The Beautiful : Collected Poems

Rating:
Summary: frustrating read
Review: I was unable to find the Beautiful in any of these poems. The complete lack of editing and organization made this book nearly impossible to read. The poems read like an 8th-grader's scattered journal entries, minus any punctuation. I felt like I kept reading the same angsty poem over and over and over again with no new insights. This chronic repetition revealed a complete lack of depth for any subject matter. Tea should stick to the creative non-fiction formula she employs for 'Valencia' and 'Chelsea Whistle' and leave poetry to the poets.

Rating:
Summary: It really is Beatiful...
Review: Passionate stories told in poetry form, these tiny gems sparkle on the page. If you're familiar with Tea's other works, you'll see their origins here. Whether she's writing about advice for the lovelorn or life in Tucson and San Francisco, her strong voice comes through. Of course, if you're a reader with a prejudice against poetry maybe you shouldn't venture beyond Tea's prose. But if you have an open mind and love Tea's writing, don't miss this book!

Rating:
Summary: A book of poetry that reads like a novel
Review: This book of Michelle Tea's poems published previously in chapbook form is a breathless collection of her experiences. Many of them allude to circumstances and people found in her other books, placing the poems within familiarity. Her poems are gripping and fiercely feminist, unapologetic in their honesty. Towards the end, several poems tend to mention writing poems, choosing to honor Tea's reality but losing some of the emotional immediacy for me as a reader. Still the poems are deeply passionate and definitely worth delving into if you are a fan of Michelle Tea's other work.