Matthew Zapruder writes in an interesting and amazingly insightful way. I have followed his work for years and was very pleased to see a new collection from this master of verse. He takes interesting turns in his poetry, examining the world through an alternative perspective that leaves the reader thinking about their own life as well as the reality he must be sharing — welcome poetic work anytime.

Matthew Zapruder gives us a collection of poems that feel as if you’re following his dream sequence and trying to catch up. Some poems were better than others, but overall it was enjoyable, and I highly recommend reading them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC!

Matthew Zapruder’s "I Love Hearing Your Dreams" is a warm, insulated collection of poems, often feeling like a shield between the reader and the world.

Many of these poems feel like the parts of bedtime stories that gnaw at the edges of dreams—the final sentences one hears before falling asleep. In other words, the cover offers a great picture of what readers can expect. These pieces surround readers like a blanket, muting the chaos of life when it occasionally breaks in.

Even the pieces with titles like “Supreme Despair Song” carry a certain kind of quietude. In that particular case, it’s immediately followed by a poem about yogurt. It’s so common for poetic turns to feel like a twist of the knife—it’s a nice alternative to see some that feel like rolling over in bed.

Unfortunately, the velvet-lined dreamscape Zapruder weaves here is often so smooth as to be frictionless. Many of the poems land the same way it does when someone shares a dream over breakfast—“Hm, I wonder if that means anything”—a momentary interruption before thinking about the day ahead or the toast that’s burning or almost anything else. Furthermore, some of these pieces seem to have been written during the height of the COVID pandemic, such as “The Evening Meeting,” and poems about Zoom calls feel like unpleasant relics at this point.

Thankfully, the collection ends strong. “Failed Elegy” is one of the most gorgeous poems I’ve read in a while, and it acts as an argument for the form’s limitations, suggesting that there are better places to be than the heart of a poem. It is such a succinct picture of the book’s guiding principle, and I wish it were one of the first pieces in the book so that it would frame everything else accordingly.

All in all, "I Love Hearing Your Dreams" feels like the perfect book to spend an afternoon and a cup of tea with, and I think it will reward readers who seek the comfort of poems that create room for them.

My thanks to Net Galley for the digital ARC.

I was initially intrigued by the sweet cover--an anthropomorphized rabbit in a dress and shawl walking through a dark forest--and may have expected poems to match. They were not about little woodland creatures, but there were some excellent and tender ideas gathered here.

This short book includes poems about:
Sunflowers
Birds
Poetry and poets
How much the poet loves his wife and son
The pandemic
The poet's high school French class (this is actually one of my favorites)
Death
A zoom meeting

I did also feel a sort of kinship with the poet, who lived in my city during the pandemic--there's something so relatable about getting burritos at the apocalypse. I also liked how grounded many of the poems were in appreciation for his life.

There were a few lines that really stood out which I'll add here once the book is published.

Review also published to goodreads.

I consider myself a fairly avid reader of contemporary poetry, and have read a few of Matthew Zapruder's collections. Though I enjoyed every one of them, his most recent "I Love Hearing Your Dreams", due out in September has become my favorite.
From the moment I first spotted it, the title itself, drew me right in. And the cover–it is by far one of the most outstanding and appealing covers I've encountered on any book of poetry. Fantastical and 'dreamy'!
Aside from that, I thoroughly enjoyed the numerous references to dreams, some good, some bad; as well as the realities, memories and reflections. This is definitely a book that will stay with me, and one that I will want to add to my personal library. Not only so I can pull it out periodically to delight in its adorable cover once again, but to review those poems in there that I've marked as my favorites.
Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the advance readers copy!

This is a book of poems, not meant to be read from beginning to end; rather a book to be dabbled in. A poem about grandfather memories or bad bears that are not bears, but fears. There are unquiet poems that make you feel un easy next to delightful poems that make everything all right with the world. The cover reminds me of a childhood memory that I can not place, no matter how long I gaze at it; like the poems within, a delightful mystery.

This was different from what I was expecting. The author is talented but this poetry wasn’t really my taste. I prefer poetry that is insightful and hopeful. I would say this collection is more observational musings. They seemed more like a random collection rather than a collected theme. Not bad, just not for me. 2.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

There were some great poems in this collection that I really connected to, and I really enjoyed some of the imagery, which was cohesive across the collection. However, I felt the formatting (no punctuation and abrupt line breaks in places that didn't flow well/ feel right) made some of the poems difficult to read and understand. After some heavy editing, I think this will read easier and be more approachable.

I was drawn to the cover of this book, however the content did not match the description of this poetry collection. Other readers may resonate with the poems, and although I enjoy reading poetry, this collection wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for allowing me to read this collection of poetry in which I give my honest review.

The cover of "I Love Hearing Your Dreams" really grabbed my attention, which is why I requested this book. Unfortunately, while the cover is beautiful and inviting, I found that the description did not match the content. I struggled to connect with any of the poems in the book. I am giving it one star basically just for the cover. I encourage other readers to explore it and form their own opinions. Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the arc.

I absolutely loved the cover of this book, which is what drew me in to request it. I found that the description, for me, did not match the book. I just could not connect with any of the poems in the book. I am giving it two stars for the cover, but I do hope other readers will read it for their own decision. I thank NetGalley and Scribner for the advance read.

Nice and simplicity nook. Easy to follow and understand and the cover is adorable. Only downside it didn't feel metaphorical.