This will probably end up being one of my favorite books of the year, I was lucky enough to get to read it before publication via an ARC and this is a stunning poetry collection. Writing poetry like this is a gift and for a debut collection I honestly cannot wait to see more from this author.

This is in my top 10 of poetry collections of all time for sure, and I am so glad this author decided to share their gift with us. This would also make a beautiful audiobook.

Such a raw collection of poems that attempt to articulate so much grief around all that is appropriated and distorted and decimated by colonialism and capitalism of bodies and cultures and histories. It's hard to review and rate poetry by any metric, but I'm not sure any individual poem stands on its own. There are bits and phrases in all that are more gripping and powerful than others, this one really needs to be read as a whole collection to get the complete picture of the emotional landscape that the poet is painting.

Interesting journey into the past and family of the author, the pieces of which make up LLM. Really enjoyed the depth of love you can feel he has for his culture. It shines through, and as someone not deeply connected to the same shared culture it was lovely to read.

The poetry that fills "Mexican Bird" is raw and visceral, pulling no punches. Readers will be drawn deeply into this powerful storm of a book, wrapped in darkness, pain, and yearning, but also in beauty, grace, and brilliance. This collection is soul-searing, and it needs to be read far and wide.

Poetry has this specific type of spice that either hits you so hard you can’t get up, or just simply leaves you confused, wanting to curl up into the blanket and wait for life to catch up to you. Luckily it was the first case. Luis perfectly captured the immigrant experience, making it tangible but yet with a strong statement of how it is to be in between, where one does not belong. I loved how it made me think, and how it made me feel. I feel it should be a next must-read for anybody who wants to understand living in between worlds.

As a Mexican gay teen boy, I felt a strong connection to many of the poems in 'Mexican Bird.' Lopez-Maldonado's raw and authentic storytelling resonated deeply with me, offering a sense of validation and recognition that's hard to find elsewhere. Their words gave voice to experiences often overlooked, and for that, I'm truly grateful.

'Mexican Bird' isn't just a poetry book; it's a bold declaration of resilience, a celebration of diversity, and a call to action. Through their exploration of identity and activism, Lopez-Maldonado invites us all to spread our wings and soar with them, breaking free from societal norms and embracing our true selves.

This was such a beautiful collection of poems that gracefully, but powerfully explore the joys and sorrows of being a queer Mexican. Lopez Maldonado's writing is absolutely breathtaking and seamlessly guides the reader through a whole lifetime's worth of struggle and growth and resistance. I laughed, I cried, and I came out of this book wishing there was more to dive into. Definitely a must read.

Although the first poems were great, the book lost its charm rapiddly, and I also lost all interest in it. It wasn't for me.

I really enjoyed Mexican Bird.

The book is a collection of poems that touches on topics such as identity, desire, and racism. The poems are a written life story. Growing up Mexican-American, this collection of poems brought back some childhood memories and I really enjoyed that aspect. I was able to connect to some of those feelings and that's powerful. I could feel what the poet was going through.

Overall, the collection of poems was worth reading and I highly recommend giving them a read.

"Mexican Bird" by Luis Lopez-Maldonado is a captivating journey into the heart of Mexico, both geographically and emotionally. Set against the backdrop of the vibrant and diverse landscapes of Mexico, Lopez-Maldonado weaves a tale of self-discovery, cultural exploration, and the enduring power of human connection.

At its core, "Mexican Bird" follows the protagonist's quest to unravel the mysteries of his ancestry and identity. Through his encounters with various characters and his exploration of the natural world, he delves deep into the rich tapestry of Mexican history and tradition. Lopez-Maldonado's prose is lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the lush jungles, bustling cities, and ancient ruins that form the backdrop of the story.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its characters, who are rendered with depth and complexity. From the wise old shamans to the spirited street vendors, each character adds layers to the narrative, reflecting different facets of Mexican culture and society. The protagonist's interactions with these characters serve as a lens through which he gains a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.

Moreover, "Mexican Bird" is not merely a tale of self-discovery but also a meditation on the interconnectedness of all living things. Through his encounters with the natural world, the protagonist learns valuable lessons about humility, respect, and the importance of preserving the environment. Lopez-Maldonado's reverence for the natural world shines through in his lush descriptions of the landscapes and the creatures that inhabit them.

Overall, "Mexican Bird" is a mesmerizing exploration of identity, culture, and the beauty of the Mexican landscape. With its rich imagery, compelling characters, and profound themes, it is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers and inspire them to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.

“Mexican Bird” is a collection of poems that sing the queer latinx American, challenging the racism & heteronormativity of the nation state. The poems vary: exploring the urban space, gay sex, historical moments, letters or references to famous writers/artists (Frida Kahlo & Emily Dickinson), the construction of the self, the future death of the self and the reality of being embodied as a man of color in America. Between (political) explorations of El Dia De la Batalla De la Puebla & the UCSB shooting & el Dia de los Muertos & #HandsUpDontShoot we are taken into moments of intimacy in which:

“Esta noche you will listen to me read poetry as you give me head, it will be raining, the bronze chimes will dance around, the palm trees slightly swaying, the pool water will shiver. (...) In my poetry I don’t like to talk about the “heart” because mine was broken, over and over again.” (Desamparado, Helpless, And Wondering).

