The Lord of the Butterflies, by Andrea Gibson, is a book that was accessed by NetGalley (free), in exchange for an honest opinion. Honestly, from now on, I will follow the work by Andrea Gibson and I intend to acquire the Vase of Madness.

Andrea Gibson's poetry and performances, used in the slam poetry circuits, have a strong focus on issues of gender identity and the difficulties of the LGBTQ community. But not only.

I have found in the Lord of the Butterflies, expressions of love, of social indignation (with emphasis on mass homicides and Trump, of course), mental health problems and references to as relationships in the modern world, namely in social networks.

I read each page, of this small book of poetry with more emotion and pleasure.

Luckily I do not live with mental health issues, or the barriers that are the everyday life of the LGBTQ community. I also have the privilege of having being born in one of the safest countries in the world.

But the Lord of the Butterflies is magnificent because it transports us to the lives of other people, and in such a beautiful form that it becomes magical.

And although this, Andrea Gibson, because it deals with humanity, prints its universal poetry.

There are so many amazing poems in this collection!
"Orlando" made me cry, "Good Lights" made me feel things, and "Ode to the Public Panic Attack" was so relatable!
Incredible imagery in most of the poems, and all of them manage to stir emotions with seemingly no effort.
Only thing is that I tend to prefer shorter poems, and a lot of these were quite long, but the quality more than made up for it.

Chills. I had bloody chill reading this book. Oh dear god, Andrea Gibson can do nothing wrong. As my favorite poet I wasn't expecting any thing less from her, but those freaking goosebumps were even better than I had anticipated!

I guess not all poetry is for me. Some of these poems really hit me hard in the chest, a big punch in the feels, but some others, I just couldn't connect to them, especially for the longer ones. But they speak of something important, this constant battle around us, about us and it's something more people need to read/hear.

These poems packed a punch and didn't ever hold back. I loved how true and honest and raw each and every one of these poems was and I loved reading this lovely collection of poetry.

The only thing that has me docking stars is that the poems were longer than I'm used to, and sometimes the length would lose me along the way. Nothing against longer poems, I guess they just aren't for me, though.

A collection of poems with very powerful messages and a gorgeous cover. I was first drawn to this book because it was tagged as LGBT poetry, but the collection touches on several other topics that are just as interesting and important. Some poems were not my cup of tea, but some of them were beautiful, thought-provoking, heartbreaking, and even difficult to read.

WOW. This collection left me speechless. I'm trying to find the words to describe the love/heartbreak, fear/rage, grief/joy of Lord of the Butterflies, but I just don't have them. Read it. I'll return to these poems again and again.

Another amazing book of poetry by Andrea Gibson! This collection was timely, courageous, and honest. I recommend this for anyone who is concerned about the state of our current United States as well as anyone who has experienced battles with their mental health.

These poems are revolutionary.

Lord of the Butterflies is described in the About the Author section as “a book of protests, panic attacks, and pride parades. These poems riot against gun violence, homophobia, and white supremacy, while jubilating gender expansion, queer love, and the will to stay alive.” It also says Gibson is “known for pulling hearts out of chests to either wrench or kiss”. Yes, hundred times over, yes. I’m quoting because I honestly couldn’t sum it up any better than that.

Some of these poems make you want to stop reading and go share them with a friend, now. Others feel like private messages, meant just for you. Some need to be posted on billboards and played over the airwaves for all to see and hear.

I thought it was interesting that “Until We Act” was placed right after “Dear Trump Voter”. I know people who refuse to keep up with what’s going on around us, claiming “it’s too hard” because they “care too much.” They practically boast about the fact that they don’t know what’s happening in the world. While “Dear Trump Voter” is a direct message to a very particular group of people, “Until We Act” serves as a pointed rallying cry to moderates and armchair liberals.

That being said, having an open heart—for oneself and for others—and learning to open your heart, seems to be a common thread throughout this collection. Everything I felt about Gibson’s writing in Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns holds true here: I love the descriptiveness, the rhythms and cadences, the statements! The writing is empowering and cathartic, even in the toughest of moments. Gibson's poetry is perfection, really and truly. But most importantly, Andrea Gibson makes me feel like poetry is for everyone to read.

