I read the synopsis, but still wasn't expecting a poetry book. Yet, I am glad for it - that surprises exist in this opaque world.

There's a range of poetics in this novel, with different tones and voices. one thread rung especially true to me. The dark & the abstract call me home.

my favorites of the collection:

- The Ocean Knows
- In the story she tells
- Freshmen
- Grief Haibun
- After Another Death, My Son Asks About Mine & Where To Find Me

The imagery in this collection of poetry is amazing and so heartbreaking. This piece focuses on grief, motherhood, and womanhood and how the three of those are interwoven together. I really enjoyed this collection; I just wish it were longer.

Grief rearranges. / If you don't yet know it, friend, / hand to heart, you will.

In this short but profound poems collection, Dani De Luca explores the beginning and end of human lives, and everything in between. It also touches topics like motherhood, racism, and femicide. I usually don't read poetry, but it was a pleasant surprise.

Of Lost Things is a short but poignant collection of short stories that's introspective about life, death, rebirth, and everything in-between. Take some time out to look inward while reading this collection. You won't want to miss it.

So am not usually one to read poetry but the cover was absolutely beautiful. The first poem hit hard and was relatable in more ways than i could explain. I really cant say I connected the same way with the rest of the poems. If am being honest I didnt really understand what was trying to be said in some of the poems and i was left feeling like these were beyond my mental capacity to understand. Over all I enjoyed the few poems that i was able to understand and connect to.

These were my favorites:
The Noise of Falling,
Twilight Falls Faster Now
Small Roads Of Lost Things
After Another Death, My Son Asks About Mine, & Where To Find Me.

This review is my own opinions and thoughts thank you netgalley for providing this collection of poems for free to review.

I have to admit that some poems did go a bit over my head, but overall it was a really solid collection with few stand outs for me. I'll be on the lookout for this author's future releases for sure!

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

these poems were so tragically beautiful and sad and made me think a lot. goosebumps upon my skin and something gnawing in my mind. I do believe you should have read every page at least once in your life, since alot of them speak to the soul.
It also feels especially intimate when there are things described you struggle to put into words yourself.
By the end of it — you feel heard.

Beautifully thought out and beautifully written!! I am very surprised that the author has described Buffalo and Rochester so exact. I use to live in Rochester and Leroy New York. Leroy would be an authors dream place to write. Did not mean to go off target. I have learned a lot from this authors writing. She lets her feelings come out on paper so perfectly. Others have written wonderful poetry but not feeling it. Having strong emotions is the absolute best time to write poetry. This author did exactly that. This is a great fast read and I loved it!!

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

I feel like I will go back and read these again & again and gain a fresh understanding or perspective each time. These haunting & evocative poems resonated with me as a woman & mother trying to make sense of this tragic yet beautiful world.

"It is astonishing the pace at which we’re forgotten. How suddenly we live without grave speaking loudest."

This poem collection was great, I liked many poems. Mostly I like to savour poems slowly so I take my sweet time but I finished these poems in one sitting. It occurs rarely that I finished poem collection so fast even when I was actually enjoying them.
Some lines are so good like this one.
"We commit to killing ourselves slowly. Not the bullet but the celery. Not the high jump but the shallow fade. "

These poems discuss a lot of trigger subjects especially love, motherhood, gun violence, racism, etc. Every other poem had a punch to the gut and made me breathless, wanting more and more.

"Doesn’t know the atrocities of humans or hunting or humans hunting humans. Doesn’t know that skin color can be (and so often is) a death sentence."

"I want to tell him there won’t be others. That guns will make us safer, despite being outnumbered by them. "

One of my favourite among the series

"I was taught to pretty and please and polite and pardon the predator. i was taught to run, but not fast. to speak, but not loud. to blend and hide and fold myself so as not to find myself. i was taught to fear god and ignore goddess. i was taught the force of flesh. prey and pray, separated by one letter and a chasm of meaning. when i was preyed upon, i prayed."


Thank you Netgalley and Querencia Press for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This will decently be a poetry book I buy. Short, intentional, and meaningful.

MY THOUGHTS💭: I may not be a mother, but I am a woman, an aunt, and a human. I found this not only relatable, but haunting, vulnerable, and moving. Dani De Luca’s “Of Lost Things” is a scream into the current void that is womanhood, the work and love that is motherhood, and the horror and potential that is humanity.

One thing I believe will go under appreciated is De Luca’s level of complexity. Though all too often when reading poetry that tackles heavy themes readers are lost in poets’ attempt to deepen a point that’s already being made. Or alternatively, reduce a larger topic to something smaller than what it is. I felt De Luca ideally balanced between simple and complex writing to connect, communicate, and emote. Overall, I’m so glad I got to read this ARC. Thanks to @netgalley and Querencia Press

Standouts Pieces:
I Was Taught to be Prey
Soaring Stars
Of Lost Things
Twilight Falls Faster Now
Maybe Wind is Not What They Told Us

WOW.
The opening poem really packed a punch for me (hit a little close to home if im being honest), therefore setting the scene for a beautifully written book of poems. Heartbreaking but also so eloquently written. The discussions about gun violence, American tragedies, racism and struggles that women face today was unmatched.
Absolutely would recommend to friends and followers. I have not always been a poetry fan but this was so different from anything ive read. I really enjoyed this.

I really liked this book actually. not big poetry reader but felt like each part of the collection was like a bubble of thoughts that i witnessed for a moment then flew to another.
and i love that concept. it's like watching the world from a train window.
"A Kind of Thanksgiving", "The Ocean Knows", and "The Noise of Falling" were my favourite.
glad i read this.

Poetry is personal. Although I did not find that this collection was for me, a couple of the poems did touch me. I found some heartbreaking and others I did not understand. I thank NetGalley and Querencia Press for the advance read.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.

While as a whole I feel like this writer has some way to go, I did truly enjoy this collection which features elements of raising a child in a country with a crazy amount of gun violence. The author has a style and talent that comes through and I will definitely check out more books by them in the future.

3.5*

Although I would have liked to read more about the author before getting into this, I was able to enjoy it and connect with many poems in this short collection. Some parts were stronger than others, but overall, the author's voice was consistent. I will definitely keep an eye on De Luca's releases
and I'm certain that I'll be returning to these poems in the future.
My favorites were: The Noise of Falling, The Hatchlings and i was taught to be prey.

A moving collection of poems about on motherhood, womanhood, love, grief, and the fear that comes with all of those things. Short and simple but touching nonetheless.

Of Lost Things is a great short collection of poetry on motherhood, grief, and society. Though the subject material is anything but, the language and structure are simple and light, making it an ideal quick read on a calm afternoon.