The Wild Fox of Yemen

by Threa Almontaser
The Wild Fox of Yemen cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Poetry
Technical:
  • ID: 753
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-20
  • ISBN: 9781644450505
  • Publisher: Graywolf Press
  • Published: 2021-04-06
  • Formats: 12
  • Reviews: 3
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Waterstones
Paperback • £10.99

Threa Almontaser's award-winning debut is a polyvocal exploration of identity, faith, and the intricate process of cultural translation. Through a mix of aggressive recklessness and fierce protection, the collection serves as a love letter to Yemen and a portrait of young Muslim womanhood in New York after 9/11. The poems delve into how mistranslation can be a form of self-knowledge and survival, repurposing language and adapting to the space between cultures. /n/n The speakers in these poems move with a force that defies the limits of the American imagination, employing troublemaking and trickery to navigate imperial violence. They apply gang signs in henna and utilize any means necessary to form a semblance of home, riding the tension between carnality and tenderness in the unruly human spirit.

Reviews
Michigan Daily · Sophia Voss · 2021-09-19
thoughtful 4.00

The poems are rich with imagery and emotional depth, offering a unique perspective on the immigrant experience and the search for identity.

Sophia Voss from Michigan Daily finds Threa Almontaser's collection to be a profound exploration of identity and heritage. She appreciates the way Almontaser uses poetic language to convey the complexities of being a Muslim woman in post-9/11 America. Voss particularly enjoys the vivid imagery and the emotional resonance of the poems, which she feels will stay with readers long after they finish the book. The collection is seen as a celebration of Yemeni culture and a poignant reflection on the challenges of navigating multiple identities.

Quick quotes

    Almontaser's love for the Arabic language is evident in each poem.

    The collection brings out the sly, shy, lost fox in all of us.

    The poems are a powerful exploration of identity and belonging.

A.J. Sefton · A.J. Sefton · 2021-08-07
brilliant 4.75

The collection is inventive, creative, and beautiful, transcending traditional poetry to offer a unique and vital reading experience.

A.J. Sefton highly recommends Threa Almontaser's debut collection, praising its inventiveness and beauty. She believes the collection is a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary poetry, regardless of their usual preferences. Sefton appreciates the way Almontaser blends different cultural influences to create a rich and layered poetic experience. The collection is seen as a celebration of cultural heritage and a powerful exploration of identity, making it a standout in the world of contemporary poetry.

Quick quotes

    Inventive, creative, beautiful.

    Even if you don't usually like poetry, this book is as vital as any novel.

    A celebration of cultural heritage and a powerful exploration of identity.

The Guardian · Mona Arshi · 2021-08-03
inspiring 4.50

The collection beautifully captures the duality of living between cultures, blending Yemeni heritage with American life in a way that feels both personal and universal.

Mona Arshi praises Threa Almontaser's debut collection for its vivid exploration of cultural identity. She highlights how the poems deftly navigate the complexities of being a Yemeni-American, offering a rich tapestry of emotions and experiences. The collection is seen as a powerful meditation on belonging and displacement, resonating deeply with readers who have experienced similar cultural divides. Arshi also notes the lyrical beauty of the language, which adds an extra layer of depth to the themes explored.

Quick quotes

    The poems dart between two worlds with a dazzling fluidity.

    Almontaser's work is a testament to the power of poetry to bridge cultural divides.

    The collection is a love letter to Yemen and a poignant reflection on the immigrant experience.

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