I thought this would be one more collection about heartbreak but even though it starts looking that way I think it's mainly a poetry collection about healing. Yes, most of the first part is about a failed relationship and its aftermath but we can also read about womanhood, loneliness, mental health and just the plain art of being alive. I'm especially a fan of "To the protester outside of the clinic who called me a murderer", "For Vincent Van Gogh, patron saint of psychotic manic depressives " and "The Last Poem" that was able to close the book in a hopeful, even happy note. Worth also noticing the cover, that was the first thing that made me read this book. Thank you to Net Galley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this ARC.

In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive is one of the most beautiful poetry collections that I’ve read in ages. I was drawn in from the first page and had a very hard time putting this book down. The author has a voice that is honest and skill with creating gorgeous prose.

The author tackles a lot of deeply personal subjects: surviving infidelity, dealing with manic depression, the gradual decline and death of a family member, of surviving domestic abuse; each one themed around survival. So many of the subjects hit close to home for me, especially the topics about the struggle to move past infidelity as it is a subject that I have been struggling with this past year. Finding that I wasn’t alone was a deep comfort to me, and the author approaches these subjects with both empathy and transparency, I didn’t feel that I was being preached to unlike many works that try and broach these sorts of subjects.

I also felt that this collection was exactly the right length too. Lately I’ve been feeling that many of the poetry books that I’ve picked up were overlong and extremely repetitive. This collections struck a good balance from piece to piece, each one was memorable and were different even when discussing the same topic. I feel already that this will be one of my favorite books I read this year and is easily one of my favorite poetry collections that I’ve picked up.

This is a lovely, heartfelt collection that shines in its portrayal of longing, betrayal, survival and loss, and Clementine von Radics' talent cannot be understated. I was especially taken about by the piece about abortion! That being said, there wasn't as much content as I hoped for, and I didn't connect with enough of the poems to deem this a favourite of mine. It is still, absolutely, a worthwhile read. I look forward to more from this author in the future!

Nice collection of poetry from an author I had not read previously. I enjoyed the cover art and the many topics covered.

This poetry was incredibly emotionally raw and diverse yet there seemed to be something a missing from about a 1/3 of it. I would still recommend it.

I read a copy of ‘In a dream you saw a way to survive’ through Netgalley.

Firstly the cover to this poetry collection is beautiful and enough to entice anyone. I also liked the layout of the book itself.

As a collections of poems I felt they were very good. They were raw, highly emotional and real. I also appreciated that they covered a range of topics including mania, love, infidelity and alcoholism.

As a young woman I felt I could identify with many of the poems.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free poetry collection!*

I quite liked most of the poems in this collections. They deal with mental health, love, loss, social interactions, relationships and family. They are well written, the layout is interesting and the honesty in which issues are presented is raw yet rewarding: you can survive, life can be good.

One of the best parts was this 'poem' about abortion:

"To the protester outside of the clinic who called me a murderer
If I could have have kept her, if she'd have been born a girl, I would have called her Jane. As in Austen. As in my sister's middle name and my grandmother's before her. I would have taught her to be kind. To be good. To love the Beach Boys even and especially after Brian got weird. I know you don't want to hear this. Prefer to think me faceless and bloodstained, another statistic on cruel, thoughtless women. But like everyone else, this was never going to be my choice until it had to be."

4 Stars

Another beautiful collection of poetry from Clementine von Radics. She explores love, heartbreak, mental illness, abortion, loss, abuse and, ultimately, survival.