Rahul Mehta’s new poetry collection closely examines lived experience by way of metaphor, narrative, juxtaposition and observation.
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All articles filed in Reviews
Challenging Southern Masculinity in “The Last Saturday in America”
Poet Ray McManus explores the trend of how masculinity is defined in his latest collection.
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Cosmetic Surgery and Quiet Violence On Board in Lindsey Harding’s “Pilgrims 2.0”
“Pilgrims 2.0” is a stunning portrayal of desperation that holds buoyancy in its empathy and finds brutality in asking where the line of violence is drawn or if, perhaps, the line has been drawn too late.
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Miracles and Horrors Abound in “The Last Philosopher in Texas”
Equal parts surreal and sharp, devastating and delightful, Daniel Chacón’s “The Last Philosopher in Texas” has something for everyone.
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Michael Odom Explores the “Southern Strategies” of Evangelical Christianity-Informed Society and Power
To answer the resounding “How did we get here?” question focused on our current political, and even existential, functioning as a country, Michael Odom offers Southern Strategies: Narrative Negotiations in an Evangelical Region. The book offers an exploration of religion’s role in how the evangelical movement has shifted in its power and perspective attempts to…
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“Hell’s Not Far Off” Ensures Getting Shot in the Leg Once Is Enough To Become a Hero
A review of Josh Howard’s “Hell’s Not Far Off,” which tells the story of Appalachian labor activist Bruce Crawford.
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“Cauterized” Full of Rich and Poignant Verse
Laura Apol’s latest collection, “Cauterized,” is an invitation to closer observation.
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“Adam in the Garden” Challenges Narratives, Reminds of Magic and Mystery in the Everyday
AE Hines’ poetry collection is a personal, direct exploration of geography, nature, queer love and the Eden one creates through self-love and self-acceptance.
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Julia Ridley Smith’s “Sex Romp Gone Wrong” Doesn’t Just Tease; It Delivers
A favorite writing teacher, one particularly enamored with short stories, once told me never to approach a collection with the expectation that all, or even most, will be good. He’d said one, two tops, is all you can reasonably ask for. Not every story in “Sex Romp Gone Wrong” carries emotional heft or grace, but a surprising number of them come close and are destined to be read again and again.
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How the Rhythmic Beating of “Vibe” Carried Me Beyond Borders
A review of “Vibe: The Sound and Feeling of Black Life in the American South” by Corey J. Miles.
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Southern Review of Books 