Self-Portrait as Ruth
Published on 29. September 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
60 pages
978-1-910409-09-1 (ISBN)
Description
Rooted in a Jewish family history that reaches into 19th-century Ottoman Palestine, "Self-Portrait as Ruth" is written in defiance of all official versions of Israeli or Palestinian history. A challenging, aching, honest exploration of culpability, this lament will incite controversy and debate. These poems are interrogations of the first-person possessive of claims, both singular and plural, to land, to identity, to history, and to the body and of wounds and victimization, both unique and collective."
Reviews / Votes
' - beautifully-written poems - all easy control and allusive storytelling - ' Poetry 'This book, wrestling with the conflicting perspectives of nationality, displacement and religion, is steeped in Israeli and Palestinian history. Land is portrayed throughout as an untrustworthy burden, full of temporary demarcations, constantly under threat of change.' Charles Bainbridge, The Guardian 'She writes poetry that is itself barbaric - sophisticated, complex, informed, yet at its core, barbaric. The imagery is shockingly physical, often sexually violent, and the poetic structures themselves are more akin to those of primal myths than contemporary literature.' Jake Marmer, The Jewish Daily Forward 'There is a passionate anger here that refuses to attribute culpability uniquely to one group - With this new collection [Donahaye] establishes herself as an assured, challenging and brave voice, unafraid of confronting difficult issues or upsetting those with more sectarian views.' Sue Hubbard, Poetry London ' - beautifully-written poems - all easy control and allusive storytelling - Even when appearing merely wishful, Donahaye handles her subject with brisk particularity.' Daisy Fried, Poetry Longlisted for Wales Book of the YearMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cardigan
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 203 mm
Width: 127 mm
Thickness: 5 mm
Weight
82 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-910409-09-1 (9781910409091)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Jasmine Donahaye is a creative writing lecturer at Swansea University, specializing in creative nonfiction and poetry. She is the author of the poetry collection "Misappropriations," which was shortlisted for the Jerwood Aldeburgh First Collection Prize, and the monograph "Whose People? Wales, Israel, Palestine."