Sympathetic Little Monster by Cameron Awkward-Rich

Sympathetic Little Monster Reviews

• 
  Erica

  Every. Goddamn. Word. In. This. Book. Makes. Me. Want. To. Sing.
  
• 
  Marne Wilson

  These are delicate poems about transformation and metamophosis. My favorite lines, from “Ars Poetica”: “I don’t trust anyone/ who has never learned the person can’t be separated// from the rot.”
• 
  Jonathan

  Such poetic excellence on display here
• 
  Bogi Takács

  Awesome and very cohesive poetry collection, with a strong sense of ambience; I want to write a longer review later with some quotes too.
  ____
  Source of the book: Bought with my own money
• 
  Curtis

  This book was so unsuspecting; I found it on a little neglected poetry shelf in an Oxfam bookshop, with an understated cover and not much going for it. But, appearances can be deceiving.
  
  Awkward-Rich has produced a wonderful bouquet of poetry that he lays on the gravestone of his past selves. In doing so, we read a heart-felt yet haunting collection on transmutation and self-mourning, which blossoms into a gracious homage to queerness. He continues to trace his fingers over his blackness, his heritage, whilst simultaneously dethorning experiences of familial trauma and relationships.
  
  “Isn’t that what a poem does—studies a thing with two hundred faces then severs all but one?” Awkward-Rich says it perfectly; his poetry is a study of the many-headed complexity of identity, and yet in it all, there remains a single solitary voice: Awkward-Rich. A true poet.
• 
  Noura

  I wanted to say that I loved this because Cameron Awkward-Rich is one of my favorite poets but I just couldn't. It was missing something for me and I can't put my finger as to what that thing is.
  
  Still, I will continue reading all his work because this didn't curb my love for them.
• 
  Elaine Godwin

  im just a gay lil monster
• 
  Ilana Moyer

  SUCH a beautiful, accessible collection of trans-centered poetry.
• 
  Rivka Yeker

  Sympathetic Little Monster speaks to the childhood self. It doesn't invalidate the childhood self's experience, nor does it eliminate the pain. It just sits with it. It says, "you existed and now I exist -- and we can co-exist, even if it hurts sometimes." Not a mourning, maybe a reckoning.
  
  A beautiful book, one that reopened my heart and left me feeling raw and simultaneously at peace.
• 
  Diana Marie Denza

  I first heard Cameron Awkward-Rich read from Sympathetic Little Monster at the 2019 Sarah Lawrence Poetry Festival, and knew I had to buy the book. This collection is deeply profound because it conveys, without muddled or overly-complex language, what it means to be queer, black, and trans in a world that doesn't always understand or acknowledge these identities. Two highlights in the collection were "The Child Formerly Known As____" and "Essay on the Appearance of Ghosts." Read this collection!
• 
  thalia

  I will re read this again and again. What a curious, tense, and honest breath of new life into narrative, poetry, and theory. Thank you Awkward-Rich. (Also I have a feeling Awkward-Rich would be an amazing comedy writer as well. Some of the poems’ honest walked on the important tragic end of what seemed to have glimpses of genuine joy and humor— think for example the first poem on airports).
• 
  Em

  This text is rich and amazing. I read it in one sitting, but read each entry multiple times. I feel like I need to read it again and after a month to give it a proper review because all I can do is think of its brilliance.
• 
  Laura

  ugh. so good. read. repeat.
• 
  Micol Mian

  Ho dovuto comprare questo libretto dagli Stati Uniti e aspettare più di un mese perché arrivasse e diverse delle poesie le avevo già lette in "Transit", eppure è valsa la pena per ogni singola parola. Comprese quelle ripetute.
  Ci sono così tanti livelli di lettura - dalla transizione alla violenza razziale alla violenza di genere alla violenza della Modernità stessa («The story of modernity is a ghost story, after all») alla solitudine alla sessualità al dolore - e sono tutti perfettamente fusi in un discorso unico e coerente come può essere unica e coerente (e non esserlo al tempo stesso, per forza di cose) l'esperienza di un singolo individuo. Che porta dentro di sé innumerevoli fantasmi, di tutto ciò che è e non è stato.
  Oltre alla bellezza struggente dei versi e dei simboli. Elettrici e sfaccettati. Intensissimi.
• 
  Em

  Metamorphosis, monstrosity, ghostliness, remembering -- Awkward-Rich chewed me up and spit me out in the most wonderful way. His words are exact, piercing, and just *right* for the moment. The only thing I'm disappointed with is myself for letting this sit unread on my shelf for so long!
• 
  Lauren

  Wow. Just, WOW.
• 
  annie

  such an incredible book of poetry wow
• 
  Kelly

  So good it almost hurts.
• 
  Andrew

  Powerful writing, especially "The Child Formerly Known As ________."
• 
  Simon

  So much, so powerful. Such delicate use of language to work with such rough feelings. I'll be coming back to this one, trying to take in more, learn from it.
• 
  Kyli

  Read for ENGL 3331
• 
  Leanna

  “All I found was this palmful of dust. Here. Take it. Throw her to the sky. Let her scatter & drift down. Let her coat your pink tongue”
• 
  Nancy Zigler

  I really loved this poetry collection.
• 
  Le

  So many good poems. So many that made me think, made me feel, made me read them over and over again.
• 
  Mills College Library

  811.6 A967s 2016