A Working Girl Can't Win and Other Poems

It's not the deepest or most profound poetry in the world, but Garrison has a way of worming herself into a particular mindset that is deeply engaging. You can read a life here, and more, you can read a life that feels bitterly familiar, especially as Garrison negotiates what femininity means for herself, both sexually and in terms of social and workplace relations.

This book is really well-written. So well that it kind of annoys me. I actually did enjoy most of the poems but I rated it lower because when I put the book down, nothing stayed with me. Nothing stood out. The author just never quite goes deep enough. Never truly says 'fuck it, I'm gonna say it'. She attempts to do this on the poem 'Fight Song' but it doesn't phase me. I just like poetry with more impact of originality. I need to have emotions dropped on my head. That being said, I do think this collection is okay and worth the read. I just won't remember it. Basically, a college girl's book of poetry. Favorite:'The Widow's Sex Life'.

Hip, urban, sophisticated, affluent, expensively educated poetry written by a hip, urban, sophisticated, affluent, expensively educated poet-- in this case a young poetry editor of The New Yorker. An impressive and convincing first volume, even if it's a bit high-gloss.

A very quick read that didn't leave a lasting impression. Some poems I liked and other poems weren't great. This was a hit or a miss for me.