Or

“In the dark we forget / about everything and caress each other's hair, / and kiss each other’s lips, for practice / pretending to be doing it to a girl. / But for me, it was / heaven.” (El Granjenal, Michoacan, December Traditions)

A book that touches on both the personal & political, adding a particular texture & voice to a wave of writings that embody marginalized experiences.

Thanks to Querencia Press and #netgalley for the e-arc!

✨ Review ✨ Mexican Bird: Brown Wings Through White Clouds by Luis Lopez-Maldonado

Thanks to Querencia Press and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

Weaving together layers of his identity, Luis Lopez-Maldonado unleashes his feelings and experiences through this collection of poems. Themes of queer and Mexican identity, immigration, race and politics, culture, etc. flow through this collection.

One favorite is "Battle of Puebla, 1862" which calls out the American celebration of Cinco de Mayo with chips and margaritas and total disconnection from history: "Because this Mexican holiday has turned into an excuse to drink margaritas and Coronas, it's been mechanized and Americanized, and its history has been forgetton, the blood shed in Puebla never happened, hundreds of dead men on the muddy floors fought for nothing, fought for white people to celebrate the day with bright colors and tacos...Because Cinco de Mayo is easier to say than El Dia De La Batalla De Puebla and because it doesn't matter who won just as long as the margaritas keep coming..."

Other faves:
"Girl at LAX International Airport" thinks through ideas of beauty and otherness.
"There are Bodies" plays on desert and dessert in this heartbreaking reflection on immigration, violence, and the small privileges of life

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: poetry, lgbtq+
Pub Date: 22 Mar 2024

Mexican Bird: Brown Wings Through White Clouds is a raw and at times even brutal collection of poems. There were some poems that I absolutely adored and I had to put this book down at times to process what I was reading.

I feel like I just didn't understand the majority of the poems. Maybe because English isn't actually my first language? I do consider myself fluent but I feel like especially in poetry there are just things that don't translate well and thus they just seem like words after words.

Nonetheless, I did really enjoy this collection and I will be thinking about some of these poems for a very long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Querencia Press for the ARC!

Mexican Bird is a powerful poetry collection that explores queerness and being Latinx in America and both the violence and beauty that comes with holding these identities. The poems are often visceral, dropping you into the body of the poet and the feelings and experiences they are going through. I highly recommend giving this poetry collection a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Querencia Press for providing an e-arc of this book.

This book is full of deliciously raw poems that come straight from the author’s soul. As a big fan of poetry myself I’ve found that these are some of my favorites I’ve read. With each poem I could feel the hope, sorrow, pain, desire and much more. Overall Lopez-Maldonado’s Mexican Bird tells the heartbreaking story of a Queer Mexican in a very beautiful way.

Mexican Bird: Brown Wings Through White Clouds is a poignant poetry collection by Luis Lopez-Maldonado. The author explores queer desire, dual identity as a Mexican and American, and resistance.

Lopez-Maldonado’s poetry is blunt, brutal, and achingly emotional, with poems that touch on experiences of drag, of racism and exclusion, of police violence and historical erasure. As a queer Mexican-American, I connected with the content and perspective of the collection, however, the technical rhythm of the poems did not always work for me.

The collection is worth picking up, containing poems that will continue to lovingly take up space in my head for the foreseeable future: “Day of the Dead: Orang County, California,” Battle of Puebla, 1862,” “Estrella.”

Thank you to Querencia Press and Netgalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

I have published the review on Goodreads, and will post my review on Instagram and Barnes and Noble the week of publication.

This is not just a lament for Mexicans, but for Americans as a whole. A compilation of poems and notes about living in a racist world. Mocking every single shit out of it. The poems written by the author are brimming with vivid descriptions that capture and convey intense emotions. Modern approach of using strike-through to express denied inner thoughts is such a modern way how we used to do it on Discord. I’m glad and appreciate how the author actually uses that in the book.

Amazing collection! I truly moved and inspired by the raw, modern style of the expression.

"The dead must wait to be judged,
but here we do that for free to each other,
like how you judge this poem,
like how a White lady's poodle barks at a colored man. Go ahead and name
your daughters something you never
had. Who knows, maybe one day you can
just call her Heather."

Equal parts conversational and musical, Mexican Bird by Luis Lopez-Maldonado is unapologetically itself: queer, Mexican, and in conversation with the world it writes about. I would have appreciated if the author explored more of his participation within the queer community (Estrella was an intriguing poem, and I found myself wishing for more like it), but I understand that this is a personal preference more than anything.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this work.

This was really good. I was intrigued by some the rhyming structure and it had a few sentences in there that made me lie the book down for a second to digest it, they were so good. Like with every poetry book, not every poem is my cup of tea but I liked 99%. The themes of race and queerness where so beautifully woven together. This had me feeling as raw as the sentences were. I for some reason really wished it ended with the poem Estrella.4.5/5 stars.

It’s always tricky to give a rating to poetry because how does one assign a star to a person’s life story?

This was work is raw, I think that’s the best word for it. The author really exposes their feelings and life experiences. It is brutally honest and extremely difficult to read at certain points. Some passages really made the hair on the back of my neck stand. However, others made me want to turn the page because I thought it was somewhat repetitive and I didn’t connect to it.

Thank you to Goodreads and Querencia Press for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.