A review by emmawhitt
Open Me Carefully: Emily Dickinson's Intimate Letters to Susan Huntington Dickinson by Emily Dickinson

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

5.0

"Oh Susie, forgive me Darling, for every word I say — my heart is full of you, none other than you in my thoughts, yet when I seek to say to you something not for the world, words fail me. If you were here — and Oh that you were, my Susie, we need not talk at all, our eyes would whisper for us, and your hand fast in mine, we would not ask for language..."

I have yet to find a rendition of Emily Dickinson's poetry that felt more raw and authentic than this one. After reading up on the censorship that has run rampant throughout the publication of Emily Dickinson's poetry, I began my search into finding a copy of her work that felt faithful to its original author. And I must say, this book has become one of my proudest literary possesions.

Emily Dickinson, and her potent love for her muse Susan Huntington-Dickinson, are both alive between the lines of these pages - a feeling many publications of her poetry fail to emulate. The book includes important contexual annotations to her work, giving the author a deeper insight into Dickinson's life, giving them an idea of what inspired her poetry.