We the Gathered Heat: Asian American and Pacific Islander Poetry, Performance, and Spoken Word Paperback – September 17, 2024

This is a very diverse anthology of AAPI poetry, spoken word, and performance art pieces. The work in this collection is by turns intimate, visceral, nostalgic, political, angry, hopeful, and expansive. It dares the reader to continue trying to define AAPI people groups as solely one thing or another in the face of all these diverse and multilayered voices. While not always my particular taste in poetry (what is taste in poetry anyway?!), no one can deny how emotionally charged and incredibly personal these works are - wrapped in identity, stolen identity, loss of identity, or identity found anew.One highlight of this collection is the true diversity it brings. AAPI rep is often solely portrayed as those with East Asian roots and while those stories are immensely important - so are all the others. So it was refreshing to have such diverse representation in this collection.I am white, my husband is an immigrant, and my children are Asian American. I will continue to read and educate myself about the lived reality of the AAPI community for them, and for those living those realities now. In that light, I'm very grateful to have read this anthology.Advanced copy / all opinions are mine!

Publishing date: 17.09.2024Thank you to Netgalley and Haymarket Books for the ARC. My opinions are my own.The book as a meal: Hearty stew made by my grandmotherThe book left me: Curious about what has been lost from oral traditionsNegatives:Hard time connecting to the contentsPositives:Beautiful writing from all contributorsFeatures:Lots of different perspectives and experiences, poems, tiny stories, facts about different heritagesWhy did I choose this one?Poems focusing on women and culture I wish to learn more about? Sign me upPick-up-able? Put-down-able?In-between. Some parts of the book were a little harder to read than others, some parts flowed easier, and some didn't hold my attention as well.Final ranking and star rating?3 stars, C tier. This was simply fine. I didn't connect well with all the contents, and in general I think this was targeted at a different audience. However, it was written well and beautifully. I will recommend this to people, as I think it deserves a greater audience.

5 starsThis is an absolutely outstanding collection.I came to this collab for Franny Choi, but I stayed for Choi AND every one of the writers who contributes here.The anthology begins with a series of letters between the editors, and this subtle choice comes with an incredible impact. The relationships and the struggles are apparent immediately, and these brief but meaningful connections put readers immediately into the vibe of this whole collection. These works are personal and run readers through an array of emotions.Though there are some elements of shared identity among the writers, as well as enough of a tie between their works to create logically categorized motifs, there is also so much variety in tone, experience, and purpose.Anthologies so often come with a few highlights and many efforts that are good but not quite as memorable. That's not the case here. This is a solidly engaging group of authors and writings that kept me wanting to read more and thinking about how I'll incorporate many of these works in my classes (and how much I already love doing that with a few of the works with which I was already familiar). This is a great, not-to-be-missed compilation.