07 February 2022

Review: The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman

The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman book cover

On 20 January 2021, I was incredibly moved by Amanda Gorman's address at President Biden's Inauguration. Gorman was the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history and she definitely made an impression on those present that reverberated around the world. Watching her deliver her poem entitled The Hill We Climb, I was excited by this young mind and my admiration for her continues to grow.

Receiving a stunning hardback copy of The Hill We Climb for Christmas, I made sure to read this exactly a year to the day of the Inauguration event and was still moved by her words. They're just as relevant now as they were then and I doubt her message will ever date. Reading it every other day since then, (it's only 27 pages long), I decided to read her words while watching the video footage from that auspicious day in preparation for this review.

Gorman eloquently delivers a message of promise and hope, and in doing so, she has given every American a vision to aspire to:
"Because being American is more than a pride we inherit -
It's the past we step into, and how we repair it." Page 17
The Hill We Climb is inspiring to read, and watching Gorman's gestures, cadence, rhythm and delivery style elevates the experience to a whole new level.

If you haven't heard, watched or read The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman, I heartily recommend you do. It'll be the best 6 mins or 27 pages you'll ever experience. In the meantime, I'll leave you with my favourite section of the poem:
"In this truth, in this faith, we trust.
For while we have our eyes on the future,
History has its eyes on us." Page 19

My Rating:


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  1. What a great idea to read this book on the anniversary of that memorable moment.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Joy, it really added to my reading experience.

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Thanks for your comment, Carpe Librum!