Something Sinister

by Hayan Charara

These poems grapple with conflicts arising from a world in which the personal, political, cultural, and aesthetic are deeply entangled and often troubling. Charara does not shy away from the tensions, unease, doubts, regrets, or bafflement of this world; and his wide-ranging focus brings together people from all walks of life a father obsessed with the boxer Muhammad Ali; a girl missing since the 1970s; a mother and daughter trapped in a submerged vehicle; and a suicide bomber, his witnesses, and victims. This collection shows us the mind of an inventive poet undertaking his work with careful consideration, authority, and heart."

Genres: Poetry

72 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2016

Reviews

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful collection of poems. The author grew up in Detroit to Lebanese parents.

There are poems about losing a parent (physically and emotionally); an abusive father and the aftermath of 9/11.

The stand out poem is the last in the collection, "usage." It has clever word play. I will definitely seek out his other collections.

[Kate Gaskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply the most powerful and heart-wrecking collection of poetry I've read in a long time. Charara's poems are deceptively plain-spoken but underneath they boil with rage and love and sadness. I honestly don't have words to describe how much I love this book. It's gorgeous.

[Fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it! Precise language, incredible storytelling, a nuanced approach to identity. Some very stirring-- and startling-- poetry.

[pom❃ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being Muslim is an absolutely gut-wrenching and phenomenal poem.

[Frank Pajunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning poems of life's loves and cruelties. The empathy and difficulty of empathy for those who harm is real.

[David Leftwich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this beautifully written and very relevant poetry collection.

[Octavio Solis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book of verse very beautiful and very painful. There is a dense history the poet is sharing with us, a complicated past filled with so many ghosts and haunted places. He surfs the political, social, and cultural landscapes that we live in today quite deftly, but always with such ferocious compassion. The anger is real and palpable, the hurt is plain, the future is stark and forbidding, but always there is a single thread of hope and light shining through.

[H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review at Poetry Northwest: http://www.poetrynw.org/hilary-plum-i...