Milk and Honey

The way every word speaks to me... sometimes even makes me too emotional. Thank you for writing such an amazing book!

I'm very late to the Rupi Kaur fan club, but I am here to stay! Kaur's poetry is raw and fresh, and it yanked me into its world on the first page. Milk and Honey is broken into four sections of life and love, and the reader travels through heartbreak to loving to living. The first section, hurting, explains how love and pain aren't always separate, and how not knowing how to separate them is what causes skewed perspectives of love beginning in childhood. The unfiltered voice looks at how parents can shape us in the worst ways before we ever see the right ways. The poem that stayed with me is that alcoholic parents don't exist, only parents who couldn't stay sober long enough, and the truth hit me like a brick wall. It's a perspective that needs to be pushed more because it's the only true one. Favorite hurting poems: pages 34 and 39. The second section is called loving, and it shows the first step after hurting, where we find passion and fireworks in our first relationship and think we've found everything we've missed. However, it's usually the calm before the storm. The passionate love tends to involve fighting and fiery make-up sessions, and often, we mistake that for forever love when really it's just a better love than anything else we've been shown, but it's still not a good love. Favorite loving poems: pages 76-77. The third section, breaking, is about realizing you can feel both love for someone and betrayal and it's accepting that both are valid. It's forgiving yourself for having conflicting emotions because those who love us can hurt us. Breaking teaches you what real love is so you know how to recognize it from others and in yourself. Favorite breaking poems: pages 90, 95, 104, 106, and 125. The final section is called healing and it's about balance and boundaries, knowing how much of yourself to give to others only after first giving to yourself. Healing is realizing your worth as a person and taking up space. Healing is knowing you are whole because you exist. Favorite healing poems: pages 154, 159, 165, 178, and 185. The sections flow effortlessly and Kaur's writing is unrelenting and dives into you like a tidal wave. Her writing is unfiltered and a breath of fresh air. I can't wait to read her other collections.

This book is simple in form but powerful in emotion. Rupi Kaur writes in a way that feels deeply personal, and every poem touches on something real, love, pain, healing, and growth. It’s one of those books you can open to any page and find something that speaks to you. The short poems make it an easy read, but the meaning behind them stays with you. It’s the kind of book that feels like a quiet conversation with someone who understands. Tip: read a few pages at a time and take moments to reflect, it hits harder when you give each poem space to sink in.

Product Review: I purchased this product on April 13, 2023. I decided to buy this product after encountering it frequently on the internet, particularly in English classes and through recommendations from friends who shared my love for poetry—a genre that has captivated me since my younger years. Having owned the hardcover version of this book for over four months now, I am impressed with its enduring condition. The book, with its well-placed pictures, provided a delightful reading experience. I managed to read it over the course of approximately three nights, finding it to be a quick yet immensely worthwhile read. I highly recommend this beautifully written book to others who appreciate poetry. However, I would advise that this book is intended for young adults and not suitable for readers younger than that age group. The content is descriptive, and the images, while adding to the book's appeal, might be interpreted as graphic. Added Photos Description/Review: These photos were taken on December 31, 2023. They serve as a visual testament to the durability and excellent condition in which the book arrived and has been maintained throughout my ownership. Additionally, the images highlight what I find to be the charming and well-crafted design of the book. Overall, these pictures contribute to my positive review of a book that has not only withstood the test of time but also offers an aesthetically pleasing experience.

