What Is This Thing Called Love

I admire the heck out of this book of poems even though they come from a place I have never myself been comfortable with myself, a place full of passion and unconcerned about the personal consequences of expressing these passionate feelings. But I think this is what makes these poems exciting, where I can watch someone who'd felt things deeply who allows me to feel them too. It is a thrill to recognize when a writer has found her voice even when that voice is so different from my own. She is gifted with a talent for portraying recognizable images and characters in a way that makes them a little unfamiliar to the reader and thus interesting. She is also an expert in choosing the right words, the best forms, to shape those into a finished poem without the language sounding forced. There is a reckless abandon that comes through in the complicated attitude toward the beloved, makes me think about feeling of being overpowered by love in its many forms. Some of my favorite poems here were "In Dreams," "The Work," and "Fuck."

I give this my highest recommendation for readers who like modern poetry.