I'm a latecomer to the Andrea Gibson party. I'm so glad I made it though. Their poems cover everything in such beautiful, but accessible language.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion.

I've already said it many times this year, but I have found such an interest in poetry recently. Button Poetry never ceases to amaze me with the talents writers and performers they find. I took my time with this one because some of the poems did get a little heavy, but in a great way. I think there is literally something everyone can relate to in the book, and it had many pieces that were thought provoking to say the least.

I enjoyed every minute of this collection, I really felt some of it on a personal level. Andrea Gibson is incredibly talented.

Thought provoking...

Though I do not fully stand and support what the author writes, I admit that it is very thought provoking. Bringing issues about gender, America, politics, world peace, self love and many more, I could understand the thoughts from the author’s point of view.

Since I could only relate to some of the poems, this book did not really speak to me and so it would be hard for me to comment much. I did enjoy those countering self love and social issues like panic attacks though.

I think this book will be much more appealing to the LGBTQ community as most of the poems were written in that perspective. Even so, I am grateful to experience this journey.

Thank you Button Poetry for allowing me to review this book through NetGalley.

"But heat rises for the same reason people rise-because they have to. I think the heat would like to rest sometime, don't you?"

Before this book I had never heard any of Andrea Gibson's poetry but I feel I need to go back and read the rest of their works because this book was so emotionally effecting to me. I don't think there was a moment reading this collection that I wasn't crying or on the verge of tears.

I loved the mix of topics in this collection, no real rhyme or reason to how they seem to be arranged. It's exactly the kind of thing I love in a collection of poetry.

“Do you remember the first record
Where we didn’t have to change
the pronouns to sing along? We’d gone
so many years without music
that knew us.”

Words fail to do justice to the magnificence of Gibson’s latest work. I found myself reading and re-reading, highlighting and dissecting, and, ultimately, marveling at what she accomplished in just less than 100 pages.

Passionate and powerful, this collection of poems is for anyone and everyone who feels confused by themselves or the world around them. With poems focusing on social issues, mental health, and sexuality, this collection put into words things that I think people, including me, struggle to find words for.

Some poems were short, dictionary-like entries, while others were longer, but all of them hit hard, leaving me, the reader, nearly raw from the honesty and pure emotional value of them all.

This book is a masterpiece for all of us and a sad love song for all people from the lgtbq community.
An ode to selflove and a prayer against violence and drugs.
I wanted to cry and to laugh at the same time and these words were all so powerful!
I would lie if I would stay I understood every poem, but I cherished every single word.

Andrea Gibson is by far my favourite poet. Their poems are so raw and honest and beautiful. Their ways of describing things, feelings, and situations is so unique that by times this book took my breath away.

I will definitely be buying a copy when it releases.

Absolutely beautiful collection of poems by Andrea Gibson. I was originally interested in the book because of the interesting cover and the description of "queer poetry", and it totally exceeded my expectations (as I have not read Gibson's work before this).
This collection of poems is so much more than just the queer perspective, its raw emotions and heartfelt voices create such a punch as I read it. Some of my favourite themes are America, self-acceptance/self-love, depression, romance.
<i>Truth knows everybody's dark side / is daytime somewhere.</i>
Thanks to Netgalley and Button Poetry for allowing me to read the ARC!

I got approved for this arc on Netgalley and immediately sat down and read the whole thing in one sitting. Gasping and highlighting and holding my hand to my chest and sometimes that hand press turned into a clutch. I highlighted more than ever and I wanted to share each line with the world.

I already have the book ordered but if I didn't I'd go order it again. Do your heart a favor and get this book.

heart breaking poetry.
This is my first time reading Andrea Gibson and I must say it was beautifull. Such a master piece... It's dificult to find words for such a incredible heart touching writing. If you are looking for poetry so intense that you can almost taste the anger, the sadness and the joy. this is your book.
ORLANDO
"... even life is like funeral practice:
half of us already dead
to our families before we die,
half of us still on our knees
trying to crawl. ..."

Do I recommend this book? I think that by now you should have read it