning author of Freshwater, PET, The Death of Vivek Oji,and Dear Senthuran-imagines a new depth of belonging. Crafted of both divine and earthly materials, these poems travel from home to homesickness, tracing desire to surrender and abuse to survival, while mapping out a chosen family that includes the son of god, mary auntie, and magdalene with the chestnut eyes. Written from a spiritfirst perspective and celebrating the essence of self that is impossible to drown, kill, or reduce, Content Warning: Everything distills the radiant power and epic grief of a mischievous and wanting young deity, embodied.… (more)
User reviews
There are some pieces that feel like callbacks to Freshwater, and I really need to make haste to catch up on absolutely everything Emezi has written.
Listen, I have spent decades treating books as sacred objects that should not be marked, spun, or mutilated, but this book had me underlining favorite lines like I had been doing it forever. (All of these are better in context, naturally):
spiritbae tells me stories over whatsapp
— from "When the Hurricane Comes the Men Protect Their Brothers"
I don't tell him how little he matters how I have his type at home
— from "Disclosure"
I am the son of god
worry about yourself
— from "What if My Father Called Jesus a Bastard"
This was such an impulse purchase but I am so glad I made it!