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Blood Vinyls
The organization of the Blood Vinyls as tracks, with each track as a theme, illuminates these soulful, gorgeous, intelligently-crafted poems, capturing the black South and womanhood so intimately, and with such knowing--an edgy discography of Florida and the contentions of gender and race in the South. Franklin understands, like Zora Neale Hurston, how to pen intimate narratives that reveal a distinctive aspect of southern history, and its customs stemming from the legacies of slavery and beyond.
- GenresPoetry
84 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2018
375 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 7, 2018
What an incredible collection of poetry. I love the organization of the book as tracks and each track has a theme. These are such soulful, gorgeous poems. Intelligently crafted. Franklin captures the black South and womanhood so intimately, with such knowing. There is not a weak poem in the book, which is quite a feat. Standout poems include White Room Syndrome, Black Writer, Southern Girl Hymn, Stiletto, Wedged, Drag Queen Bingo: Sarasota Florida, Vindictive Grace, and Southern Redactions, but again, these are the very best among a whole book of excellent poetry. A must-must-must read.
August 7, 2018
very black, very southern, very womanist. i felt seen reading this.
March 26, 2021
Essential reading for North Florida poets, and especially so for white women to read, because our experiences are wrapped up together, and its imperative for us to be able to see and acknowledge the parallel experience of North Florida women of color in order to begin to heal, do better, and build bridges to each other, instead of walls.
Music, magic, and mystery are beautifully, painfully rendered into songs-spells-poems that turn ugly things into something valuable, into lessons that we could all stand to learn.
This is not always an easy collection to read, so I took my time with each poem to give it the space and time it deserved to be fully heard, seen, and validated. I am glad that I didn't rush through it, and allowed myself to sit with my feelings of discomfort, because it is only when you sit with those feelings that you understand why it's critical not to run from the things that make you feel bad -- because as bad as they make you feel to read them, someone else feels worse living them.
I must also mention that there is an equal amount of joy in these poems, too -- it's the joy of a flower bursting through concrete that mean to seal it underground forever, of unfurling its petals toward the sun and saying to itself, "See, my will to grow in the sun is greater than your attempt to bury me."
Absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in modern poetry of the south, and an exquisite contribution to the canon of Florida writers.
Music, magic, and mystery are beautifully, painfully rendered into songs-spells-poems that turn ugly things into something valuable, into lessons that we could all stand to learn.
This is not always an easy collection to read, so I took my time with each poem to give it the space and time it deserved to be fully heard, seen, and validated. I am glad that I didn't rush through it, and allowed myself to sit with my feelings of discomfort, because it is only when you sit with those feelings that you understand why it's critical not to run from the things that make you feel bad -- because as bad as they make you feel to read them, someone else feels worse living them.
I must also mention that there is an equal amount of joy in these poems, too -- it's the joy of a flower bursting through concrete that mean to seal it underground forever, of unfurling its petals toward the sun and saying to itself, "See, my will to grow in the sun is greater than your attempt to bury me."
Absolutely essential reading for anyone interested in modern poetry of the south, and an exquisite contribution to the canon of Florida writers.
August 15, 2020
There is astonishing vocal and formal range in this collection, as well as high-powered, bounding energy from one poem to the next. "Double Dutch Bust," "Manual for Still Hunting White Tailed Deer in a Gated Community," and "White Room Syndrome" are just a sampling of the poems that continue to haunt me, long after finishing them. Just a brilliant debut.
January 21, 2021
I loved this book so much and am looking forward to rereading it. These poems are written in such a musical and magical way. Some difficult topics are covered, but I devoured every bit of this book. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re native to North Florida. These poems really hit home for me since I live where the author lives.
June 20, 2022
This collection thrashes my heart like a hurricane in Florida. The rhythms and rendering of sound and speech reminded me of Zora Neale Hurston meets Gerard Manley Hopkins' sprung rhythm. I found myself bouncing from word to word through Franklin's energetic verseforms. Intimate portraits of family and place are woven into cultural moments and icons like Prince and Tina Turner. The legacy and ancestral magic of Black female poetry poetics passed through my ears and veins in these Blood Vinyls. Can't wait to read more from this daring poet in the future!
June 17, 2020
"A Love Bizarre: a Left-handed Golden Shovel Ghazal," "Climaxes & Joints," Porch Sitters Sippin' Sweet Tea in Heaven" (tribute to Their Eyes Were Watching God), "Paint Brushes & Booze: 8-Track for Uncle Kent" are the stand-outs for me. Great collection, strong voice.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews