“No matter how much I wear to cover my skin, I can never seem to hide it enough.”
Genre: Poetry, Essays and Collections
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Content Warnings: Discusses racism, discrimination, death, and depression.
“Pangaea” is a collection of poetry and prose where the author, Hinnah Mian, looked to express how a body can be destroyed and reborn through many means and for many reasons. Looking at the color of skin, the significance of cultural bias, the power of love—lost and gained, from family and from lovers—, and the impact society has on us, Mian has composed a beautiful oath for our bodies and our selves.
I saw being watered down as a theme. It was mentioned various times and it was something that resonated a lot with me through this book. Hinnah Mian made a wonderful job at highlighting how you can feel like you’re not appropriate in your own ‘home’, how at times you’ll have to dilute yourself to be accepted. The only reason why this book didn’t get a perfect rating from me is because some poems were repetitive and a bit monotone.
I would recommend this poetry book to anyone who’s ever felt invisible in their own skin or—even worse—targeted because of it. I also feel like this could be a powerful gift for a friend or loved one who loves poetry.
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ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
“some nights i am less star
and more the darkness that shrouds them”
andrea's galley 