An interactive museum! What an interesting concept. 100 pages or so that were meaningful. I will definitely recommend for Acquistion.

Thank you to Netgalley for this poetry collection arc of Hardly Creatures. This cover drew me in, but I really enjoyed this book. The cover and poems were so descriptive and meaningful. This is such a short book, a little over 100ish pages, can be read in one sitting.

I thoroughly enjoyed how this book of poems is crafted into an interactive museum-- a museum of the poet, of each of us, of humans existing right now. Sometimes poems with pop culture references are off putting, but being of this moment, they felt especially lived in and cozy because I had access to that language and space. I think the interactive museum format invites the feelings one has at a museum, to poke and prod, to touch and not to touch, to see some versions of some truths.

A beautiful and formally inventive collection that invites readers into the intimate work of accessibility. I have pitched a very positive review to an online publication.

This is the coolest experimental lit I've ever come across. Notice that's all encompassing; I didn't stick to poetry for the scope. If I'm calling it experimental and shouldn't be, my bad. But it feels experimental, bc I've never seen/read/experienced anything else like it and have never been so pleasantly surprised by a collection of poetry.

Some of the emotions this brought up were visceral and—unfortunately for anyone who knows this—extremely accurate. The emotions conveyed in the in the situations I couldn't identify with—still knocked the wind out of me. I'm certain part of this has been my looking in the wrong places and/or not hard enough, but it seems like 2025 has started to grant visibility to art touching on the disparity in life experiences between the currently able and disabled (fking FINALLY). It's so cool you literally can't forget about it during Hardly Creatures, every time it starts floating to the back of your mind there's a new page with its necessary symbols.

I am DYING to see this in print, because I'm sure a screen can't do the graphics or formatting any justice. Plusss this is def going to be a re-reader for me; I'm sure I missed things the first time around that I'd be able appreciate with another go.

I highly highly suggest this for anyone who enjoyed Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa (translated by Polly Barton) or Walking Practice by Dolki Min. Or vice verse! Enjoy this? Try those, too! But be warned they're a little...weirder lol

{Thank you bunches to Rob Macaisa Colgate, Tin House and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for my honest review!}

(I won't be posting this part elsewhere, but to NG & Tin House—the timing of this hitting NG and NG's misc changes (not mad!! just giving background for ease of reference lol) is super unfortunate for all involved, especially the author. To give it to ya straight, trying to read this on my kindle was a nightmare, and I tried multiple fonts at multiple sizes. I then tried the new NG reader—also a no-go, as it just tried to load forever. I'm a SAHM of a toddler so I have little to no time on my phone before becoming a jungle gym, so the app isn't an option for the entirety of a book, either. This is starting to sound like a sob story... But I'm channeling my inner highschooler who was told "if you have a question, I'm someone else here does to but just doesn't want to ask it" and letting ya know that Hardly Creatures is so unique and beautiful that I read it on a laptop (v uncomfy IMO). Had this been a title or publisher I wasn't as excited about... I honestly don't think I'd have gone through the trouble. (re-reading this I sound like a brat but it's just the truth, love you guys :') sorry))