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hannahhansa's review
4.25
Oh, the truth is I hated living here until I wasn’t living here.
Once, I was nineteen and burning and
feeling everything at once.
I’ll never be older than I was at 19.
The truth is that I don’t have anything of substance
to say. Nothing unique or worth repeating
just words on a page rushing
to a finish line
but you are the only person I always want
to say nothing to. I have loved you for my entire life.
Once, I was nineteen and burning and
feeling everything at once.
I’ll never be older than I was at 19.
The truth is that I don’t have anything of substance
to say. Nothing unique or worth repeating
just words on a page rushing
to a finish line
but you are the only person I always want
to say nothing to. I have loved you for my entire life.
taythebookish's review
5.0
Caitlin’s writing is always to the point you expecting to reach. There were ones that pulled my heart in every direction but there were ones I felt were confusing, but that’s the point, right? I’m not supposed to understand everything specifically when it comes to grief. We experience it differently. This collection rings close to younger women’s hearts and should serve as a reminder of what once was for older readers. We own the world, but we don’t but we do.
hannahmadden's review
5.0
Caitlin Conlon processes loss and describes the human experience with grief in a way that is raw and beautiful
harrydaylight's review
3.75
Took me longer to finish than I would have liked, but I think I’m in a slump and it has nothing to do with the actual content of the book.
I thought it was well-written and beautiful, the way the author speaks about grief and mental health and love is just so clever and relatable, and some lines will truly stay with me for a long time (“this was never supposed to be a metaphor for anything. i just wanted to love you. i tried so hard to do it right.” absolutely made me lose my mind. or this, about grief: “why I’m here at all, meditating on grief, trying to say something that sounds nicer than I would like you to come home, now.” or “the point is that one of us is dead and it doesn’t matter anymore which is which. it just doesn’t matter.”)
My favorite poems were The Artist Paints a Favorable Portrait of Jack Torrance, 3:18 AM, Coded Signals, Lies, The Anxiety Speaks, Am Barely Holding It Together.
Would definitely recommend if you like contemporary poetry!
I thought it was well-written and beautiful, the way the author speaks about grief and mental health and love is just so clever and relatable, and some lines will truly stay with me for a long time (“this was never supposed to be a metaphor for anything. i just wanted to love you. i tried so hard to do it right.” absolutely made me lose my mind. or this, about grief: “why I’m here at all, meditating on grief, trying to say something that sounds nicer than I would like you to come home, now.” or “the point is that one of us is dead and it doesn’t matter anymore which is which. it just doesn’t matter.”)
My favorite poems were The Artist Paints a Favorable Portrait of Jack Torrance, 3:18 AM, Coded Signals, Lies, The Anxiety Speaks, Am Barely Holding It Together.
Would definitely recommend if you like contemporary poetry!
amylittleford's review
4.0
Firstly, I'd like to thank Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing for the eARC for an honest review.
This poetry collection is a full exploration of grief, heartbreak and love and living fully while immersed in these deeply felt emotions. The many pieces about Caitlin's Grandma were my favourite of the whole collection. Having recently lost my Grandma, which only felt like yesterday but has actually been over 3 years, I felt every word from these poems. The honesty as Caitlin takes us back to that time, the hospital visits, the deterioration, that feeling of wanting to go back and soak up every word, really took me back in time. I felt it all. Caitlin explores grief beautifully.
Caitlin's writing style is beautiful and she has done so well with her debut collection. Her exploration of romantic relationships, from the heartache to finding the one is done really well. I did prefer the poems that focused on the grief that I could relate to on a deeper level but that is just my preference. I think I would have liked the poems more grouped based on topic only because sometimes when the poems about her partner popped up it can be hard to just change gears emotionally which meant the true meaning behind the poem wasn't appreciated. I'm looking forward to more from Caitlin in the future and wish her every success.
Amy x
This poetry collection is a full exploration of grief, heartbreak and love and living fully while immersed in these deeply felt emotions. The many pieces about Caitlin's Grandma were my favourite of the whole collection. Having recently lost my Grandma, which only felt like yesterday but has actually been over 3 years, I felt every word from these poems. The honesty as Caitlin takes us back to that time, the hospital visits, the deterioration, that feeling of wanting to go back and soak up every word, really took me back in time. I felt it all. Caitlin explores grief beautifully.
Caitlin's writing style is beautiful and she has done so well with her debut collection. Her exploration of romantic relationships, from the heartache to finding the one is done really well. I did prefer the poems that focused on the grief that I could relate to on a deeper level but that is just my preference. I think I would have liked the poems more grouped based on topic only because sometimes when the poems about her partner popped up it can be hard to just change gears emotionally which meant the true meaning behind the poem wasn't appreciated. I'm looking forward to more from Caitlin in the future and wish her every success.
Amy x