This is another great entry of contemporary poetry from Button Poetry. This is the first collection I’ve read from Baird, but I’ve had a good track record with the books I’ve picked up from Button Poetry, and this one was no different.
The discussion on body issues and eating disorders was so raw and real, and the open “When the Fat Girl Gets Skinny” was absolutely phenomenal and hit really hard. Another poem that hit me especially hard was “Pocket-Sized Feminism” which discusses privilege and feminism: “This house is for wallpaper / women. What good is wallpaper that speaks?”
For such a short book, there were quite a few poems that just faded to the background for me, but overall, Baird’s images were interesting and her viewpoint intriguing and, at some points unfortunately, relatable.

This collection of poetry examines the author's depth of experience as it relates to surviving rape, disordered eating, depression and anxiety, and wrestling with her own sexuality. These poems are raw, honest, and they cut to the core of her own self in a level of vulnerability that is rare in today's world. I loved so many of them for their honesty and imagery, and I was so impressed by the way the author plays with language and expectation in order to create an impact.

A few of these poems in particular will live with me for a very long time. I am grateful for this work, and I will certainly recommend it to others.

“There are days I want people to like me
more than I want to change the world.” - Blythe Baird, Pocket-Sized Feminism

I’ve read quite a lot of poetry this last few weeks, IF MY BODY COULD SPEAK by Blythe Baird is by far one of my favorite collections. It deals with the body, trauma, and feminism in a raw way. I’ve connected with the poems, felt their words affect. I could still relate on various levels. This collection brings together so many important themes in a woman’s life. Baird goes straight to the core of the problem. She doesn’t use metaphors and imagery to cover up trauma. She takes it head on. Her words are brutal, but honest.

This is an important poetry collection for our day and age. It’s an honest look at what it’s like to be a woman, to have a period, suffer from an eating disorder, sexual violence, and one’s sexuality. Each poem reads like a look into a subconscious which is trying to make sense of what is going on. Themes were handled with care and honesty. It was clear that the author was expressing herself without holding back.

However, this collection will not be for everyone. Its’s trigger warnings include rape, abuse, mental illness & eating disorders. The poems are vivid and it’s clear that the author is transparent about what she went through. I recommend this poetry collection to anyone who needs some uplifting and want to feel less alone after a traumatic event. And it’s the perfect gift for the feminist in your life! I loved this collection and can see a lot of people relating to the poems.

* Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Very powerful! This is what it's like to be a woman! I personally have not be a victim of rape but I can definitely speak to how it feel to be afraid to go places alone. I think every girl/woman should read this book and maybe men if they want to know what it's like to be a girl today!

If My Body Could Speak is a book with collection of various prose.

It speaks about love and lust, about being fat once and then losing it because of health reasons and unhealthy food habits and becoming thin now.

It talks about how a society body shames women because they are not slim and lean, how women are criticized now and then. How they lose body fat not because of excercise but because of unhealthy food habits and mental disorders. How their body is used for love, lust and pleasure. It also talks about stigma behind periods, about molestation and rape, and the life of the person after such incidents.

The author has done a commendable with each of these topic.
The writing is perfect, it makes an impact.

Recommended to everyone, even if you don't like poetry/prose. Its something you should read.

Thanks to Netgallery for the digital copy in exchange of some honest review.

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2693805218

If My Body Could Speak is an absolutely phenomenal collection of poems about eating disorders, mental illness, sexual assault, and being who you truly are regardless of who those around you would rather you be. This is necessary reading for all young women struggling to accept and love themselves and their bodies despite societal pressures. Five stars. I absolutely loved these poems.

Blythe's poetry has been making me cry, think, and heal since I was 15. My opinions of her poetry are incredibly biased as I've been an avid fan for over 3 years now, but I'm under the belief that there is no other way to view poetry than a deeply personal form of art and writing. This collection is phenomenally written and includes the best of some of her poetry than I've previously seen and new pieces that hit me with emotions for the first time. While her poetry is perfect for relating to, the poems I couldn't relate to, remained deeply impactful. So far, she's never written a poem that I haven't enjoyed experiencing.

