If Men, Then by Eliza Griswold
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April 2020.
Eliza Griswold’s second collection of poetry stealthy explores war, both internal and external. I read this collection in one sitting, absorbing every syllable, every movement, every ounce of history pulled from its wreckage. Navigating divergent civilizations across several continents spanning centuries, Griswold’s knowledge of what is and what was, is plentiful. Her exploration of globalization tugs between experiencing migration as a voyage in some moments and as a cognitive trap in others. In Inner Émigré, she writes, “Our minds, it turns out, are also terrible country.” This well-timed probe into geopolitics tells of both the marginalized and the privileged with a darkly humorous twist. Writing about incense as a form of disease, and technology as proof of movement, but not life – Griswold is a master storyteller. In Water Table, she stirs up the desire to be one with Earth; “My earliest wish was not to exist…but to be unborn into the atmosphere…” which continues to remind us of the fine line we’re approaching with our habitat. I’ve read everything this Pulitzer Prize winning journalist has ever written. I have a soft spot for Griswold’s journalistic choices which often explore fractured societies. I also |
recommend, I Am the Beggar of the World: Landays from Contemporary Afghanistan, and Amity & Prosperity, the Pulitzer Prize winning look into fracking in a rural Appalachian town
- Zish Chunara, Book Soup Supervisor, Greeting Card Buyer
- Zish Chunara, Book Soup Supervisor, Greeting Card Buyer
