Inward by yung pueblo | Rating: ★★★☆☆

As a note, a copy of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

There's something I have to get off my chest about reviewers, re: modern poetry. You don't get to decide what is or isn't poetry. You're entitled to not like a certain style, you're entitled to not like a certain author or collection, but you're not entitled to defining what makes poetry. This, and I'm sorry if this is shocking for you, is not a style that has just popped up: it has been here for decades. You're just being pretentious when you should just be expressing the simple fact that it is not your cup of tea.

(And that's, as the kids say, the tea.)

Now that I've got your attention, and likely earned a scoff or glare, let's focus on Inward, shall we? I was not familiar with this collection before it was revised, so this was my first experience with the poets work. As with all forms of prose, I found Inward to be a deeply personal experience that kept me focused on the thoughts explored throughout the collection and there were many parts in which I found myself especially captivated by. The fact that so many reviewers still try to use "it sounds like Tumblr" as an insult is boring, but Inward is not. You're reading someone else's inner most personal thoughts and it shows, and you feel it, and you keep going.

While I'm hesitant to say that a lot of Inward felt repetitive--because aren't our struggles all repetitive in the end?--there are a lot of similar poems in here that may make your mind lag behind as a reader. If you are the type who doesn't find this form of exploring to be compelling, Inward may drag on for you.

I just don't want to discredit the collection as it is--and how it has similar poems sprinkled in-because when your mind focuses on something, it's often different variations of one or two topics... and I relate to that on a personal level. I could quite literally wax poetic about certain things in my life.

I think that what is most compelling and thought provoking about Pueblo's prose is that you're likely to relate to this sense of urgency that comes with life and its struggles. It explores the complexities of one persons mind, and if you connect to it--you really and truly connect.

It's what makes Inward special.

It's what makes Inward poetry.

So, don't let anyone try to explain to you whether or not this is poetry. Read it for yourself to discover if it's something you might like or feel connected to. I'm glad I read this collection and am definitely looking forward to more by the author in the future.