pretty good book

I loved this book. I honestly cannot think of a proper way to describe how this book made me feel. The best word I can think of to possibly describe this book is “life-changing”. I didn’t know completely what to expect when diving into this one other than the fact that it was a hugely popular modern poetry book, and I had been dying to read some good poetry so that was enough for me. I loved this book from page one, and finished it within a few hours with the strong urge to read it again right away. Kaur’s writing is magical, chilling, tear-jerking. I had constant goosebumps on my arms while reading it. As a matter of fact, I got goosebumps just skimming through it looking for content for this review. I felt as if she’d taken so many of my thoughts and feelings and articulated them in a way I never could. If someone asked me to explain to them my deepest, most intense feelings of pleasure and despair, I would tell them to read milk and honey by Rupi Kaur and they would understand me. I felt as though this book was cradling me or wrapped around my like favorite blanket, or maybe both. The book also features small doodle-like illustrations on many of the poems. I adore these, and I feel like they give the book a very personal feel, as if you’re peeking into someone’s diary. It helps you feel more connected with Kaur, as well as adds emotion to the poem it accompanies. I put down this book feeling strong and powerful and in control. I put it down feeling like I could do literally anything. I put it down feeling proud of my past and excited for my future. I put it down feeling proud to be the woman I am, and that is the effect it has, and that is why I call it life-changing. Because it was. And I know I will carry this around in my backpack and go back to it when I’m feeling my lowest, because it’s the kind of book that whispers in your ear and tells you that you’re strong enough to overcome whatever you’re facing.

I chose to read Milk and Honey for a book club book, and I am glad I did because it is just one of those books everyone needs to read. Although it was not your “average” story, it was a thought-provoking read. I recommend reading this book. The author wrote about her real life experiences, which made the book more interesting. This book allowed me to thing deeply about the events that were going on, and piece loose ends together. Milk and Honey involved a series of events that involved hurting, loving, breaking, and healing. I believe that the author, Rupi Kaur, wrote this novel to connect with his readers, and let them know that they are not alone. However, if you are not a fan of poetry novels, Milk and Honey may not be for you. It is composed of four sections filled poem-like quotes; therefore, it is not for everyone. It is a very quick read, and can be read cover to cover in one sitting. There were no characters because this story is an autobiography about tough times and love written in a poetic form. However, she does mention incidents regarding her ex boyfriend and her friends. Milk and Honey is a touching realization about good and bad times in the life of humans. It had quotes like, “the way they leave tells you everything” (Kaur 143), which really allows you to think about the meaning of the quote, and also reflect on your life. As I read this book I became mesmerized by all of the different quotes; yet some of them hit harder than others. The quotes were all important to the development of the text. Although I do believe that girls would appreciate this novel more than guys, guys may like it too. This book was filled with quotes that people need to hear and see with their own eyes. It teaches you about love, loss, and hurting. Overall, it was hard to put the book down.

This poetry is completely unmasked of any disguise, and sings the self’s true ballad. Reading, one will feel the pain, the passion, the paradox of bravely being alive.

Amazing book

milk and honey by Rupi Kaur | I had seen this book all over Bookstagram and BookTube before I decided to pick it up. Poetry is not a genre that I read that much of, so I decided to give it a chance with a book that was liked by so many people. This collection of poems is split into four chapters, the hurting, the loving, the breaking and the healing: and each one of these deals with a different sort of ache and has its own purpose. I found truly fascinating how certain poems, even those that were only two verses long, could create such huge impacts and responses in me; not all of them obviously, but most of them. Some of the poems in this collection capture the sweetness in those bitter moments, and the bitterness in those that are sweet; creating a wonderful dissonance in the feelings that those verses will arise in you. This collection is a journey of loss, love, abuse, trauma, healing and femininity through Kaur’s eyes and thoughts.

