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Mr. West
Identities are formed and broken in this unauthorized lyric biography
Mr. West covers the main events in superstar Kanye West's life while also following the poet on her year spent researching, writing, and pregnant. The book explores how we are drawn to celebrities―to their portrayal in the media―and how we sometimes find great private meaning in another person's public story, even across lines of gender and race. Blake's aesthetics take her work from prose poems to lineated free verse to tightly wound lyrics to improbably successful sestinas. The poems fully engage pop culture as a strange, complicated presence that is revealing of America itself. This is a daring debut collection and a groundbreaking work. An online reader's companion will be available at
Mr. West covers the main events in superstar Kanye West's life while also following the poet on her year spent researching, writing, and pregnant. The book explores how we are drawn to celebrities―to their portrayal in the media―and how we sometimes find great private meaning in another person's public story, even across lines of gender and race. Blake's aesthetics take her work from prose poems to lineated free verse to tightly wound lyrics to improbably successful sestinas. The poems fully engage pop culture as a strange, complicated presence that is revealing of America itself. This is a daring debut collection and a groundbreaking work. An online reader's companion will be available at
- GenresPoetryMusicPop Culture
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2015
5 people are currently reading
364 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Blake
9 books147 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads' database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 13, 2015
Finished this last night and really, really enjoyed it. Sarah's doing something here with intertwining meditations on Kanye into her own very different life that feels very fresh and is incredibly accessible while remaining poetic and meaningful.
March 24, 2015
My review for the Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifesty...
I you set out to write a poetry collection about Kanye West, someone who is himself arguably one of the most brilliant and influential poets of the 21st century so far, then it had better be good. Sarah Blake's debut book, "Mr. West" — impressive for both its hybridity and its ambition — is very good. She describes it as "an unauthorized lyric biography," and in it, she juxtaposes West's life as a celebrity with her own as an artist and soon-to-be-mother.
The result — which could be considered a book-length essay — is fascinating, not just for the unknowable superstar burning at its center, but also because Blake is a formal acrobat, capable of prose poems, lineated lyrics, and even a bitter and witty sestina ("Twilight: Starring Kanye"), all executed with intelligence, sensitivity, and a willingness to engage difficult issues with irreverent humor and grace. Even the "Notes and Further Reading" get their own title, "The Unending World that Connects Us," and read less like a set of references and more like an essay.
Relatedly, if you set yourself the task of writing across difference — in this case, as a white woman writing about a black man — you have to consider how to make your engagement not an act of exploitation or tone-deaf identification, but rather one of illumination and sympathetic understanding. Blake seems to pose the question: How can a woman who "grew up saying, I listen to everything but country / and rap" write effectively about Kanye? She goes on to answer that question implicitly — and sometimes explicitly — on every page, noting: "A white woman has privilege but not power. / A black celebrity has privilege but not power and also discrimination. // Has it in his hands, his hood, buried in the pavement against his face." In so doing, she is able to suggest that at its best, art can help people reach across what divides them.
That said, Blake is never so careful that the book ends up boring. The work takes plenty of risks as it explores a figure who, even at the height of his fame, identifies, correctly, as among the dispossessed. As she notes in "In Song": "Kanye compared himself to Emmett Till again," and, "People have been outraged, but Kanye must / feel a connection to this boy. And because of Kanye, / Emmett's story is on the internet again. 65 years later. // Kanye knows what appropriation is."
Blake understands that Kanye is an object of superlative and vitriol, and that he, like much of the best poetry, exists in a kind of provocative ambiguity. What can we know about a celebrity, the book wonders, but also what are we ever able to know about the experience of anyone outside ourselves?
Stars both are and are not just like us: They get married, like West and like Blake. They have parents and kids, like West and like Blake. They lose people they love. She plays with the idea of what we can and can't confirm about others in "Kanye's Skeletal System," interrupting herself with "Oh god, fact-checker" and "Fact-checker, please."
In "Adventures" she reminds the reader of West's unscripted comments at NBC's "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" in response to Katrina. Although they were — and remain — controversial, West's remarks get at the heart of storytelling. "I hate the way they portray us in the media," he said. "You see a black family, it says 'They're looting.' You see a white family, it says 'They're looking for food.'"
