The Malevolent Volume

The Malevolent Volume is Justin Phillip Reed's second poetry collection, published in 2020 by Coffee House Press. The book received the 2020 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. Reed's poems confront violence, desire, and power through a combination of experimental forms and classical references. The collection moves through themes of monstrosity, blackness, queerness, and the body - examining how these intersect with American culture and history. The text incorporates elements of horror cinema, Greek mythology, and contemporary social commentary. Reed employs varied poetic structures including prose poems, fragmented verses, and unconventional typography. The collection presents a meditation on survival and resistance, exploring how marginalized identities navigate systems of oppression while claiming space for self-definition. Through its fusion of classical and contemporary references, the work challenges traditional poetic forms and social hierarchies.

Readers describe Reed's poetry as intense, raw, and challenging to parse. The collection resonates with readers who appreciate complex examinations of power, race, and sexuality. Readers appreciated: - The visceral, bodily imagery - Fresh perspectives on horror and gothic themes - The musicality and rhythm of the language - Exploration of Black queer identity Common criticisms: - Dense, academic language makes poems inaccessible - Some readers found the abstract nature too difficult to interpret - The darkness and violence felt overwhelming to some Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (15 ratings) Sample reader comments: "Each poem demands multiple readings but rewards the effort" - Goodreads reviewer "The complexity sometimes obscures rather than illuminates" - Amazon reviewer "Raw power in every line, even when I didn't fully grasp the meaning" - Poetry Foundation comment

Citizen by Claudia Rankine This collection combines poetry and prose to confront racial violence and systemic inequalities in contemporary America through personal and public experiences.

Don't Let Me Be Lonely by Claudia Rankine The text merges verse with visual elements to examine isolation, identity, and trauma in a media-saturated world.

Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude by Ross Gay These poems navigate grief, race, and joy through observations of nature and human connections in urban gardens.

Blood Dazzler by Patricia Smith The poems chronicle Hurricane Katrina's impact through multiple voices, addressing environmental racism and institutional failures.

Feed by Tommy Pico This book-length poem weaves together pop culture, indigenous identity, and environmental crisis through a stream-of-consciousness narrative.

🔹 Justin Phillip Reed won the 2018 National Book Award for Poetry for his debut collection, "Indecency," making him one of the youngest recipients of this prestigious award. 🔹 "The Malevolent Volume" explores themes of Black masculinity and monstrosity, drawing inspiration from horror films and Gothic literature to challenge racial and sexual stereotypes. 🔹 The collection was written during Reed's time as a fellow at the Center for African American Poetry and Poetics at the University of Pittsburgh, where he developed his distinctive blend of horror aesthetics and social commentary. 🔹 Reed incorporates elements from classic horror films like "Nosferatu" and "Night of the Living Dead" throughout the collection, reimagining these narratives through the lens of Black queer experience. 🔹 The book won the 2020 Lambda Literary Award for Gay Poetry, highlighting its significant contribution to both LGBTQ+ literature and contemporary American poetry.