IJEOMA UMEBINYUO
Cheekily, I bought this book as a gift for my cousin for her birthday and read half of it before I gave it to her. Don't worry I didn't bend the spine lol! What had happened was... Amazon gave me the option to read some of it online before the delivery came and I thought I may as well because I had no clue what it was about but found the poetry was so powerful that when it came I just carried on... lol. Anywho, I stopped halfway and said to myself that I will read the second half when I buy it because it is definitely a book of poems that I need to own, have on my bookshelf and discuss its importance with my daughters in the future.
Questions for Ada - from the heart wrenching narratives of heartbreak to poems about love, culture and oneness told through IJEOMA's graceful relationship with words, this collection of poems is unbelievable. When I really deep it, this is probably the first book of poetry I have read that was not for education - shout out the AQA English Lit Anthology! But I wish I had something like this when I was younger because it is enriching and edifying. Questions for Ada tells phenomenal stories, poems that will resonate deeply with black women as it explores the importance of loving yourself and your skin in a world that is designed to make us despise it. Written by a woman for women. Her poetry is described as "a flower that will blossom in the spirit of every reader" and I couldn't agree more! It feeds the soul.
Some of the poems I loved were only one line long...
I needed myself and I found her
The poem titled Questions for Ada, really made me think of the importance of maintaining a positive relationship with myself in order to maintain successful relationships with others. Sometimes we give give give and you forget about our own needs. How you see yourself, how you love yourself and how you treat yourself is all practice and preparation for how you treat the people you love or want to love. Appreciate them, support them, communicate with them, be honest about your emotions and take action when you need to. Reading poetry that I can relate to on a personal level was very refreshing.
I am technically only reviewing half of this book of poetry but I don't even care, blindly speaking I know the second half will be as amazing as the first.
You must let the pain visit.
You must allow it to teach you.
You must not allow it to overstay.
Profound. Every woman should read this.
RATING: 5/5
THOUGHT PROVOKING: 5/5
READABILITY:5/5
