Rate this book

Head Off & Split (2011)

by Nikky Finney(Favorite Author)

4.11 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0810152169 (ISBN13: 9780810152168)

languge

English

genre

Poetry

publisher

Triquarterly

review 1: These poems are pithy, earthy, rich compost. I found I had to read some of them twice, and I felt I still had not mined all the possible meanings from their words.A few lines from the poem, "Resurrection of an Errand Girl: An Introduction" (about the life changes of someone who once did exactly what her mother requested when she was sent to the fish market--this is forty years later)This time she wants what she was once sent for left whole, just as it was pulled from the sea, everything born to it still in place. Not a girl any longer, she is capable of her own knife-work now. She understands sharpness and duty. She knows what a blade can reveal and destroy. She has become used to life's points and edges to uncover life's treasures. She would rather be the one deciding wha... moret she keeps and what she throws away."Some poems appear to be personal, and many also include historical events such as Katrina, Rosa Parks, George W. Bush and his policies. I would love to read what she writes about eh George Zimmerman trial since, like the woman in the poem above, Finney "knows what a blade can reveal and destroy" and is skilled at uncovering "life's treasures."
review 2: The title poem is amazing. The first poem, "Resurrection of the Errand Girl: An Introduction", is by itself a great reason to get the book. Finney's poems about personal, familial and even sexual issues are strong, beautiful and richly rewarding. The political poems, not so much - which is the only reason I did not rate this book much higher. It's tough to write a political poem that engages without devolving into a rant. Even though I agreed with the political stance taken, I found the Condoleeza Suite in particular to be preachy, dull, far too long and a chore to get through. less

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