Thank you for this overview, Nelly. I started this book a few months ago, was taken in by the rich images (that's what I remember best of what I read), and then got distracted (also by fiction). I'm not the most consistent poetry-reader but I'm trying to change that.
I grapple with that last bit you shared--"I’ve heard it said that poetry should remain open enough that the reader can insert their own meaning." This isn't something I struggle with when I read poetry. I love (prefer?) the specifics. But I know that a broader audience is reached (I think?) with more open poems. I don't know. I mean, obviously there's room for both kinds of poems, and both kinds are so beautiful and necessary. I think I just worry sometimes that I don't know how to write "open" poems without sanitizing out everything that makes the poem important to me, if that makes sense.
It really does. And the details, the specifics can be my absolute favourite. You add them so beautifully to your poems. I wonder is the difference is that the specifics are imp to help us tell the story, bring it to life, retain interest, but the meaning of that story (ultimately) remains open to interpretation? If that makes sense? Maybe if we’re doing our job as poets, we remain so curious that we don’t know all the answers ourselves, and then that becomes apparent within the poem. Or maybe not. Maybe as the writer you do know what it meant, to you. Oh I’m waffling. But you have made me think today. Thank you x
I think you’re right, that the meaning ultimately stays in the reader’s hands. I’ve been pretty startled by what people have read into my poems before (since they are the only poems I for sure know what they mean :), but it’s always intriguing and beautiful to see how a poem that is definitely about “X” in my mind ends up being absolutely about “Y” to someone else.
Thank you so much, Nelly, for suggesting this title. I’m truly moved by the vivid imagery and the unexpected twists in Joy Sullivan's poetry - which often surprised me and provoked deep thought. I’ve already reread most of them in a short span of time.
In answer to your first question > Poems have a way of giving meaning and depth to our experiences; they stay with us, offering words to feelings and thoughts we didn’t even realize we had. While they might not be life-changing, they offer direction - or small fragments of direction - that can profoundly impact our core.
I applaud your lovely posts! Keep going, keep inspiring!
Thank you so much for such an encouraging comment. ‘Small fragments of direction’…yes this exactly. Tiny nudges that we don’t maybe even realise we need to hear?
I collected my copy from my local bookseller just yesterday. It took a while to arrive here in Germany! But just a quick note to say thank you Nelly - I am binging! The first section Realise You’re Homesick is so evocative of child memories - reminding me of swimming in summer ‘until it gobbled me whole’. The stirring image of Mendelssohn the pet monkey pulled at my heartstrings and prompted reflections on lost decisions that could have been made. Thank you so much for introducing Joy Sullivan to me.
Oh I’m so glad you have a copy in your hands!! Please do come back and chat some more once you’ve finished won’t you? I don’t think we need to stick purely to the monthly timescales, we can be far more fluid. It’s SUCH an evocative collection isn’t it. Just you talking about it makes me want to pick it back up and be back sun drenched… xx
I really adored this collection - it's so evocative and powerful. All those food references and vivid colours made reading it really immersive.
Your question - "Can a poetry book be a guide for changing your life?" - is such an interesting one. I felt this collection really illustrates the different dimensions of change: the challenges, the beauty, the planned and the unexpected. I don't know if 'guide' is the right word but I absolutely think that a poetry book (in fact, just poetry in general) can be an amazing window into what's possible, to opening wider perspectives, to thinking beyond what we've come to expect from our lives and our selves.
I loved the structure given to the book by the opening poem, it really made it feel like a journey and brought an expansiveness to the reading experience.
I bookmarked so many poems to revisit but there are two in particular that I felt deep in my bones. The first is Giving Notice - the visceral wildness in this poem is so powerful! I especially love the line "Hurry - there's still time to creature". That call to our wildest selves, that it's never too late to embrace that. It reminded me a lot of the themes and feelings explored in Night Bitch, which I read recently too.
The other poem that really stuck with me and felt like a gut punch when I read it is When My Friend Is Low, We Walk By The River - the final line made me ache: "It's almost cruel, he laughs. After everything, how the world still insists on being beautiful." This was just so painfully resonant for me, particularly at the moment with everything that's going on in the world.
Thank you for this choice - it's got a place on my favourites shelf and is definitely one I'll revisit.
Thank you for this overview, Nelly. I started this book a few months ago, was taken in by the rich images (that's what I remember best of what I read), and then got distracted (also by fiction). I'm not the most consistent poetry-reader but I'm trying to change that.
