The Dream of a Common Language

by Adrienne Rich
The Dream of a Common Language cover
Good Books rating 4.17
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  • ID: 408
  • Added: 2025-09-10
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • Formats: 31
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
cannonballread.com · Unknown · 2023-03-26
thought-provoking 3.00

The reviewer found Adrienne Rich's poetry collection impactful, with some poems deeply resonating while others had a lighter effect. The inclusion of marginalia from a previous reader added a valuable layer of dialogue and analysis, enhancing the reading experience. The collection's feminist themes and the human experiences explored within made it a thought-provoking read.

The reviewer approached Adrienne Rich's 'The Dream of a Common Language' with a mix of curiosity and challenge, as poetry is a genre they find difficult to review. The collection, written between 1974 and 1977, was found to be deeply impactful, with some poems striking the reviewer in the solar plexus while others skimmed the surface of their mind. The presence of marginalia from a previous reader added a valuable layer of dialogue and analysis, which the reviewer appreciated even when they didn't always agree. The feminist themes and the broader human experiences explored in the poems provided plenty of material for reflection. Overall, the experience was positive, with the reviewer finding the collection thought-provoking and emotionally resonant.

Quick quotes

    I can understand why this was a book that Strayed kept with her on the Pacific Crest Trail. It’s under a hundred pages and the opening page hits with a wallop.

    My library copy included marginalia from some previous reader’s experience with the book. I’m glad that it was there, it provided a dialogue I wouldn’t otherwise have with the poems.

    But sometimes that’s all there is to do.

writingasajourney.com · Unknown · 2021-03-17
brilliant 5.00

The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich is a powerful collection of poetry that seamlessly blends themes of same-sex love, nature, compassion, violence, and politics. The reviewer was deeply moved by the emotional depth and interconnectedness of the poems, finding personal resonance and inspiration in Rich's work.

The Dream of a Common Language by Adrienne Rich is a collection that left a profound impact on the reviewer. The poetry effortlessly weaves together themes of same-sex love, the natural world, compassion, violence, and politics, creating a rich tapestry of emotions and ideas. The reviewer was captivated by the beauty and depth of the poems, finding that each one echoed with the others, creating a cohesive and resonant whole. The collection's exploration of familiar yet often overlooked truths made it feel deeply personal and moving. It is a deeply feminist, unapologetically queer, and radical examination of human relationships, touching on issues of gender, sexuality, bodily autonomy, and the political dimensions of grief. The reviewer found pieces of themselves within the pages and highly recommends this stunning work.

Quick quotes

    A conversation begins / with a lie

    Silence can be a plan / rigorously executed…Do not confuse it / with any kind of absence

    It’s deeply feminist, unapologetically queer, and radical in the ways it examines human interpersonal relationships.

literaryladiesguide.com · Unknown · 2018-01-11
insightful 4.50

The Dream of a Common Language solidified Adrienne Rich's position as a leader in the second-wave feminist movement. The collection explores themes of solidarity among women, the legitimacy of lesbian existence, and the destructive nature of patriarchal systems. Rich's poetry blends the artistic and political, envisioning a world where women's experiences and identities are fully recognized and valued.

Adrienne Rich's The Dream of a Common Language is a powerful collection of poems that emerged early in her career and established her as a key figure in the second-wave feminist movement. The poems in this collection are deeply rooted in the promotion of solidarity among women, the legitimacy of lesbian existence within a homophobic world, and the re-conceptualization of motherhood as an institution. Rich's work also explores the mind's relation to the body and the destructive nature of a dominant culture that marginalizes and silences women. One of the standout poems, 'Power,' links the notion of women's power with the danger of not knowing how to handle it, using Marie Curie's story as a metaphor. Another notable poem, 'Phantasia for Elvira Shatayev,' celebrates the courage and commitment of women who perished together on a climbing expedition. The central cycle of 'Twenty-One Love Poems' blends the personal and the public, invoking the experience of physical and emotional love between women. Rich's poetry is both artistic and political, aiming to articulate and shape women's experiences in a world that often renders them invisible. The collection sparked debates and increased Rich's popularity, with critics praising her attention to women's history and her outspoken approach to taboo topics, while others criticized her generalized category of womanhood and her anti-male focus.

Quick quotes

    Rich refuses any division between the artistic and political aspects of her poetry as she uses both to explore social relations in a world hostile to female identity and creativity.

    The title calls attention to the key role of language in articulating and shaping women’s experiences of new being.

    She died a famous woman denying her wounds came from the same source as her power

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