blud

by Rachel McKibbens
blud cover
Good Books rating 4.5
Poetry
Technical:
  • ID: 746
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-19
  • ISBN: 9781619321786
  • Publisher: Copper Canyon Press
  • Published: 2018-05-01
  • Reviews: 3

Rachel McKibbens' 'blud' is a raw and unflinching collection of poems that delve into the inherited burdens of bloodlines, mental illness, and trauma. With a unique blend of dark themes and lyrical magic, McKibbens' work is both urgent and controlled, pushing boundaries and speaking truth to often overlooked issues. Her writing is a testament to the power of poetry as a tool for witness and healing, offering a glimpse into the bruised yet hopeful underbelly of life. As a poet, activist, and founder of The Pink Door, McKibbens brings a fierce honesty and a commitment to giving voice to the disenfranchised, making her work a necessary read for those seeking both beauty and truth in the face of adversity.

Reviews
Medium - Anomaly Blog · 2025-09-19
powerful 4.50

The poems are described as both gorgeous and brutal, with a strong, controlled voice and complex metaphors. The reviewer highlights the raw emotional depth and the skillful use of language.

The reviewer finds McKibbens' poems to be a powerful blend of beauty and brutality. They appreciate the formal control and the feral, unapologetic voice that drives the collection. The use of complex metaphors is particularly noteworthy, adding layers of meaning to the exploration of personal and universal themes. The reviewer is struck by the emotional intensity and the way McKibbens navigates through dark and challenging subjects with grace and skill. They see this collection as a testament to the poet's ability to transform personal experiences into universal truths.

Quick quotes

    McKibbens' poems are as gorgeous as they are brutal

    as formally in control as they are feral in voice

    as filled with surprising and complex metaphors

Books and Ladders · 2019-02-08
profound 4.50

The collection is praised for its honesty and depth, exploring themes of being broken and whole. The reviewer admires McKibbens' willingness to delve into complex and often painful subjects.

The reviewer is deeply moved by McKibbens' willingness to explore the intricate and often painful aspects of human experience. They find the collection to be a profound exploration of what it means to be both broken and whole. The reviewer appreciates the raw honesty and the way McKibbens tackles themes of familial inheritance, mental health, and childhood trauma with unflinching courage. They see this collection as a powerful testament to the human spirit and the ability to find hope and healing in the midst of darkness.

Quick quotes

    This collection has that and so much more

    I loved that McKibbens isn't afraid to get into what it truly means to be broken and whole

    a profound exploration of what it means to be both broken and whole

RHINO Poetry · Emily Prez · 2019-01-09
captivating 4.50

The reviewer finds the collection to be tightly crafted and explosive, with a rhythm that transforms the reader's experience. They highlight the emotional depth and the way the poems explore themes of inheritance and forgiveness.

Emily Prez is captivated by the tightly crafted and explosive nature of McKibbens' poems. They find the incantatory rhythm to be particularly effective, drawing the reader into a deeply emotional journey. The reviewer appreciates the way McKibbens explores themes of inheritance, both the gifts and the curses, with a sense of forgiveness and grace. They see this collection as a powerful exploration of the human condition, filled with raw emotion and profound insights. Prez is particularly moved by the way McKibbens transforms personal experiences into universal truths, making the collection both deeply personal and widely relatable.

Quick quotes

    Tightly crafted and explosive

    With incantatory rhythm, blud transforms

    a house, 'dirty / but comfortable'

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