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somethingarosie's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this, the poems were very relaxing and cathartic to read. Aoibhín Garrihy certainly knows how to pick good poems. As a collection this is a really really strong.
I’ve discovered some new-favourite poems of mine from reading this. My top favourites are:
- I want to live a little life ~ Erin Hanson
- Mouthful of Forevers ~ Clementine von Radics
- Self-care ~ Karen McMillan
- If I had three lives ~ Sarah Russell
However, I found Garrihy’s contribution to the collection somewhat vapid and very superfluous, to be honest. They were generic one or two liners that didn’t add anything to my experience of the poems. I would have loved to have learned about the compilation process; how she decided what poems to include and why she included them. Perhaps an essay to close the book where she reflects on the compilation would have been better.
Garrihy’s musings precede the poem and I felt that they took me out of the reading experience, they were distracting. I didn’t like how it felt like I was being told her thoughts on the poem before I had the chance to form my own. This is why I think a closing essay where she reflects on her choices would work a lot better. After reading a few poems, I started ignoring her reflections and diving straight into the poems. I circled back later to read Garrihy’s thoughts, feeling let-down by the lack of insight they offered. In principle, these reflections are a lovely idea. However, for a concept like this to work effectively, the author needs to allow the reader deeper insight into their thoughts, further than saying a poem is a ‘hard relate’.
I rate this poetry book so highly because it truly is a fantastic collection of poetry, despite how Garrihy’s contribution to it irked me.
4⭐️
alexandra114's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Great poems did not enjoy some of the compilers commentary, it was very varied in tone and minimal to say the least.
jayhall's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Another wonderful anthology from Aoibhín, with selections on love and loss, parenting and childhood, nurses, care, and the depth of the human condition - so many wonderful choices that are sure to bring meaning to anyone.
elliefox's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
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