The Tradition by Jericho Brown
Published by Picador, 2019
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Like any collection of poetry, there were themes, styles, and individual poems in this that impacted me more than others, but on the whole, it’s another impressive selection that proves Brown’s ability to pack a punch.
Both intimate and wide-reaching, the poems are primarily concerned with trauma and the body at the intersection of Blackness and queerness. It’s possible my rating is a little harsh, as whilst I appreciated this collection, it suffered somewhat by comparison to The New Testament, another of Brown’s collections which I adored.
You can pick up a copy of The Tradition by clicking here.
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
Published by HarperOne, 2019
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Mackesy’s artwork is incredibly charming, and the sentiment throughout this book is lovely. There’s no story; it’s simply a series of random, fleeting vignettes about a lonely, sensitive young boy who befriends some animals, the ragtag group wandering the landscape and sharing musings on life.
It’s undeniably twee and sentimental, but in a way that feels deliberate and self-aware. One of those ‘suitable for any age’ books, it would make a particularly nice gift for lovers of illustrative art, or sensitive young readers who may take courage and comfort from its messages of friendship and kindness.
You can pick up a copy of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by clicking here.
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Callum McLaughlin 
I appreciate your honest reviews, Callum. Please tell me, what does twee mean?
Thanks, Gina! 😊 Twee means excessively sentimental, in a way that feels sickly sweet.
Got it. Thanks for the explanation.
Oh wow, The Boy, The Mole, etc. doesn’t even have a plot? It was getting such commercial love last year that I was curious, but unfortunately the more I hear about it the less interested I am in checking it out…
But I’m glad you had a decent time with both, even if the poems didn’t quite live up to your previous experience with the author.
Nope; each double page is essentially its own little vignette. It was a birthday gift and I loved it for the artwork, but I think a thin narrative tying some of the moments together would have improved it overall.
Ah, makes sense! Perhaps I’ll skip it after all, I suspect I’d feel the same. I’m glad you found the artwork worth reading for at least! 🙂
I haven’t read any of Jericho Brown’s work but I’ve heard really good things. Despite your lukewarm rating, I think you gave a pretty positive impression overall and I’m intrigued!
He’s definitely worth checking out! I’d recommend starting with The New Testament though 😊
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