What if red ran out [Suzanne's review]

What if red ran out will not clot, and it bleeds a little through the gauze of pacing for Suzanne:

Katia Grubisic’s debut poetry collection is at once both whimsical and realistic. While one piece will read straight out of a daydream, the next seems to be merely retelling the day’s events — although, admittedly, with a lot more style and grace than a news report.

Grubisic’s lyrical talents are unquestionable, but at times these skills are not enough to sustain the weight of this small yet substantial book. Sure, it’s less than 100 pages, but the content here is still fairly heavy and I often found myself wading through it at a rather slow pace.

A few gems do stand out in this collection, however, including “Barometer” (an analysis of what happens in the moment you decide to kiss someone) and “Manifesto for August” (the story of the month of August, personified as a flighty yet independent woman).

Overall, What if red ran out is a mixed bouquet that could use a bit more pruning.
* 3 stars *

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More information

• Goose Lane | Chapters.ca  | Amazon.com
• ISBN-10: 0864925093 
• ISBN-13: 978-0864925091