Flower Crowns and Fearsome Things
Author: Amanda Lovelace
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Lovelace is one of the few poets that I enjoy and I’ve loved every collection of hers so face, while I want to remark that this one isn’t bad by any means, it wasn’t for me. Perhaps is the mindset that I’m in right now, I’m finally confident in myself (both physically and mentally) so am not able to relate to a big part of the poems in this collection, which are about insecurity. Another big portion of the book consists of poems about relationships and romantic affection, both of which I don’t experience often and have little interest in.
There were still plenty of poems that spoke to me and that I’m sure to re-read in the future, those vary from female friendship to experiencing lockdown and social distancing during COVID. Furthermore, the illustrations are gorgeous and I loved how they varied to match certain poems. Even though this was my least favorite collection of theirs, I hope that the book finds its way to the hands of those who need it and that they treasure it in their heart just as much as I treasure Lovelace’s other works.
For Trigger Warnings click here
Originally written in September/2021
Unlock Your Storybook Heart
Author: Amanda Lovelace
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Amanda’s poetry collections have a knack for finding me when I need her words the most. Every time I feel down, when loving myself becomes too hard or when my long-time ED demons come knocking at my door, I can count on Amanda’s poems to help pick me up. The strength between their poems is how raw and honest Amanda is, and how much of their vulnerability they share with the readers through the magic of words. The illustrations featured throughout the book are so beautiful and delicate, that sometimes I caught myself spending more time admiring them than reading the actual poem. I’d love to have prints of several of them adorning my home due to how cozy and stunning they are.
Magic, that is the best way to define this, and all of her other collections, they are all laced (if you’ll pardon the pun) with this sense of wonder, like they’re floating somewhere between reality and dream. Because of this, it’s easier for me to face the darker issues (like grief, ED, mental illness, etc) that so many of her poems focus on and to use them as cathartic tools. Above anything else, this collection gave me so much hope, being a queer woman who also struggles with EDs and childhood trauma I relate so deeply to the poems and Amanda themselves. Seeing someone so similar to me being so unapologetically themselves, both in life and through their art, fills me with the hope that maybe one day I can do that too.
What I loved the most about this collection was that it featured several poems that advocate living your truth, and encourage the reader to embrace what gives them joy and not let others shame you for it. Her poems also dealt with another thing that I needed to be reminded of: there’s nothing wrong with wanting a quiet and simple life, with choosing to live in the small town as opposed to the big city. They also touch on how heteronormative society has many of us convinced that there’s only one form of love that is acceptable, they break down that queerphobia in so many of their writings. In the main “story” of Unlock Your Storybook Heart, we have a princess that falls in love with a knight and, we see their relationship progress until they become queen and queen. Even though this collection features several poems about romantic love, Amanda makes sure to remind the reader that there’s also nothing wrong with you if romance is not something you desire.
Overall, this book’s message is to do what makes you happy, to choose what is best for you even if others will judge you for it. Amanda tells us not to be afraid to embrace our true selves, including our scars and our traumas because there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
For Trigger Warnings click here
Originally written in March/2022
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