Reviews for The Venus Hottentot

The average rating for The Venus Hottentot based on 2 reviews is 4 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-06-24 00:00:00 Johnson Adigun Out of this collection, the title poem really serves as the benchmark. "The Venus Hottentot" is divine. I would quote it in its entirety for lines like: In the newspaper lithograph my buttocks are shown swollen and luminous as a planet. Monsieur Cuvier investigates between my legs, poking, prodding, sure of his hypothesis. I half expect him to pull silk scarves from inside me, paper poppies, then a rabbit! He complains at my scent and does not think I comprehend, but I speak English. I speak Dutch. I speak a little French as well, and languages Monsieur Cuvier will never know have names. There is a palpable beat that I felt in my chest, a musicality (especially with the jazz references) in poems like "John Col," "Van Der Zee," and "Kevin of the NE Crew" (which I've read over and over). From "Kevin of the NE Crew:" Turn your head, boy. Look at me, boy. Dark day, sweet smell, smoke smell blue. Split-lip black boy brain smell sweet boy, Look my way, boy. Look at you. And "Ode" is a fine example of her narrative skills. An all around really fine collection.

Review # 2 was written on 2020-12-03 00:00:00 Marcy Hagen A dynamite first collection by Alexander. Holds up even in 2020 (perhaps more now than ever). Loved the Miami and Philadelphia poems especially.