Character Limit

by Brendan Joyce

buy the book: https://gumroad.com/nicetryofficer#qD...

Genres: Poetry

74 pages, ebook

Reviews

[Perfect]

The power of these poems lies in the fact that, as damning an indictment of late capitalism as they are, their linguistic power suggest that rebellion rather than resignation are what propels the masterfully ordered words. Brendan Joyce is part of a very necessary movement away from the entertainment which has long installed itself as necessary to literary pursuit. Here is an urgency and a desperation that can only signify the end of one world, or the beginning of another.

[Raechel Jolie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is brilliant. each of these poems will leave you wondering how you are left so (beautifully, consensually) gut-punched with so few words. Joyce's reflections on capitalism, labor, despair, and finding meaning in rust belt life are dark, funny, profound, and I think, ultimately hopeful. buy this book. <3

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay but reading this during the coronavirus outbreak is an experience

faves: 20, 21, 34, 35, 42

[DT McCrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me horny. Have you ever read a book so good it made you horny?

[jada alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy!!! shit!!!!

[Justin KB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyce's Character Limit is the best book of poetry I've read in years. Absolute masterclass in brevity, in the poetic turn, and in personalizing the rot of the everyday experience in a way that gestures toward genuine transformation.

It succeeds where a lot of more famous diagnostic poets fail in that it doesn't shirk from naming diseases both individual and collective, and in a better world (a world without Pulitzers) this book right here might be your Pulitzer.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems about the end stages of capitalism hit especially hard during this time of coronavirus and, well, the end of capitalism as we know it.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think nothing good ever happens on twitter? Think again. Brendan Joyce wrote these poems on twitter. You probably gathered that. That's the angle, right? These poems are angry, and funny, and sad, and a little stupid and very smart. They're all short, so if you got adhd they're a great. Everybody has adhd now, so what are you waiting for? You'll wish some of them were longer. Then, after a little reflection, you'll think "no, no... these are all the perfect length." The perfect length. Usually when people say something is 'the perfect length" they're trying to spare someone's feelings, but in the case of these poems, well... it's impressive what he did. It's the truth. They're great. Are you a commie? You should read these. Work a dead end job? These are for you. Have you sublimated an impulse toward larceny into an impulse toward beauty? Or is that the other way around? These poems are for you. They're great. We're all very proud of him. He doesn't use the word "gossamer" once. That's a feat. That's a feat. He made good.

[Wendy Trevino · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems were all written using the character limit of a tweet. The results are impressive & good at depicting the limits of tweeting. Really enjoyable / highly recommend.

18.
Owners are cracking
down re: waning
popularity.$100
to make between
now & midnight
if I play it right.
Good news is:
Another dead
billionaire. Bad
news: his money's
a zombie that's
burning the
rainforest.
Good news:
I know how
to kill zombies.
Bad news:
I'm a coward.

26.
Those days it was easier
to imagine the end of capitalism
than getting sober. The tables
have burned & turned. The
bridge the water runs under
has lifted. The instinct to forgive
has been forgiven. Give us this
day, our daily bread, and forgive
nobody. All property is theft.

[Billy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joyce has touch.