In a world where some versions of the truth are unjustly taken as truer than others (the truth of George Zimmerman over Trayvon Martin, of Darren Wilson over Michael Brown, of Daniel Pantaleo over Eric Garner and on and on), Blake's hybridity is an attempt to make more space for the plurality of lives in America. In this sense, "Mr. West" is an important entry into the ongoing literary conversation on race that would be worthwhile to read alongside Claudia Rankine's "Citizen" and Kevin Young's "The Grey Album."
"Mr. West" reminds the reader that "The mouths we speak with are hidden by other mouths," but also that it's possible to imagine, as she does, in the poem "Hate Is for Hitler" that "We enter into discourse thinking first, love."
I you set out to write a poetry collection about Kanye West, someone who is himself arguably one of the most brilliant and influential poets of the 21st century so far, then it had better be good. Sarah Blake's debut book, "Mr. West" — impressive for both its hybridity and its ambition — is very good. She describes it as "an unauthorized lyric biography," and in it, she juxtaposes West's life as a celebrity with her own as an artist and soon-to-be-mother.
The result — which could be considered a book-length essay — is fascinating, not just for the unknowable superstar burning at its center, but also because Blake is a formal acrobat, capable of prose poems, lineated lyrics, and even a bitter and witty sestina ("Twilight: Starring Kanye"), all executed with intelligence, sensitivity, and a willingness to engage difficult issues with irreverent humor and grace. Even the "Notes and Further Reading" get their own title, "The Unending World that Connects Us," and read less like a set of references and more like an essay.
Relatedly, if you set yourself the task of writing across difference — in this case, as a white woman writing about a black man — you have to consider how to make your engagement not an act of exploitation or tone-deaf identification, but rather one of illumination and sympathetic understanding. Blake seems to pose the question: How can a woman who "grew up saying, I listen to everything but country / and rap" write effectively about Kanye? She goes on to answer that question implicitly — and sometimes explicitly — on every page, noting: "A white woman has privilege but not power. / A black celebrity has privilege but not power and also discrimination. // Has it in his hands, his hood, buried in the pavement against his face." In so doing, she is able to suggest that at its best, art can help people reach across what divides them.
That said, Blake is never so careful that the book ends up boring. The work takes plenty of risks as it explores a figure who, even at the height of his fame, identifies, correctly, as among the dispossessed. As she notes in "In Song": "Kanye compared himself to Emmett Till again," and, "People have been outraged, but Kanye must / feel a connection to this boy. And because of Kanye, / Emmett's story is on the internet again. 65 years later. // Kanye knows what appropriation is."
Blake understands that Kanye is an object of superlative and vitriol, and that he, like much of the best poetry, exists in a kind of provocative ambiguity. What can we know about a celebrity, the book wonders, but also what are we ever able to know about the experience of anyone outside ourselves?
Stars both are and are not just like us: They get married, like West and like Blake. They have parents and kids, like West and like Blake. They lose people they love. She plays with the idea of what we can and can't confirm about others in "Kanye's Skeletal System," interrupting herself with "Oh god, fact-checker" and "Fact-checker, please."
In "Adventures" she reminds the reader of West's unscripted comments at NBC's "A Concert for Hurricane Relief" in response to Katrina. Although they were — and remain — controversial, West's remarks get at the heart of storytelling. "I hate the way they portray us in the media," he said. "You see a black family, it says 'They're looting.' You see a white family, it says 'They're looking for food.'"
In a world where some versions of the truth are unjustly taken as truer than others (the truth of George Zimmerman over Trayvon Martin, of Darren Wilson over Michael Brown, of Daniel Pantaleo over Eric Garner and on and on), Blake's hybridity is an attempt to make more space for the plurality of lives in America. In this sense, "Mr. West" is an important entry into the ongoing literary conversation on race that would be worthwhile to read alongside Claudia Rankine's "Citizen" and Kevin Young's "The Grey Album."
"Mr. West" reminds the reader that "The mouths we speak with are hidden by other mouths," but also that it's possible to imagine, as she does, in the poem "Hate Is for Hitler" that "We enter into discourse thinking first, love."
September 23, 2015
What exactly does Sarah Blake, a pregnant Jewish poet living outside Philadelphia, see of herself in the megastar Kanye West? This strange and wonderful cycle of poems doesn’t provide an answer so much as it enacts one. In “The Fallible Face,” Emmanuel Levinas is “featured” like a guest collaborator, and the existentialist philosopher’s lines form an unexpected counterpoint to Blake’s own. In “The Week Kanye Joined Twitter,” she blends images of ostentatious wealth with visions of nymphs in a way that somehow elevates both.
Like the best hip hop artists, Blake is a skilled remixer, borrowing lines both famous and obscure, sacred and (occasionally very) profane, revealing alternate meanings by way of skillful juxtaposition. In addition to sampling Kanye’s own lyrics and quotes, she also borrows from Greek mythology, Twilight, and YouTube comments. The result is a consistently surprising meditation on what it means to identify with an artist.
Like the best hip hop artists, Blake is a skilled remixer, borrowing lines both famous and obscure, sacred and (occasionally very) profane, revealing alternate meanings by way of skillful juxtaposition. In addition to sampling Kanye’s own lyrics and quotes, she also borrows from Greek mythology, Twilight, and YouTube comments. The result is a consistently surprising meditation on what it means to identify with an artist.
May 22, 2016
I'm not usually drawn to poetry, but I'm so glad I escaped my literary comfort zone for this book! Blake's poems are simply structured and accessible, but are still complex and gorgeously written. Mr. West isn't so much a biography of Kanye West's life, but a record of observations about privilege, racism, identity, and family in America, as well as commentary on the cult mentality that is imbedded into our society when it comes to celebrity. Blake finds surprising ways to empathize with Kanye and the people in his life as she attempts to understand her role as a mother and a Jew living in the aftermath of WWII. Will be rereading!
July 9, 2015
If I was more familiar and especially if I was more in love with Kanye this would have been a five star book. It tugs at your sensations in several directions all at one time. This is a book of nuances. Over-the-top and subtle both simultaneously and alternating. Erasure becomes exposure. Contempt is turned inside out so we can commune with the subject behind the sentiments. The larger than life is reduced to piecemeal stanzas. Bite sized humor and empathy.
July 12, 2015
this book was absolutely incredible. I've always had a mild fascination with Kanye-- and didn't realize that this book would revolve around him before I began it (I should have known with the title and all...). what I didn't realize until reaching "gaze" was that this book is also about compassion. humanizing the monster, so to speak. so good-- I've already recommended it to several people.
July 14, 2015
I was as excited to read this as I was upset that someone wrote a book of poetry about Kanye West before I did. I absolutely adored this collection. The concept was intriguing and the actual poetry is truly wonderful.
July 28, 2022
won this at a poetry slam for my lyricism… read it on the car ride home. wtf is this
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June 28, 2016quotes:
"the mouths we speak with are hidden by our other mouths"
"women are familiar with how not to scare / someone who's in danger"
" I want to spend my poem smiling."
"the blood helps because the heart helps because the electricity moves us"
"when I wanted to put my fingers through your hair, I wasn't saying, Can I / touch it? / I was saying caress."
"you used over forty exclamation marks and I think that's how America needs to be spoken to."
"I am encouraged to paint myself the fool...To humble me. Humiliate me."
"the mouths we speak with are hidden by our other mouths"
"women are familiar with how not to scare / someone who's in danger"
" I want to spend my poem smiling."
"the blood helps because the heart helps because the electricity moves us"
"when I wanted to put my fingers through your hair, I wasn't saying, Can I / touch it? / I was saying caress."
"you used over forty exclamation marks and I think that's how America needs to be spoken to."
"I am encouraged to paint myself the fool...To humble me. Humiliate me."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2015
So there it is. A book of poetry about Kanye West. And I read it. And I liked it. I'm not sure what that says about me. Sarah Blake is a good writer - though I found the blacked out lyrics incredibly frustrating - and she tackles Kanye's celebrity status, his family life, his car accident, racism, his mother's death.... with grace and poignancy. Is it gimmicky? I don't know. But it's good writing regardless.
July 17, 2017
she really loves Kanye, and is pregnant when she talks about it
"Kanye is half what makes my heart"
"Kanye is half what makes my heart"
September 21, 2018
The spectacle of Kanye blending with humanity and hatred and everything human and personal; creativity mixed with destruction and jealousy and the absurd.
I’m not exactly sure why I like this blend of memoir and biography and poetry so much, but I do.
