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justlily's review
2.0
Two stars looks bad but it's really not. The poems are unique and very readable but I just personally didn't relate to or get anything out of it.
circlepines's review
3.0
A small poetry collection with three weighty themes: the legacy of an abusive father, an older brother's death from AIDS, and the unraveling and reweaving of a relationship. I read The Good Thief (Marie Howe's first book) before this, and while What the Living Do has the same spare, tight emotion, it lacks the complexity and grace of The Good Thief. Many of the pieces seem redundant and the three storylines don't cohere well, so that this reads like three separate collections bound into one volume.
wokesquids's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
This book was amazing, I was devastated when it ended!! The longing for more at the last poem was so intense, I immediately ordered another book of her’s. The detailing of grief and life experience was so raw and darkly compelling; I loved how she spoke poetry through everyday life! Heavy and lighthearted, dark and inspiring, What the Living Do is one of my favourite collections of poetry and I’m overjoyed I had the privilege of coming across it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Alcoholism, Incest, and Pedophilia
katscribefever's review
3.0
Mmmm this was a fast read, and a sad one, but it touches on so many themes related to the simple fact that "what the living do" is live. Usually nothing fancy or exorbitant. The living live. I feel like this collection provided some catharsis for Howe, which adds a level of empathy that I valued.
jmarkwindy's review
3.0
"Practicing" / "The Copper Beech" / "The Dream" (p. 38) / "The Last Time" / "Without Music" / "The Gate" / "What the Living Do"