In this collection, Caldwell explores herself in relation to being trans, in relation to her bipolar diagnosis, and in relation to the world around her that doesn't necessarily understand a thing about her. This collection uses both a personal letter style as well as other dynamic styles to evoke pain, heartache, apathy, and one's relationship to religion, both inside the self and outside in the modern world. It is a collection that readers can sit with for a while in contemplation.

This is a beautiful, yet haunting, collection of letters and poems. It was at times difficult to read the poems knowing the author's fate, but I think it's important to address all aspects of mental health, even the difficult parts.

The poetry contained within Letters to Forget is at times so completely visceral that I simply had to put it aside. This is not an easy read of lighthearted poems…this is at times brutal, heartbreaking, and haunting. Kelly Caldwell’s words will affect you, sometimes in ways you cannot describe.

These aren’t poems that were worked over and over until they became a shining gem. These are
raw. There are also a lot of poems dealing with religion; more than I anticipated despite it being mentioned in the summary. I didn’t find those poems particularly engaging as it’s not a subject that I personally care about, although they did give an insight into the struggles and disconnect between religion and one’s self. Caldwell’s writings to her partner Cass Donish, at least in this first read through, are the ones I connected with the most. I definitely recommend reading this collection and then Cass Donish’s collection, “Your Dazzling Death.

I hope that some part of us lives on after death so that Kelly was able to witness her work being published. I have to hope this, because the idea of someone so talented never receiving their flowers for something so personal and so utterly human makes my heart hurt.

5⭐️

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and Knopf, however my review is completely unbiased and is my own personal opinion left of my own volition.

This collection of poetry was very hard to read at times and it took me to a very dark headspace for a while.

Knowing this collection has been published posthumously makes it even harder to read. Poetry has a way of resonating with the reader through so few words and this collection was so full of emotion and turmoil.

I’m rating this collection five stars because I can’t put any less. The way this made me feel in such a short time definitely shows the way Kelly Caldwell was feeling at the time of writing.

"Letters to Forget" by Kelly Caldwell is the kind of book that gets under your skin and lingers in the quiet spaces of your mind long after you've finished reading. Written with raw honesty and a haunting beauty, Caldwell's poems feel like a glimpse into the soul of someone grappling with the weight of existence and identity in a world that often feels like it’s closing in. Her exploration of mental illness, gender, and the pain of being unrecognized by those who should love you most is both devastating and deeply resonant. The "dear c." poems, addressed to her lover, pulse with an aching vulnerability that cuts straight to the heart. This is not an easy read, but it’s one that’s necessary for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of living on the edge of self-destruction and self-discovery. Caldwell's voice is both fragile and fierce, a testament to the power of poetry to express the inexpressible. A must-read for those who find solace in the intersections of darkness and light, and for anyone who has ever felt unseen.

This is an interesting poetry collection that seemed to have a lot to say on transness and experiences with mental health. I really liked the house poems, especially as that theme was built upon. I do think many of these went over my head, but definitely a worthwhile collection.

A touching set of poems, but I didn't find the writing as compelling as its sister set. I think maybe I would've benefited from reading this collection first and reading Donish's second. I think it might've been more impactful to see how the themes in this collection were answered by Caldwell's partner, unfortunately posthumously. Still, a strong and heart wrenching set of poems.

As I was reading Letters to Forget, I could feel so much tension running through the poems. The subject matter centers on Caldwell’s experiences as a trans woman and her struggles with bipolar disorder. Many of the poems are addressed to her partner, and others grapple with her relationship to Christianity, often referencing Job. Reading this felt like a glimpse into the workings of a creative, artistic, and intelligent mind that did not fit into society’s mold, a society with stifling expectations that need to be torn down and abandoned.

From a craft standpoint, what struck me was Caldwell’s use of punctuation, especially periods, since they were often in unconventional or unexpected places, breaking up thoughts and causing the reader to pause and process. Periods forcing end stopped lines, accentuating words, and creating distinctive rhythms.

This is a collection that asks for multiple readings because there’s so much beneath the surface and so much complexity to explore. Learning about the author’s life and suicide at age 31 adds even more layers. I will be coming back to this collection often because of the beauty of the writing and the urgency of the themes within.

Did not love it. Did not hate it.

I didn't connect well with this book. I gave it three stars because I think the author put their heart and soul on the pages. It just wasn't for me.

