Adultolescence

I'm not a big poetry person, but I am a millennial and I could launch into a whole big long thing about being a millennial, what that means to me vs. the rest of the world, and how Adultolescence is a perfect example of the millennial mindset, etc. etc. But that would be ranting, and annoying, and I don't want to be either today.

So let's start out with why I actually started reading this book - yes, the teenagers at the bookstore I work at did have a little something to do with why I read it so quickly after it's release date, but I bought it on Monday, before it was technically available to said teenagers for many reasons. There is, though, one that truly sticks out: Gabbie and I both went to Pitt, The University of Pittsburgh, Hail to show more Pitt! So not only do we have the shared experiences of being part of the same generation, we have four years worth of memories and, I'm sure if ever meet and have a chance to chat, we would be able to go on and on about Oakland (the Pittsburgh neighborhood, not the CA one), the Cathedral of Learning, the Penn State rivalry, the uniqueness of Pittsburgh weather, how awesome it was to be done for the school year before May even started, though we'd probably disagree on sports - I'll take the Eagles over the Steelers any day.

To say I connected with Gabbie and her poetry is an understatement. I have anxieties, panic attacks, and I have no idea what I want to do with my life, no really. While I love my bookstore job and I one day want to go back into teaching and I'm happily married, I still don't know what I want my life to look like in five years, ten years, twenty years (other than I would like to be employed and still happily married). My brain is filled with the same doubts and insecurities as Gabbie's and, while I don't presently make videos of my life (though I'd like to try at some point), I do have this book blog, so I guess that counts as another similarity.

Adultolescence is the perfect book for anyone who needs to know that they are not alone in the world - their doubts and fears are felt by many others as well. It is the perfect book for my generation - a week into owning it and it already looks well worn and loved because I keep going back to my already favorite poems because I've needed a pick me up or some cheering up during the week. show less

Where do you even begin when writing a review for a book of poetry? Like authors of fiction and non-fiction, the writer pours their heart and soul into their work. But I feel as though poetry is on its own level because the essence of the writing is deep and personal (not to say that other work isn’t!)

I do not normally read poetry, but when I do, there are many I feel a strong connection to (like Amanda Lovelace, and Robert Drake). Their poetry speaks to me on a deep level, which I never thought was possible. Perhaps like many others, poetry is one of those “forbidden” words. I detested classes where I had to break down and “discover the real meaning” behind the words.

Anyway, back to my review.

Let’s start with the author. show more Gabbie Hanna is a YouTuber and Comedian. I have not watched many of her videos, but I do recognize who she is. And she is quite hilarious, but also very deep and inciteful in her words (in the poetry collection, that is).

Adultolescence is Gabbie Hanna’s debut poetry collection, and the first book she has published. The title is also seemingly a play on the change from adolescence to adulthood; hence, adultolescence. Her writing certainly showcases her humorous and outgoing personality while also easily transitioning into discussing serious matters about adulthood and growing up. She talks about the struggles in relationships (where they go wrong, longing, loss, and love). There were the small sections of advice; the writing changes to chat lingo (example: ur, and u).

Despite my lack of love for poetry, there were so many things I loved about Adultolescence. The best part? A rhyming scheme. For some reason, when poetry rhymes, it feels like poetry because that it what I associate poetry with; rhyming. I like that when I read it, whether silently or out loud, a tune always follows. Does anyone else know what I am talking about? As I read, the words begin to flow a certain way, kind of like when reading Dr. Seuss as a child or when you’re trying to remember something. Ascribing a tune to the words makes it easier to remember them. And that is something I like about rhyming poetry—I can do something similar while reading them.

Let’s look at one of my favorites in the collection, just to give you a taste of what her writing is like:

if you’re someone who hates
without a cause,

someone who can’t get their
filthy paws

off their keyboard long enough
to count to two—

i don’t hate you back, i feel bad
for you.

your venomed words can’t break
my callus;

i know there’s pain behind your
malice

‘cause the thing you hate in
everyone else

is probably the thing you hate
most in yourself.

The poem “Troll” just gives me chills. So many people have to deal with people like this, and I think Gabbie’s words express a lot about having to deal with them. Sometimes the words hurt us deeply, sometimes we let the roll off our shoulders. Unfortunately, people have to deal with it.

I will leave my review at that!

I thought I would give something a try. How about a Question of the Day?

QOTD: Are you a poetry person? If so, who are your favorites? Do you like the classics or modern poetry? If you don’t enjoy poetry, is there a particular reason why? show less

I'm disappointed. I was expecting so much more and just got mediocre garbage. There is 248 pages and maybe 5 are okay.

I enjoy Gabbie's videos, although a bit repetitive, she can be funny, and I always go back to watch more. I was very much looking forward to this book. The way she spoke about it... I was expecting some emotion. I like her song Out Loud, and I wanted this book to be more of that. I wanted her to address mental heath more then she did. It's all just stupid nonsense. It's not funny, it's irritating.

I'm so upset that I don't like this. I love poetry. I love humour. But this isn't either of those. I hate that this book is already dated. The internet slang and short-forms aren't cute. I hate that in books and a good chunk show more of this is written like that.

The drawings are fine enough. The whole thing just reminds me of Rupi Kaur and not in a good way. I think it was rushed, I think it was a joke and I don't think Gabbie believes she owes her fans anything. It felt like a big 'fuck you'. She hyped it up, she made it out to be something it's not and I'm sad. show less

*1.5

This was,,, just not that great. I will preface this by saying I wasn't expecting much from this and it was really about as good as I thought it was going to be. Most of the "poems" were just... a complete waste of space. To me they just came off as her trying to be quirky and relatable while also trying to fill up an entire book worth of poems when she really didn't have that much to say. There's even a poem towards the end where she mentions some of these poems came from real inspiration and some were just her trying to make her deadline and to that I say: yeah, we can definitely tell.

That's not to say I hated everything, because I didn't. There were a handful of poems where I really was like "yeah, okay maybe she did something show more there" but then it'd be followed up by something completely ridiculous and we'd be back to square one. I feel like half of this book's poems are something I would see from a tweet that someone wrote in 2 seconds and not something you would expect in a poetry book. Mostly because they're not really poems. I did enjoy the doodles though.

This isn't me trying to hate on Gabbie or anyone who likes this book. People are allowed to like what they like and they don't have to give real reasons for why they did so. Some poetry isn't for everyone and this just definitely wasn't for me. show less

This poetry book reads fast. I spent a good moment with it, but it was not transcending. I really liked only a few poems. Something I really didn't like was the use of abbreviation (bc, u...), and of "dont" instead of "don't". To finish on a positive note, I enjoyed the illustrations.

She tried to be the mediocre Milk and Honey and all we got was Mustard and Water.

Unlike Milk and Honey however, there's even more empty space, and more type of, and more mistakes use of paper. Most books I can say have a reason to exist, this one is just someone faking a deadline and then slapping a $17 price tag on it.

Worse, this indescribable gibberish mess is supposed to be poetry. I think it only rhymed once, and the rest of it was maybe three or four words on a page.

Disgusting money grab. I'm sorry to everyone who bought this full price.

0 stars.

Had some deeper stuff, but also had fillers. She did reveal more than once that she had deadlines and was, I guess, trying to shove a book out. It showed in spots.