“The Sun and Her Flowers” Book Review
Cover of the book
February 24, 2020
“The Sun and Her Flowers” is a collection of poetry that was published in 2017 and was written by Raupi Kaur, who also wrote the best-selling poetry collection “Milk and Honey.” Both books include an assortment of poems along with illustrations. Raupi Kaur makes both the poems and the pictures that are alongside them.
The poems in “The Sun and Her Flowers” deal with a variety of subjects ranging from love to death. It is split into five different sections: wilting, falling, rooting, rising, and blooming. Each section emphasizes the metaphor that the book is shaped around, which is the title. “The Sun and Her Flowers” as a title refers to the unity of nature. The metaphor compares human life to a flower and describes the similar stages that they share.
The style of poetry that it consists of resembles prose or natural speech. Instead of rhyming and excessive figurative language, it is straightforward. This type of poetry is often disliked by many people in the poetry community, because of the vast differences between it and traditional poetry. But in reality, it is a great way to be introduced to poetry because of the unique style.
People often think that poetry is not for them because it is hard to understand, but it is not all that way. This prose style of poetry that Raupi Kaur uses makes it seem approachable, like it could be for anyone. She is able to do this by using simple, normal language. It is unusual for poets to write things so straight-forward and raw, so that is why her style of writing is so distinct when compared to others. She started a new way of writing poetry.
When I read “The Sun and Her Flowers,” it made me realize how poetry can be used to express or even emit emotions. Even so, to just look at the collection for what it is, is beautiful. It’s filled with relatable words and advice, ranging from joyful to sorrowful. The illustrations in the book make it seem like a performance is being done. The message is expressed in both the words and the picture, making it resonate with the reader even more effectively.
“I think it’s wonderful. It’s easy to understand and connect with,” said Jazlynn Bitner, 10. “Some of the poems give a sense of a much-needed understanding and others really lift me up. It’s really pretty poetry.”
The book contains poems for every mood, so it can be enjoyed no matter what the reader feels like. They also offer the perspective of someone who has lived life differently than the reader, which is something often taken for granted. I recommend this book to those who have not read or are hesitant about poetry since this book can be used as a gateway into a whole new world of literature.
