The Pact

by Jennifer Militello

In her newest collection, award-winning poet and memoirist Jennifer Militello confronts obsession, intimacy, and abuse. Through love poems inspired by such disparate spaces as a British art museum and the reptile house of a local zoo, poems comparing a romantic affair to the religious cult at Jonestown and a mother’s role to a Congolese power figure bristling with nails, The Pact offers an indictment against affection and a portent against zeal. This book places pleasure alongside pain, even as it delivers Militello’s trademark talent for innovation and ritualization of the strange.

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

First published May 1, 2021

Reviews

[Jimmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A poet with wonderful skills, published in all the top journals, but after a while it all seems the same. Makes no real sense, elitist poetry. How I would love to see her just crack a joke or tell an actual story.

[Vin · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some admirable phrases in this book. Then there were parts I wanted to like or understand, but just couldn't make sense of. I'm left wondering once again — why am I not allowed to write cryptic/esoteric poems but everyone else is?

[Kendra Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The poems in this book bounced around in my head like raucous and riotous bells. I think I may have enjoyed every single word and turn of phrase.

[Francescajemm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an impressive attempt at corralling chaos through language - through imagery and metaphor. It overflows with violence and with honesty in equal measure. Dark, mystical, and ultimately a reclamation of power and agency.