I grapple with that last bit you shared--"I’ve heard it said that poetry should remain open enough that the reader can insert their own meaning." This isn't something I struggle with when I read poetry. I love (prefer?) the specifics. But I know that a broader audience is reached (I think?) with more open poems. I don't know. I mean, obviously there's room for both kinds of poems, and both kinds are so beautiful and necessary. I think I just worry sometimes that I don't know how to write "open" poems without sanitizing out everything that makes the poem important to me, if that makes sense.
It really does. And the details, the specifics can be my absolute favourite. You add them so beautifully to your poems. I wonder is the difference is that the specifics are imp to help us tell the story, bring it to life, retain interest, but the meaning of that story (ultimately) remains open to interpretation? If that makes sense? Maybe if we’re doing our job as poets, we remain so curious that we don’t know all the answers ourselves, and then that becomes apparent within the poem. Or maybe not. Maybe as the writer you do know what it meant, to you. Oh I’m waffling. But you have made me think today. Thank you x
I think you’re right, that the meaning ultimately stays in the reader’s hands. I’ve been pretty startled by what people have read into my poems before (since they are the only poems I for sure know what they mean :), but it’s always intriguing and beautiful to see how a poem that is definitely about “X” in my mind ends up being absolutely about “Y” to someone else.
Thank you so much, Nelly, for suggesting this title. I’m truly moved by the vivid imagery and the unexpected twists in Joy Sullivan's poetry - which often surprised me and provoked deep thought. I’ve already reread most of them in a short span of time.
In answer to your first question > Poems have a way of giving meaning and depth to our experiences; they stay with us, offering words to feelings and thoughts we didn’t even realize we had. While they might not be life-changing, they offer direction - or small fragments of direction - that can profoundly impact our core.
I applaud your lovely posts! Keep going, keep inspiring!
Thank you so much for such an encouraging comment. ‘Small fragments of direction’…yes this exactly. Tiny nudges that we don’t maybe even realise we need to hear?
I collected my copy from my local bookseller just yesterday. It took a while to arrive here in Germany! But just a quick note to say thank you Nelly - I am binging! The first section Realise You’re Homesick is so evocative of child memories - reminding me of swimming in summer ‘until it gobbled me whole’. The stirring image of Mendelssohn the pet monkey pulled at my heartstrings and prompted reflections on lost decisions that could have been made. Thank you so much for introducing Joy Sullivan to me.
Oh I’m so glad you have a copy in your hands!! Please do come back and chat some more once you’ve finished won’t you? I don’t think we need to stick purely to the monthly timescales, we can be far more fluid. It’s SUCH an evocative collection isn’t it. Just you talking about it makes me want to pick it back up and be back sun drenched… xx
I binge read this book a few months ago (and I’m not a binge reader of poetry) and loved it. What a treat to revisit it through your post!
I’m glad I’m not the only occasional binger 🤣
I really adored this collection - it's so evocative and powerful. All those food references and vivid colours made reading it really immersive.
Your question - "Can a poetry book be a guide for changing your life?" - is such an interesting one. I felt this collection really illustrates the different dimensions of change: the challenges, the beauty, the planned and the unexpected. I don't know if 'guide' is the right word but I absolutely think that a poetry book (in fact, just poetry in general) can be an amazing window into what's possible, to opening wider perspectives, to thinking beyond what we've come to expect from our lives and our selves.
I loved the structure given to the book by the opening poem, it really made it feel like a journey and brought an expansiveness to the reading experience.
I bookmarked so many poems to revisit but there are two in particular that I felt deep in my bones. The first is Giving Notice - the visceral wildness in this poem is so powerful! I especially love the line "Hurry - there's still time to creature". That call to our wildest selves, that it's never too late to embrace that. It reminded me a lot of the themes and feelings explored in Night Bitch, which I read recently too.
The other poem that really stuck with me and felt like a gut punch when I read it is When My Friend Is Low, We Walk By The River - the final line made me ache: "It's almost cruel, he laughs. After everything, how the world still insists on being beautiful." This was just so painfully resonant for me, particularly at the moment with everything that's going on in the world.
Thank you for this choice - it's got a place on my favourites shelf and is definitely one I'll revisit.
This book was so stunning. I already want to read it again.
I might be a little late to the party, but I just ordered my copy and waiting for it to arrive. Cant wait to dive in.
Never too late. I hope you’ll still come back for a chat when you’ve read it? X
Loved this. Putting this book on my list.
Love the poems chosen here Nelly, and your take on her style and techniques used. Really interesting post. I'll tune into these more now.
I want to find out!