Sharks in the Rivers

This is the second book of poems by Ada Limón that I have read. There are two others waiting in my Kindle. I read "Bright Dead Things" first, and read several poems before bed by reading each aloud until I got the pauses, emphasis, and volume to seem right. Sometimes, it would take me only 4 or 5 read-throughs to feel good. Sometimes, 10 times through, and I was was still reaching to know, and feel, and understand. That's when I would stop and dwell with the images and emotions at least overnight. When I turned the light out, it was as if I'd been in communion. My soul was refreshed, even if the poem was about death. Thank you Ada Limón for the life you've lived that has lead to such knowing and for creating such art that it might be known by people you will never meet, but who will carry a bit of you within.

As a Greek Latina, I’m thankful to have found Ada Limón’s poetry. It’s the first poetry book that I’ve completed. I love how it weaves nature with human nature, especially in context from a Latinx perspective. It’s something that isn’t seen enough in poetry.

As a "Queens" girl I've never viewed myself as a city girl, although many would beg to differ. If you're from anyone of the five boroughs you're a city kid. There's no denying or hiding in Ana the reflection of her environment within her poetry. I enjoyed how she touched on the simple aspects of daily life. This is my second contemporary poetry book. I definitely connected with her loneliness, sadness, wanting to abandon her immediate environment, and craving for so much more. Her poetry somehow gave me comfort in knowing that I'm not the only individual that has deep layers of sentiment. Sentiments she gracefully simplifies and complicates in poetic words and imagery. It feels natural, easy and deep. I enjoyed her unique writing style. I recommend this book. There may not be many books I will not recommend, but that is because I am falling in love with poetry. Open to change always, makes me open to others voices and with that new knowledge, how will that altar my own voice? Curious... -Liz

She’s a master for sure!

Gee thank you sweetheart HOPE YOU ARE reading

This was a great book. I enjoyed it a lot. Ada Limón is a genius and I could really relate to her work.

I love this book. It is sharp, fiery, and fierce as hell.

BRIGHT DEAD THINGS BY ADA LIMON: REVIEW By Stefanie Sniffin Bright Dead things was written by a four-book author named Ads Limon. It is an eclectic collection of magical poems delving into personal and wild consciousness. The book has death, love, and hearth bringing us with her into an intellectual and beautiful ride. Limon takes her readers on a journey through life, death, love, loss in a reflection of her life so far. She speaks of unruled beasts and clouds shaped as animals, simple but to the point. The book is a collection of core honestly and feeling that leaves us wanting more. For instance, she writes in “What it Looks Like to Us and Those We Use,”: (p. 23) “…You don’t believe in God? And I said, No. I believe in this connection we all have to nature, to each other, to the universe. And she said, Yeah God…” Brutal honesty mixed with a love of our tortured universe. She speaks of death as a world unto its own. The book speaks of grief, a certain wildness, history, and a celebration of what life is supposed to be. She is honest to a fault in her poetry, and it makes her readers a believer of the shortness but importance of life. Another poem that reached my sous was, “Before”. 9p 46 …” I never knew survival Was like that. If you live, You look back and beg For it again, the hazardous Bliss before you know What you would miss.” This poem brough tears to my eyes as I picture a small child on the back of a bike with her father before reality sets in and ruins your expectations. Limon brings reality to life in her sheerly powerful book. The collection of differences seems to equal out and come out looking more meaningful then ever before. She speaks of her heritage and race as a celebration. Which is refreshing and delightful in this day and age. I considered the third chapter to be the best of the bunch. Her candor in, “The Wild Devine,” (p55-56) was extraordinary. The words reaching out from youth and simpler times when learning about our bodies was not a shame or ugly. Just pure and bright. Her words are innocent but harsh as she speaks of her first-time consuming passion. In conclusion, I thought this book to be beyond my expectations. It was the first book I have ever reviewed and one that I actually enjoyed reading. If poetry is your thing, this a book worth reading through its entirety. It boils the blood an makes you aware of feelings long forgotten. It takes you through love, sadness, fear, worry, happiness, and death. But isn’t that what we all are searching for? Honesty put in a way we can understand. Limon is unafraid and ambiguous at the same time. She is unabandoned as she takes us on this journey of pure truth. Her truth. One last excerpt I found rather profound was from, “Tattoo Theory.” (p87) …But the shape of Nebraska is still the same despite the translation; it looks like a sad animal with his head hangdog low..” This makes me think of a town I have been to and did not care for. But had to go anyway. The last line…” Here is my permanent puncture, here’s my unstoppable ink.” I can feel the weight on her heart as she drives in this seemingly unknown place. What if she would rather go to another state and enjoy it more? When do you stop and savor the life you choose or keep going wanting more?