I read it whilst at chess waiting for R and J to decimate their victims. I enjoyed the experiments in form, turned the corners on three poems, found some profound and some beyond my understanding and irritating. So it must have been a good book!
I dipped into a few of the poems and like Tasmin found them rather profound and they didn’t pull me. But I am inspired by your enthusiasm and will return to the collection and try again. I would love to attend the poetry circle as I can imagine learning a lot and gaining more insight into the poems but unfortunately I am working. Thanks for sharing your responses Nelly, it is always a joy to read your posts.
Thank you so much Lindsay. Lovely to hear from you. The next one in March will be an evening (8pm London) so hopefully that might work better. I tried a day time slot this time (time zones are so tricky to work around) but I sense that isn't going to work as well for the majority of people. Fingers crossed you will be able to join next time. I'll also record it incase you do fancy watching back x
Oh my, I loved this collection. Like you, Nelly, I really enjoyed the experimentation with form. The interactive fiction - at first it had me questioning “how am I supposed to read this?” But of course that’s the point of the interactive element: there is no supposed to. And I loved that invitation to read it any way. I particularly loved the opening line of that very first piece: “I want the miracle that makes me ordinary” - this spoke really profoundly to my own experience of infertility.
Similarly, in Relapse Dream Ending With My Grandmother’s Hands, “A good house can carry anguish. and this is how I think of bodies now too.” - I actually wrote ‘oof!!’ in the margin next to that line, it felt so true.
Whilst I didn’t find that every poem elicited these kinds of responses, many did. And I think that Alyan really deftly weaves together the internal and external worlds - the way she evokes the enormity of global level tragedies sat alongside intimately personal tragedy is really powerful. The line at the end of Naturalised feels like it could be a response to either: “Nothing can justify why I’m alive. Why there’s still a June. Why I wake and wake and the Earth doesn’t shake”. I feel like I’ve had this kind of thought both on waking to news of war or certain election outcomes and to having to get up and carry on with ‘normal’ life after significant personal loss. In both instances I’ve wondered how the world can possible just be carrying on as normal when something so enormous has happened.
I think the poem(s) that really hit me hardest were Record and Figment 1 & 2. They are cleverly done and extremely moving - it made my heart ache. I read Record through first absorbing the entirety of the text, including the faded out parts, and it recalled some of my own medical notes. And then reading it again just reading the picked out words she chose to form the poem. 💔 Same with the Figment poems. It’s actually made me want to dig out my medical notes from that time and see if I can draw anything out from them. I wonder if it would be cathartic…
I’m going to stop now but I could go on and on! Thank you for this pick. It’s getting a spot on my favourite poetry collections list.
I've now picked it back up to re-read the poems you mention. "Why there's still a June.." That line. Gave me goosebumps. I felt the same about the Interactive Fiction. Isn't it funny how it can make you feel when you're given choices as a reader. I know we always have choices and great poetry lets the reader interpret as they need but these poems really spelt that out and it does make you hesitate doesn't it. Do you think as the author she felt like all the options could be true? Why do you think she wrote them like that? I'm always fascinated by how someone arrives at the end result, are you? Like, did this poem exist in any other form first? The fading out of words on the medical notes was so effective as a technique wasn't it. I read all of that collection of poems in one sitting, I couldn't put it down, it was like I was holding my breath. And it has left you pensive...wondering... isn't poetry just brilliant. x
It’s interesting to consider whether she felt all the interactive options could be true - I’d be inclined to think yes. That form actually opens up a fascinating way of exploring different aspects of a single experience. I’d love to know whether these started in another form first. Did they possibly start as individual poems and Alyan felt compelled to bring them together in some way? It would be fascinating to know what process she went through to arrive at the final form.
I haven't read the book, but what you share about it here makes me want to! I just wanted to say that you hold this space really beautifully Nelly - so joyous and open 💜
What a kind thing to say, thank you. This has made my day. Oh it’s a great book. Next months choice is also an absolute gem. I can’t wait to get going!
Personally I struggled with the interactive poetry. I didn't manage to move on from feeling like I didn't know where to start with them. But I really enjoyed the overall collection, the themes were challenging but I really felt the jumping around of time and location and the idea of identity and loss and your nationally being tied to a difficult history. I agree Eptopic felt separate but I was absorbed by it and it took me away from where I was physically as I was caught up in the emotion. Thank you Nelly. Great pick x
Can't wait to read, i had initially got this at an e book from my library, but I find that reading poems on digital devices messes up the formatting.So i'm really excited to get it now As a paperback from library
I read it whilst at chess waiting for R and J to decimate their victims. I enjoyed the experiments in form, turned the corners on three poems, found some profound and some beyond my understanding and irritating. So it must have been a good book!
