Oh my goodness the hype on the book Facebook pages was justified.

Not sure if it is because I have long covid for 16 months and counting, but I cried whilst reading this.
Have recommended this to my book club.

I was given an advance copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own opinion.

Born In Lockdown by @tolutoludo

In this pandemic, we are all struggling TOGETHER! And, trust me this is the book I’d like to suggest anyone I know personally or virtually!

This book is a collection of poems and proses, moreover a reflection of what’s going on and happening worldwide.
This book simply explores the pandemic situation, lockdown, countless feelings, effects and reactions the virus birthed. It also, portrayed even in this time how politics and businesses are tampering with us.

“Rich becoming richer, poor poorer.”

The author once again proved how to artistically plays with words, metaphors which will touch your moods and emotions. He writes so well!

I don’t want to blurt out more and be a spoiler. Because I myself hate spoilers. Must say, this one is an interesting read.

I loved reading this book because of the pattern the author choose to write them. He not only wrote on a specific subject but about all of them how he managed to write with different point of views.

This book is the ideal book for year 2020, cursed year. I don’t if my review justified enough to the book but I tried to.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you @netgalley and @theroaringlionnewcastle @booksgosocialgroup for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.

"don't rewrite this as a one-off. never sugar-coat this with any feel-good vibes."

wowowow. born in lockdown showcases all of our inner feelings as we went through the covid-19 pandemic. at times, it felt like akinyemi was taking the world out of my head. what an incredible book of poems from an incredible talent.

Unfortunately, I didn't think this poetry collection was very good. Although many of the themes were very relatable, I didn't feel that the poems gave new meaning to these shared experiences. It was very repetitive.

I recieved a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 / 5 Stars

OK. So here's the tea. You can't be both. You have to pick a side.

You can't write a poetry collection featuring poems that are clearly pandering towards corona deniers, while also including poems that are on the opposite side of the spectrum, and that in the same book!
This isn't 'being diverse' and this also can't be excused by 'I just wanted to have a multilayered collection.' It's either or. End of story.
My personal political view isn't important for this review, but I do wanna point out, that I didn't like this mix up. Like, at all. The poems in question were written well, but that doesn't change, that I wasn't able to enjoy them.
It's kinda like if you were writing a book about abortion and you're including poems that are pro choice AND pro life. No side is gonna be happy to read the poems of their 'rivals'.

Besides that, I personally felt like the collection as a whole - with some great exceptions - was lacking. Not just in depth, but also in general. I felt like it was missing something. I can't pinpoint what that something is, but I just know, that it wasn't there. At least not for me.

My favourite poem was 'Dreams'. That one had that special something that I was after. If the others were more like that one, this collection would have been stunning.

"Paint this pandemic what it was - a sordid misadventure."

This book was interesting, It gave us different point of view of the pandemic and what is happening. It was a good read, but I think this was too short, something was lacking here. 4/5⭐

Thank you NetGalley for providing digital advanced copy in exchange for honest review.

What a beautiful read. It came across so powerful, making me feel all the emotions. This collection of poetry hits hard, it shows the reality of the pandemic. Shows issues some people may not have had. Amazing job on this!

The trials and hardships of Covid lockdown are all too recognisable in this satisfying volume of poetry by Tolu’ A. Akinyemi - the silence, the boredom, the stress and uncertainty. A narrative theme can be discerned throughout the verses; strained marriages, financial difficulties and loss - all recognisable fallout from the pandemic. Akinyemi also touches on the political consequences and “anti-vax” conspiracy theories. Not your average subjects for poetry, I grant you, but it all works.
Poems vary in length and effectiveness but one very powerful poem is entitled “F*ck - F*cking 2020” which begins -

“How do we scrub 2020 from our history books?
How do we f*ck it off
as a one-off?”

This is followed by a short declaration of intent called simply “F*ck 2020” which consists of just these two lines -

“Rollback the years, f*ck
twenty-twenty. Wipe out the
scars that blurred the year.”

Some of the best poems are short, brutal verbal assaults, while others are longer but no less bruising. “Passports” in particular resonated with me -

“My left arm carries so much weight
and immunity.”

Been there, done that.
As you would expect, several poems contain (and often repeat) the word “pandemic”. To my ears, this sounds like the least poetically versatile word ever. It is neither lyrical nor elegant; but maybe that’s the point. Sometimes it works, as in the case of “Stories” -

“Paint this pandemic what it was -
a sordid misadventure”

This doesn’t harm the poems themselves, but it becomes rather repetitive. But then I suppose we’re all sick of that particular word.
Nobody has ever published a book of poetry entirely filled with superb odes, but while this volume has its share of unsuccessful poems, there are enough to make it a worthwhile read. I think Akinyemi is a better poet when he’s angry. He cuts very close to the bone at times and the world of lockdown he evokes will be painfully familiar to everyone. These poems are a worthy and satisfying record of one of the hardest years in human history.

“The wall of remembrance holds up watertight memories – 
of lives tossed by the whims and caprices of unstable men.“

This was really interesting to read. It’s the first time I’ve read something about a major event while said event was still happening (aside from news articles lol).

I really love some of these poems, but some of them felt lacking. There was a general inconsistency to the quality of the poems. I also felt like the word pandemic was used a few too many times, it started to make me cringe after a while, but maybe that was point yk, like the actual pandemic.

I like how some of the poems touched on the politics of COVID rather than just the social impacts.