Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur – A Review

milk and honey by Rupi Kaur
Poetry
Self Published
Released November 4, 2014
Goodreads | Amazon
Rating:

I own very few poetry collections, but I purchased an ebook version of milk and honey due to the enormous amount of hype surrounding it. It’s been sitting in my Kindle for months and months, but since April is National Poetry Month, I thought now would be the perfect time to finally dive in and see if all that hype is deserved.

Even though I couldn’t give this collection five stars, I do understand the hype. Part of that hype is due to the fact that practically everyone can identify with at least one part of this collection, as it speaks to all parts of relationships, good and bad. There’s betrayal, falling in love, sex, and learning to love yourself. It’s very universal, which appeals to a broad audience.

The collection is told in four parts: The Hurting, the Loving, the Breaking, and the Healing. Part of the reason I’m not giving milk and honey five stars is that there’s nothing new or groundbreaking in the collection. None of it shocked me or provoked me.

I did not enjoy the format of the collection. It’s told in a series of broken sentences, one line poems, and minimalist drawings that feel more appropriate for an Instagram post than a physical poetry collection.

Despite not feeling as though this collection lives up to its hype, I still think it warrants a read, especially if you’re going through a tumultuous relationship. The part titled “The Healing” would be inspiring for someone learning how to love themselves after a rough relationship.

Part of me feels that it was the hype that tarnished my opinion of milk and honey, or maybe I just didn’t read it at that “perfect time” in my life. In the end, I found the collection overrated and unengaging.