Book Review: Milk and Honey

by Rupi Kaur

2014. 204 pages.

Genre: Poetry

Final Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Summary:

#1 New York Times bestseller Milk and Honey is a collection of poetry and prose about survival. About the experience of violence, abuse, love, loss, and femininity.

The book is divided into four chapters, and each chapter serves a different purpose. Deals with a different pain. Heals a different heartache. Milk and Honey takes readers through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look.

My Thoughts:

I have seen this book advertised and reviewed as one of the best damn poetry books to hit the shelves since my own. Sorry, bad joke. Seriously though, this book is popular! My curiosity eventually got the better of me and I decided to buy it with a little extra money my tax return afforded me. I’m not going to say it’s the best poetry book out there beacuse I do have an issue or two with it, but I will say that it was money well spent!

Many of the poems were what a lot would like to call “Tumblr poetry” as a lot of them read like poetic prose, rather than following the formulas of the traditional styles. It is my stern belief that these non-traditional poems are just as valid as their predecessors and in many ways, much more powerful.

Having said that, however, there were also many pages that I considered more closely related to inspirational or random thought tidbits than poems, though it didn’t take away the enjoyment. You are your own soulmate. Is a great example. While the message itself struck a chord with me, I would have liked it if these lines would have been incorporated into something longer and more in-depth.. something that could flow. They were beautiful lines, but they were puzzle pieces missing from a bigger puzzle.

Rupi Kaur writes straight from her soul about love, loss, hurt and recovery. You might want to skip this one if you are looking for traditional poetry, but it’s a great read for a time when you’re ready to relax after a long day! Geared more toward a female audience, however I think there are treasures in this one that guys could enjoy too!

Favorite Poem(s):