I am sorry to hear of the passing of the Author before Publication. I am glad people took the time and effort to make this book a reality.
Although some of the poems were really hard to get through, to understand, but overall I enjoyed and appreciate it her words.

Thank you Knopf and Netgalley for the free ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I think that this book could’ve used another round of edits before being put out into the world. While I think that some of the poems had a great punch there were numerous letters that could’ve used a heavy handed edit. I applaud all involved in releasing this postmortem and can imagine that there was great joy found in being able to share her work. I feel that there could’ve just been significant work done in the arrangement and editing of these letters and poems. I wouldn’t call this just poems there were numerous almost afterthought letters jotted down and included.

i want to thank netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. i hope the author rests peacefully, im so sorry to hear of their passing before getting to publish. as a bipolar woman myself, this book had me extremely deep in my feelings.
some of the poems feel unfinished, and almost hard to decipher but that’s part of what makes this even more beautiful. how raw, real, and open this entire book is. i’m very saddened that the author had to endure what they did, its obvious from their letters and poems that they didn’t have it easy in life or in their mind. i wish i could have given them a hug. this book is deep, real, open and extremely raw. i loved it. the only reason i gave four stars is because of the writing style not being my favorite, no other reason.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for the ARC!

Enigmatic and often impenetrable, Kelly Caldwell’s "Letters to Forget "is a posthumous debut that seems to abhor attention while inviting re-reads.

The book revolves around what might be called the grief of embodiment. Caldwell writes from her experience as a trans woman, and a recurrent theme is a sense of displacement—bodies that don’t quite fit in time or space. Or, more accurately, a space and time that refuses to make room for bodies. There’s very little thematic resolution, and many of these explorations are darkly mediated through Caldwell’s struggles with her mental health. Some of these poems seem to loathe their author and, by extension, anyone who reads them. Simply put, it’s a heavy and often estranging book.

If it isn’t clear by this point, it’s hard to deny that this book is a difficult read, both in themes and in form. Much of this seems inherent in Caldwell’s stylistic approach, but I’m curious how much is also from this being—in a way—an unfinished manuscript. There are countless, dizzying aphorisms that read like prophecy, and readers will likely wonder if they are deliberately esoteric or simply incomplete thoughts, though Caldwell’s religious history leads me to believe the former is true.

Speaking of which, "Letters to Forget" is populated with religious detritus, the bulk of which surfaces in the conversation between “Self-Portrait as Job” and “God Talks.” These pieces are fascinating, feverish biblical subversions that land with stomach-turning specificity. In them, the speaker alternately implicates and exonerates Job, and the tension is—for lack of a better word—upsetting. It’s masterfully written.

The collection is nearly relentless, but thankfully, Caldwell alleviates the weight with numerous poems addressed to “dear c.,” her long-term partner, Cass Donish. One gets the sense that Donish was an anchor, of sorts, and their shared love feels like a much-needed light in an otherwise oppressively dark book.

All in all, "Letters to Forget" is a hard book to recommend, but it seems like a fitting memorial to its author, and anyone who chooses to read it will likely find themselves moved to grief and admiration in equal measure.

This is not the collection for me. The summary mentions religion, but I did not realize how large of a role it would play. If you like heavy poetry and like/don’t mind reading into the Bible you may enjoy this poetry collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever read something that suffocated you in its author's own sorrow that your head buzzed with static and you recall less desirable times where maybe whatever comes after is calling you from the murk of desparation? About 80% through the book is a letter to Cass that begins 'I was there, believe me'. The end broke my heart. I wonder if the author's parents will read this book, will make it as far as this piece, and bawl their eyes out.

The book consists of both poems and letters to the author's partner, Cass. There's a lot of poems with titles with the word house in it, and after a while, I wondered if it was a reference to tarot. But the poet is trying to work through a lifetime of secrets and pain here, and I might be inferring based on my own history.

I went to read about the author and had my heart broken twice over, once in this book (or hundreds of times in this book) and once reading the In Memoriam page. There were so many Bible references here, I wonder if the author was maybe trying to work out distancing herself from the denomination in which she was raised in as separate from distancing herself from God. Again, just maybe wondering in my head.

Unfortunately, this stellar and talented poet is no longer with us, so I cannot ask her.

I think I would have rated this higher if some of the poems didn't feel so stuttering to me with the stylistic choice of extra periods.

For information about the author, see https://thespectacle.wustl.edu/?p=1417.

4.25 out of 5 stars.