41 review for Bittersweet

1. 

   4 out of 5

   Maria – Sep 14, 2020

   Beautiful poetry!

2. 

   5 out of 5

   Ashwin – Oct 25, 2020

   Natasha Ramoutar's debut of poems, Bittersweet, takes us far and near, to Scarborough, Guyana, South Asia, and elsewhere, as we travel closer and closer to the acutely felt solitude that centres this searching, poignant collection. At the heart of this collection, perhaps, is a question that leads the final poem: How do you unravel a history of trauma, that which is woven within you? And, perhaps, at the heart of it, too, is the answer it seeks: This remembering of cultural memories through the a Natasha Ramoutar's debut of poems, Bittersweet, takes us far and near, to Scarborough, Guyana, South Asia, and elsewhere, as we travel closer and closer to the acutely felt solitude that centres this searching, poignant collection. At the heart of this collection, perhaps, is a question that leads the final poem: How do you unravel a history of trauma, that which is woven within you? And, perhaps, at the heart of it, too, is the answer it seeks: This remembering of cultural memories through the act of poetry-writing (a form of testimony, I argue) that aids in uncovering the self. Animated by this restless inner questioning, the poems meditate on the bittersweetness of the diaspora, longing for a homeland and ancestral inheritance; forces that moor the self and set it in motion, from shared memories to the forgotten lanes of history, to estranging locations and departures. Ramoutar's elegeic testimony is a voice that rises out to speak for the silenced, those exiled, removed from ancestry, from history, from self. Voices that I believe are refracted from Ramoutar's own personal life. This refraction allows for a multifaceted understanding of the poem. It is, in Ramoutar, both a narrative of removal from and return to Home, if only fleeting, if only in a dream-sleep. Strength and resilience remains the pervasive themes throughout the collection as she explores this disconnect or feeling of not belonging to a home culture. I do not have that much knowledge of poetry to furnish a comprehensive review, but I will say that Ramoutar's words are stirring and immediate, echoing days after each reading. Ultimately, the collection, Bittersweet, is highly enjoyable and satisfying. Thank you Mawenzi House Press for the advance copy, which was provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Lily Wang – Dec 08, 2020

   My first five star review on this website that is not for my own book

4. 

   4 out of 5

   Liana – Sep 24, 2020

   4/5 stars Thank you to Mawenzi House for providing me with a digital review copy! Bittersweet is a newly released poetry collection by Natasha Ramoutar, an Indo-Guyanese writer from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Her poetry weaves through her various homes from Guyana to Scarborough, detailing the complexities that can arise when thinking about the concept of home. What I enjoyed the most about Ramoutar’s poetry was the way she was able to evoke a sense of belonging and not belonging. How do you h 4/5 stars Thank you to Mawenzi House for providing me with a digital review copy! Bittersweet is a newly released poetry collection by Natasha Ramoutar, an Indo-Guyanese writer from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. Her poetry weaves through her various homes from Guyana to Scarborough, detailing the complexities that can arise when thinking about the concept of home. What I enjoyed the most about Ramoutar’s poetry was the way she was able to evoke a sense of belonging and not belonging. How do you honour your culture and identity once you step into your homeland for the first time? How do you unravel a history of trauma that surrounds not only those who came before you, but yourself as well? Does where you live bear the same weight in your identity as your home as much as other homelands? These questions and more came to mind as I read these incredibly thought provoking poems. Ramoutar has a gift for vivid imagery — I felt transported to exact snippets and moments in time. My favourite poem from this collection was “Ink” because I liked the juxtaposition between what one says and what one actually means. Bittersweet is a stunningly beautiful (both in and out, I mean, look at that gorgeous cover) testament to homes — wherever that may be and whatever that may mean to you.

5. 

   4 out of 5

   2TReads – Nov 03, 2020

   These poems resonated with me on a personal level as they explored self, home, homeland, knowing, belonging, and remembering. Us Diaspora Babies, We Do Not Sleep: spoke on our history that we were forever removed from, and even though we know of and retain aspects of that history in the way we speak, dance, cook, tell stories, there will always be that yearning to truly know the land from which our ancestors were stolen, tricked into leaving. It was especially poignant when one line from certain These poems resonated with me on a personal level as they explored self, home, homeland, knowing, belonging, and remembering. Us Diaspora Babies, We Do Not Sleep: spoke on our history that we were forever removed from, and even though we know of and retain aspects of that history in the way we speak, dance, cook, tell stories, there will always be that yearning to truly know the land from which our ancestors were stolen, tricked into leaving. It was especially poignant when one line from certain poems held such a depth of meaning and the reader could just run over that line again and again, ruminating on the memories and realities that are contained within. Truly a collection of poems that traces history, family, and heritage for us and those who came before.

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Catherine Hernandez – Nov 18, 2020

   Bittersweet is a collection of poems by fellow Scarborough writer, Natasha Ramoutar. The title perfectly captures the experience of reading her words. Each poem simultaneously lulls you into the comforts of home, the love of family while ruining you with stories of diasporic disconnection and lost language.

7. 

   4 out of 5

   Erica – Nov 05, 2020

   I really enjoyed this collection from a local to me (Ontario) author. I was able to connect with many of the poems and will be keeping this close at hand to read and again. Can't wait to see more from this author! I really enjoyed this collection from a local to me (Ontario) author. I was able to connect with many of the poems and will be keeping this close at hand to read and again. Can't wait to see more from this author!

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Kristen – Nov 02, 2020

   Beautiful diasporic poetry from a talented new voice.

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   5 out of 5

   Mabel –

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    4 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

    Natalie Lim –

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

    Khashayar Mohammadi –

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    5 out of 5

    Mawenzi House –

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    4 out of 5

    The Latest Book –

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    4 out of 5

    Katarina Pranjic –

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    5 out of 5

    Halley Nisleit –

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    4 out of 5

    Sadia Qureshi –

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    4 out of 5

    Ɛɾιɳ –

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

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    4 out of 5

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    5 out of 5

    Jsak –