Great summary. I found some beyond my understanding too!
The poems of death remind me of Dylan Thomas’s “After the first death, there is no other.”
She has such mastery with words doesn't she.
I dipped into a few of the poems and like Tasmin found them rather profound and they didn’t pull me. But I am inspired by your enthusiasm and will return to the collection and try again. I would love to attend the poetry circle as I can imagine learning a lot and gaining more insight into the poems but unfortunately I am working. Thanks for sharing your responses Nelly, it is always a joy to read your posts.
Thank you so much Lindsay. Lovely to hear from you. The next one in March will be an evening (8pm London) so hopefully that might work better. I tried a day time slot this time (time zones are so tricky to work around) but I sense that isn't going to work as well for the majority of people. Fingers crossed you will be able to join next time. I'll also record it incase you do fancy watching back x
Oh my, I loved this collection. Like you, Nelly, I really enjoyed the experimentation with form. The interactive fiction - at first it had me questioning “how am I supposed to read this?” But of course that’s the point of the interactive element: there is no supposed to. And I loved that invitation to read it any way. I particularly loved the opening line of that very first piece: “I want the miracle that makes me ordinary” - this spoke really profoundly to my own experience of infertility.
Similarly, in Relapse Dream Ending With My Grandmother’s Hands, “A good house can carry anguish. and this is how I think of bodies now too.” - I actually wrote ‘oof!!’ in the margin next to that line, it felt so true.
Whilst I didn’t find that every poem elicited these kinds of responses, many did. And I think that Alyan really deftly weaves together the internal and external worlds - the way she evokes the enormity of global level tragedies sat alongside intimately personal tragedy is really powerful. The line at the end of Naturalised feels like it could be a response to either: “Nothing can justify why I’m alive. Why there’s still a June. Why I wake and wake and the Earth doesn’t shake”. I feel like I’ve had this kind of thought both on waking to news of war or certain election outcomes and to having to get up and carry on with ‘normal’ life after significant personal loss. In both instances I’ve wondered how the world can possible just be carrying on as normal when something so enormous has happened.
I think the poem(s) that really hit me hardest were Record and Figment 1 & 2. They are cleverly done and extremely moving - it made my heart ache. I read Record through first absorbing the entirety of the text, including the faded out parts, and it recalled some of my own medical notes. And then reading it again just reading the picked out words she chose to form the poem. 💔 Same with the Figment poems. It’s actually made me want to dig out my medical notes from that time and see if I can draw anything out from them. I wonder if it would be cathartic…
I’m going to stop now but I could go on and on! Thank you for this pick. It’s getting a spot on my favourite poetry collections list.
I've now picked it back up to re-read the poems you mention. "Why there's still a June.." That line. Gave me goosebumps. I felt the same about the Interactive Fiction. Isn't it funny how it can make you feel when you're given choices as a reader. I know we always have choices and great poetry lets the reader interpret as they need but these poems really spelt that out and it does make you hesitate doesn't it. Do you think as the author she felt like all the options could be true? Why do you think she wrote them like that? I'm always fascinated by how someone arrives at the end result, are you? Like, did this poem exist in any other form first? The fading out of words on the medical notes was so effective as a technique wasn't it. I read all of that collection of poems in one sitting, I couldn't put it down, it was like I was holding my breath. And it has left you pensive...wondering... isn't poetry just brilliant. x
It’s interesting to consider whether she felt all the interactive options could be true - I’d be inclined to think yes. That form actually opens up a fascinating way of exploring different aspects of a single experience. I’d love to know whether these started in another form first. Did they possibly start as individual poems and Alyan felt compelled to bring them together in some way? It would be fascinating to know what process she went through to arrive at the final form.
And yes, poetry is just brilliant! ✨
I haven't read the book, but what you share about it here makes me want to! I just wanted to say that you hold this space really beautifully Nelly - so joyous and open 💜
What a kind thing to say, thank you. This has made my day. Oh it’s a great book. Next months choice is also an absolute gem. I can’t wait to get going!
I really mean it! Perhaps I will manage to read the next one 😁
Personally I struggled with the interactive poetry. I didn't manage to move on from feeling like I didn't know where to start with them. But I really enjoyed the overall collection, the themes were challenging but I really felt the jumping around of time and location and the idea of identity and loss and your nationally being tied to a difficult history. I agree Eptopic felt separate but I was absorbed by it and it took me away from where I was physically as I was caught up in the emotion. Thank you Nelly. Great pick x
Echo that feeling of Ectopic really taking you away from where you are. So moving.
Can't wait to read, i had initially got this at an e book from my library, but I find that reading poems on digital devices messes up the formatting.So i'm really excited to get it now As a paperback from library