Was ist gute Poesie? Muss sie sich reimen? Muss sie rhythmisch sein? Muss sie überhaupt etwas müssen? Wenn Rupi Kaurs Kritiker sagen, „wahre Dichter“ würden sich im Grabe umdrehen, sollten sie vielleicht mal an den Grabstein von Herrn William Wordsworth klopfen, der sagte: Die Poesie hat ihren Ursprung in einem Gefühl, dessen man sich in Ruhe erinnert. Das hat Kaur getan. Ob dieses Gefühl nun beim Leser ankommt oder nicht, liegt vielleicht auch an ihnen, an mir, an dir. my heart woke me crying last night how can i help i begged my heart said write the book milk and honey ist definitiv keine klassische, romantische Lyrik, es sind keine Sonette, es gibt keine Reime. Sie ist von schlichter Sprache, fast schon elementar. Gleichzeitig ist sie stark, eindringlich, eindrucksvoll. Die Gedichte sind meist kurz, Interpunktion ist nicht vorhanden. Die Zeilentrennung mag manch einem seltsam erscheinen, trägt meiner Meinung nach jedoch erheblich zum Fluss des Textes bei. Auf vielen Seiten finden sich ebenfalls Zeichnungen der Dichterin. milk and honey takes the reader through a journey of the most bitter moments in life and finds sweetness in them because there is sweetness everywhere if you are just willing to look Mit wenigen Worten und Zeilen schreibt die 23-Jährige über Liebe, Schmerz, Verlust, Hoffnung, Trauma, Sex, Missbrauch, Weiblichkeit. Es sind eigene Erfahrungen und solche von Frauen, die sie kennengelernt hat. Kaurs Schreibstil funktioniert wie ein Sog,wie ein Strudel, der seinen Leser völlig verschlingt und am Ende des Buches mit unzähligen Emotionen wieder ausspuckt. our knees pried open by cousins and uncles and men our bodies touched by all the wrong people that even in a bed full of safety we are afraid Kaur hat ergreifende Gedichte geschrieben, wütende, hoffnungsvolle; Gedichte, in welchen sie die Stärken der Frauen anpreist; Gedichte, welche uns helfen, uns selbst zu lieben. Es ist ein Muss für all Diejenigen, die Freude an moderner, freier Poesie haben. Aber vor allen Dingen ist es ein Muss für junge Frauen, für Mädchen; es ist ein Ratgeber, ein Spiegel, eine Inspiration. You tell me to quiet down cause my opinions make me less beautiful but i was not made with a fire in my belly so i could be put out i was not made with a lightness on my tongue so i could be easy to swallow i was made heavy half blade and half silk difficult to forget and not easy for the mind to follow Ich habe wirklich versucht, mir diese knapp 200 Seiten aufzusparen, aber ich konnte einfach nicht anders: ich habe es inhaliert. Natürlich ist nicht jedes einzelne Gedicht bahnbrechend gut, aber fast jedes traf eine andere Stelle in meinem Herzen und in meiner Seele. Mein Buch ist voll mit orangefarbenen Post-Its, die meine neuen Lieblingsgedichte markieren. Es sind mindestens zehn. Selten hat mich Lyrik so zum Lächeln gebracht wie Kaurs, sie zeigt uns, dass das Leben, egal wie schrecklich es sein mag, doch eine unglaubliche Schönheit und Kraft besitzt. The world gives you so much pain and here you are making gold out of it Kaurs eigenwillige, moderne Poesie über Schmerz, Trauer, Liebe und Hoffnung hat mich völlig in ihren Bann gezogen. Sie hat vielleicht nicht das Rad neu erfunden, ist keine neue Sylvia Plath, aber sie hat sich mit milk and honey als junge talentierte Stimme am Lyrikhimmel etabliert. Müsste ich fünf Werke empfehlen, die jede junge Frau gelesen haben sollte, wäre dieses hier dabei. Dürfte ich nur eines nennen, vielleicht auch. Für mich gehört milk and honey in jedes Bücherregal, auf jeden Nachttisch, in jede Handtasche. Wer sich ein genaueres Bild von Rupi Kaurs Gedichten machen möchte, findet auf ihrem Instagram-Account ziemlich viele aus ihrem aktuellen Buch. Ich kann allerdings nur empfehlen, es dann doch noch zu kaufen, da einmal lesen wahrscheinlich nicht genug sein wird.

The poem is so beautifully written and illustrated. The lines are so visceral and provocative. It makes you feel things like it should. It is a must read and needs to be widely read. And the poetic structure goes against the hegemony of poetry which I appreciate in literature.

Great book!