I loved this book of poetry, it really spoke to me, as a woman, as someone struggling with weight alll my life and now trying to accept who I am and learn to be body positive. These poems are raw and hit hard. So powerful. I loved them, even when hard to read, they were wonderful.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest review

LOVE LOVE LOVE this entire collection. It was real, raw, and relatable. Blythe Baird did not hold back which made every poem so intense. This was so much better than many collections that are released lately of just short, simplistic sentences.

This is not just a book of poetry.

It's a critique of society, of women's place in that society, of eating disorders, of sexuality, of sexual violence that HAPPENS to be in the form of poetry.

It reminds me of some of Carol Ann Duffy's work in places; it has that kind of feel to it, what with the line breaks and patterns across the page. It also reminds me of Amanda Lovelace's poetry; it's got the same kind of content.

Thing is, this book is far more raw than either of those. At first it felt a little lacking for me, without the flair or aesthetic I'm used to. It was certainly relatable, but it felt a little empty for me. However, as I read on, I found myself enjoying the bluntness of it - this is someone who is fed up with the way the world is and really couldn't care less about wrapping everything up in fancy metaphors and imagery (though there is a little bit of that).

I particularly like 'Everything is Fluid'; it's a short poem regarding sexuality, and it resonated with me to the point that I just highlighted the entire thing on my kindle. It's one of those short little poems that I'd stick up on my pin-board to remind myself that I'm not 100% alone in this kind of thing.

'Horoscopes for Self-Doubt' was another favourite, even if my eyes did skip straight to my star sign - that one definitely put a smile on my face, because the little piece of advice fitted exactly with what I've struggled with recently.

If you like feminist poetry, I'd suggest giving this book a go - it covers such a broad spectrum of subjects, chances are, you'll find something you relate to.

This is a powerful collection of poems that any female can relate to. The writing is emotionally raw and forceful, the imagery is beautifully vivid and gut-wrenching. The tone of the collection is one of anger and healing. I especially appreciate how Baird makes it clear that poetry is the only stage where she feels safe talking about her personal experiences and the issues of rape, violence, and sexism. Her poems are very succinct, and point out the frequency with which these issues occur in our society, in our schools, in our families.

Confessional poetry at its best and most brutal. This should be required reading for all Americans in our culture and for all people.

Blythe Baird tells her stories, and at least one reality of what it is like living as a young woman pre- and post-#MeToo, through accessible and clever verse. She delves into topics many of us - regardless of gender - are scared to speak about out loud: trauma, mental illness, and the type of feminism that isn't always considered 'cool' by the bros.

Baird recounts the struggles of developing and overcoming a mindset consumed by disordered eating with grim yet admirable clarity. She speaks truth to the ways in which this society has been conditioned to praise weight loss, regardless of how it happens or what damage it causes. She weaves in her personal experiences with sexual assault, grappling with her sexual orientation, and relationships with friends, partners, and family.

If My Body Could Speak is a product of turning art into what you need it to be. Crafting your stories, even those that haunt you, into something you can love and hope others can benefit from as well.

Honest, real, and amazing. It acted as a reminder to forgive myself (and asking forgiveness to my body) and tackled issues I do care about.

4/5

(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Whatever juice Button Poetry is sipping, they’d better sign me up for more of it because every time I come across their books I know I am in for an awakening.

So, Blythe Baird, ever heard of her? Well, this was my first encounter and I don’t know how I am feeling and that’s the truth of it. For, “Read Pocket Sized Feminism,” is a reminder of the effect of choosing to either stand up or stay silent in the presence of injustice. “To Live in the body of a Survivor” tore me to shreds while “Smoke” reminded me of the things we give up, “Lipstick” of the privileges we are taught and “Skirt Steak Girls” tabled my biases. If you are to read any poem in this book I’d recommend “The Aesthetic of Rape Culture”-because when someone’s version of truth closely hits home, you cannot pretend to not see it for what it is.

Now, I have to reel in the credits: thank you Netgalley and Button Poetry for the eARC, and Blythe– it was a pleasure meeting you.

As a women I can relate with the need to be perfect. Growing up having a sister who battled with an eating disorder I can relate to young girls and body issues. Many of the poems encompassed genterations and feeling of any age. Well written.