banana [ ]

by Paul Hlava Ceballos

The poems in Paul Hlava Ceballos’s debut collection banana [ ] reveal the extractive relationship the United States has with the Americas and its people through poetic portraits of migrants, family, and personal memories. At the heart of the book is a long poem that traces the history of bananas in Latin America using only found text from sources such as history books, declassified CIA documents, and commercials. The book includes collage, Ecuadorian decimas, a sonnet series in the voices of Incan royalty at the moment of colonization, and a long poem interspersed with photos and the author’s mother’s bilingual idioms. Traversing language and borders, history and story, traditional and invented forms, this book guides us beyond survival to love.

Genres: Poetry

112 pages, Paperback

First published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that I want to quote to folks word by word. Damn.
This book of poetry is both the personal and the political fanned by the banana industry, from companies such as Del Monte and Dole supporting political upheavals that would grant them access to farming bananas while abusing labor rights (evidenced through a painstakingly thorough list of footnotes!), to the author's relatives and himself dealing with living in the US as someone from a "banana country": useful as a provider of a service whether as the picker of cheap bananas or a cleaner at a country club, yet lumped together under racist terms for anyone south of the border.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute stunning collection of poetry. Here we are met with racism and violence within the banana industry and on being an immigrant. Paul Hlava Ceballos has a unique way with words. He’s put together a book here that will evoke strong images and feelings. This is a collection of poetry I see myself revisiting many times.

[Jason Ly · Rating 3 out of 5]

the second part/the title poem banana[] is my favorite it collages different instances of the use of the word banana from different texts/media, the last poem Irma was also great it explores the author's relationship to their mother and country. The rest of the poems are hit and miss for me.

[k-os]

Astonished by every page of this elegiac, documentary collection. "Each body has its own small gravity. / The banana pulled the world when it fell."

[Alyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite poem was the title poem.

[Sara Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a history major, I really appreciate poetry that comes with resource notes to learn more! Almost 300!

I can see why this collected work won poetry and library awards.

[atito · Rating 5 out of 5]

king of devastating lines

[Amber Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did God lack the word for monocrop
when she raised its sugar from raw earth?

[María Muñoz Contreras (French) · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of those collections you revisit to see what hits you newly each time. Both moving and emotional and yet shows it's well researched, and demonstrates strong technical skill.

[Carla Sofia Sofia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is BRILLIANT. Tender and stunning. Read it and tell your friends to read it.