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Ordinary Beast
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
12 posts | 9 read | 6 to read
ONE OF PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'S TOP 10 POETRY BOOKS OF FALL 2017 NPR'S MOST ANTICIPATED POETRY BOOKS OF 2017 A striking, full-length debut collection from Virgin Islands-born poet Nicole Sealey The existential magnitude, deep intellect, and playful subversion of St. Thomas-born, Florida-raised poet Nicole Sealeys work is restless in its empathic, succinct examination and lucid awareness of what it means to be human. The ranging scope of inquiry undertaken in Ordinary Beastat times philosophical, emotional, and experientialis evident in each thrilling twist of image by the poet. In brilliant, often ironic lines that move from meditation to matter of fact in a single beat, Sealeys voice is always awake to the natural world, to the pain and punishment of existence, to the origins and demises of humanity. Exploring notions of race, sexuality, gender, myth, history, and embodiment with profound understanding, Sealeys is a poetry that refuses to turn a blind eye or deny. It is a poetry of daunting knowledge.
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review
sarahlandis
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
Mehso-so

this was fine

review
monalyisha
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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Mehso-so

I struggled with a good handful of these poems. Maybe two handfuls. I felt that, too often, clarity was sacrificed for form. There‘s a lot of experimental play with language & structure. In theory, I‘m all for that. In the practice of reading this collection, I felt my theoretical support waver.

*Review cont‘d in comments 👇🏻

monalyisha 1/4: If someone could please explain “c ue” to me, other than that it‘s “an erasure of “clue“, I'd virtually kiss your feet. Although I usually saw the *technique* of what she was doing (which, admittedly, was impressive), as in “and”, “clue” & “an apology for trashing magazines in which you appear”, for me, these poems still suffered from a lack of impact. It felt a little bit like misdirection without an appropriate flourish of magic at the end. (edited) 5y
monalyisha 2/4: I preferred Sealey‘s poems that had more of a conversational style, such as: “medical history”, “hysterical strength”, “Virginia is for lovers”, “legendary”, & “in defense of ‘candelabra with heads‘”. All of these poems are gut-punching, beautiful, & ugly. (edited) 5y
monalyisha 3/4: She has powerful things to say about race in America, about life, about death, about health & illness. I just want a chance at beginning to understand her. Maybe criticizing her choice to play (with form or otherwise) isn‘t where that understanding starts. 5y
See All 7 Comments
monalyisha 4/4: Those who haven‘t yet started (or finished!) this collection should know: the notes at the end contain helpful & interesting information! If I‘d known that, I would‘ve read them alongside the poems (like true endnotes) instead of after. 🤦‍♀️ I didn‘t realize what kind of content they held! 5y
monalyisha Note: I do think these linguistic “tricks” can be used to great effect when performed well. A favorite, recent example is “Leaving” by Li-Young Lee. (edited) 5y
DivineDiana I made the same mistake with my current poetry book! But, thankfully I did discover the notes at about the halfway point. 😉 5y
62 likes7 comments
quote
monalyisha
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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“You should know that human limbs burn like branches and branches like human limbs.
Only after man began hanging man from trees
then setting him on fire, which would jump
from limb to branch like a bastard species
of bird, did we come to know such things.”

Many of Sealey‘s poems are about the experience of being black. Sometimes her words are so awful...but powerful. 🖤

#poemsbeforephones

59 likes1 stack add
blurb
monalyisha
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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Thinking about just supplanting my “About Me” with the titles of my #currentreads. 😆

LitLogophile 😂 5y
LauraJ Niiiiiice! 5y
72 likes3 comments
blurb
monalyisha
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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#poemsbeforephones

Reading in my fluffy futon chair by the window & enjoying the spring air. 🍃I‘m nearing the end of this collection. This is the first poem & it remains one of my favorites. 💕

I woke up late this morning. Trying to recharge my body after a never-ending cold. I don‘t have much going on today (until dinner plans). So, I‘ll just rest, rest, rest & try to avoid spooky wind & erratic vehicles. 🤞🏻

Redwritinghood 👏🏻👏🏻 This is another great collection. 5y
julesG Hope you're feeling better soon. 5y
64 likes2 comments
quote
tamaria
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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“Scientists say the average human
life gets three months longer every year.
By this math, death will be optional. Like a tie
or dessert or suffering....”

One of the best books of #poetry I‘ve read in a while. I also now own two of these somehow but I wouldn‘t say I‘m complaining 🤷🏽‍♂️

3 likes1 stack add
review
Settings
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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Mehso-so

Poems. Understand maybe 1/20 poems I've ever read enough to extract any meaning from it - this collection is no different. I've no head for it.

quote
Sudeeppunk
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey

"You look just like your mother, he says who looks just like a fire of suspicious origin"

blurb
monalyisha
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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One of my favorite library patrons came in to pick up her hold today (the tagged book). When I mentioned that one of my New Year‘s goals is to read more poetry she offered - enthusiastically & then a little abashed at how excited she was - to give me a list of her favorites from the year. I obviously said, “Heck yeah! Hit me!”

Here are her Top 3:

“Good Bones” - Maggie Smith
“Calling a Wolf a Wolf” - Kaveh Akbar
“Don‘t Call Us Dead” - Danez Smith

See All 7 Comments
readordierachel What a nice exchange! 6y
Bookzombie That‘s great. I love how excited she was. 6y
Natasha.C.Barnes Awesome! I love that she recommended these and that you passed them on--what a sweet story. 6y
64 likes7 comments
review
Redwritinghood
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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Pickpick

This book of poems is divided into three sections. I was worried at first that it wasn't going to live up to the hype, but spending more time with it, and particularly the third section, convinced me that it does. Exploring race in America, myth, love and death with both beauty and stark reality.

58 likes1 stack add
blurb
Redwritinghood
Ordinary Beast | Nicole Sealey
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Just got home to some excellent #bookmail. I've been waiting for this one for awhile.

52 likes1 stack add