I’m not exactly sure why I like this blend of memoir and biography and poetry so much, but I do.
November 7, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Blake's poetic exploration of Kanye West's life, especially surrounding the death of his mother, in relation to society and her own life. I am amazed and still thinking about her combination of astute cultural observations bridged with intimate descriptions of her romantic relationship and pregnancy. A stunning collection of poems.
March 27, 2015
Weird, but good? Because it made me think-- about the connections between the art of poetry and the art of celebrity, which is something I've never considered before.
Thank you, Diane Cook!
Thank you, Diane Cook!
January 11, 2016
This got real weird real fast
May 13, 2016
this morning I woke up and I just really wanted to read a book of poems about Kanye West
May 15, 2020
A very interesting and unique poetry collection. What other living artist could have an entire poetry collection formed around them other than Kanye? He has been around for long enough, he has enough controversy, he has enough depth, he has enough mystery and known private knowledge.
Lines I liked:
From I want a house to raise my son in: "and if my desires are not unique, / what is?"
Twilight: starring Kanye: "I'm thinking the black man can't be a monster because he is one, because we won't let a fantasy form around him."
Lines I liked:
From I want a house to raise my son in: "and if my desires are not unique, / what is?"
Twilight: starring Kanye: "I'm thinking the black man can't be a monster because he is one, because we won't let a fantasy form around him."
February 26, 2026
An interesting idea
I thought that this was good rather than great poetry but as a concept the book was great and ground-breaking. Such a pity she was not allowed to print the lyrics.
I thought that this was good rather than great poetry but as a concept the book was great and ground-breaking. Such a pity she was not allowed to print the lyrics.
October 27, 2023
Creo que esto fue un experimento que solo no funciono y hasta se vuleve muy problematico
September 8, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review....
I honestly don't know how, or where to put my finger on this. The first thought that came to my mind was: what does a white, Jewish, pregnant woman have to do with a narcissistic, arrogant (yet, shamefully talented) rap superstar Kanye West. And why is she writing a book of poems about him? Strange, Weird, Unique, Creative, Talented, Odd... so many things to describe this very short read.
I remember when West's first album hit the shelves. I was 13-years-old and my older sister had bought it, and played it in her car when she drove us places. I was fascinated by his track "Jesus Walks". It played over and over again on our Top 40 hip-hop radio station, along with a few of his other songs. When his second album came out, I didn't think it was as great as his first but still brilliant. Yet, with each album that came out I started to grow a strong dislike not for his music, but for him and the negative persona he represented in the media. Talented, but full-of-himself and often quoted very, very stupid stuff.
Nowadays, I could care less about him (probably because I dislike his wife just as much) and this book doesn't change my perspective.
This book fell in between ratings, so I gave it 2.5 stars. Strange, but I give the author props on trying her best.
I honestly don't know how, or where to put my finger on this. The first thought that came to my mind was: what does a white, Jewish, pregnant woman have to do with a narcissistic, arrogant (yet, shamefully talented) rap superstar Kanye West. And why is she writing a book of poems about him? Strange, Weird, Unique, Creative, Talented, Odd... so many things to describe this very short read.
I remember when West's first album hit the shelves. I was 13-years-old and my older sister had bought it, and played it in her car when she drove us places. I was fascinated by his track "Jesus Walks". It played over and over again on our Top 40 hip-hop radio station, along with a few of his other songs. When his second album came out, I didn't think it was as great as his first but still brilliant. Yet, with each album that came out I started to grow a strong dislike not for his music, but for him and the negative persona he represented in the media. Talented, but full-of-himself and often quoted very, very stupid stuff.
Nowadays, I could care less about him (probably because I dislike his wife just as much) and this book doesn't change my perspective.
This book fell in between ratings, so I gave it 2.5 stars. Strange, but I give the author props on trying her best.
January 15, 2018
I finished it in one sitting, and while it is a biography told through poems, that does deserve recognition from me, both in general and as someone that doesn't really get poetry. It actually did work pretty well as a biography and as an insight into Blake's pregnancy and relationship with Kanye, which I thought was compelling. It was fine to read through, but it doesn't feel like much sunk in. i guess in the same way to Kanye's music, I'll need to give it a closer look.
October 16, 2015
Just horrible....
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December 4, 2017811.6 B6366m 2016
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews