"Blue in Green" by Chiyuma Elliot offers a profound exploration of human connection, care, and reciprocity in the face of adversity. Elliot skillfully navigates the intricate dynamics of expectation and obligation, weaving a tapestry of emotions that resonate long after the final page is turned.

One of the most striking aspects of Elliot's work is the variety of forms employed throughout the collection. From ekphrastic poems inspired by modern jazz songs to letters and free verse pieces with variable line lengths, each form serves to underscore the multifaceted nature of the human experience. The way this collection is written was so deeply touching and moving.

This is a book that lingers in the mind, inviting reflection on the intricacies of human relationships and the beauty found within the shadows of uncertainty. I could relate to many of the lines in the collection, whilst not all the poems were for me, the ones that I connected with me, have stayed in my mind for a very long time.

Deeply resonant for anyone who enjoys poetry pondering the art of human existence. Thought provoking, emotional, and intimate — the poems within all seem to be seeking an answer to one question: what do we owe each other? (Chidi Anagonye would have loved and also hated this collection.)

Collaboration runs through the heart of this collection. Human relationships—particularly in families—shape the poems in Blue in Green, as they consider how the question of what we expect from one another evolves into a question of what we owe. When cancer overshadows the ordinary—engrossing the labor of love, work, and friendship—disease becomes a collaborator and proposes new rules of exchange.

Blue in Green is a touching book of poetry that reminds us all of our own unique "humanness." I loved the emphasis on connection and togetherness and how human relationships can help us all through tough times.

"I die by the fistful. I look through the glass. I die by the acre, one unit of measure."

An astounding read, Chiyuma covers a wide breadth of topics in a beautifully written, stylistic approach. Unfortunately, a lot of the vocabulary and deeper meaning was lost on me, but I have hopes of reading with fresh perspective. I believe this isn't a poetry book you finish and put away, but a book you return to with new understandings.

I'm still reflecting on the poems now, but truly, I don't believe my review could do justice to the messages being delivered - instead I recommend picking up a copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

4/5.

This was quite a unique collection of poems and while I enjoyed some of the poems, others were kind of hard to grasp - the latter which I felt were more abstract and transient in nature. These poems came off as really personal and I feel this is especially so since Chiyuma Elliott seemed to have taken a lot of inspiration and references from other pieces of work (poems, musical compositions, etc.) as seen in the Notes section. I enjoyed her use of language and literary devices and found the surrealistic touch in some of her poems interesting as well. One of my favourite poems was My Throat in the Field.

Thank you NetGalley and University of Chicago Press for providing an eARC of this book!

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Blue in Green is a short poetry collection by Chiyuma Elliott.
I really wish I had enjoyed this book more bitunfortunately I found many of the poems confusing and frustrating to understand as I felt there was so much missing for the full story and picture to be built on. I felt a little lost reading this poetry collection but did enjoy the fact that each poem was inspired from other writings and music. However, maybe that is where some of the confusion lies.

Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read and review this ARC!

While a lot of this sounded very pretty, I didn't understand it, which stops me from giving it more than three stars.

Unfortunately, I did not feel this book the way I probably should have. It didn't touch any of my senses, and none of the poems held my interest.

3 stars

Beautiful language, some poems that were incomprehensible to me, & some that were almost perfect in mood & image & meaning. Expressive & spare.

[What I liked:]

•The language is gorgeous. These poems are fun to read aloud because the words are so musical together.

•”Let me be just a little bit bitter so I remember:” is a wonderful poem. So brief, yet says so much. I really like the ending.

•The poems in this collection were inspired by other works of art, music, or writings. Those give interesting context, & sometimes very helpful hints as to the themes of the poems (see the notes at the back of the volume).


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I got easily lost in several of these poems. The images were fragmented. I couldn’t get a grasp on what the topic was. That was frustrating, even if I read thrice over trying to understand what I was missing.

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

A very unusual collection, that I navigated sort of dumbstruck. It is raw and despondent, terminal illness incarnate. I really wanted to take something away from it, but more often than not, it was too vague and confusing, even for my own peculiar taste in poetry. However, the poems I liked I truly liked.