Linchpins

I have known the writer for some time, so I guess I should say right out of the gate for transparency and I received an ARC of this collection this week and I am very grateful for it.

Poetry is such a personal thing and a way to share our innermost thoughts on topics that effect us and this is a short and very thought-provoking collection that touches on feminism, sexuality and family that really for me makes for such powerful reading.

I appreciate the lighter moments of this collection such as 'An Ode To Pockets', near the beginning of the collection, that final line really hits home as we are delivered a perfect poem on women's lack of pockets which actually are useful, and later on 'Beards' which feels light and then hits home in a way that just makes for perfect reading.

Poems like 'Bank Holiday Blues' and 'Paper Hands' are tender, raw and make you feel every word, there's just something that is captured in these short poems that make you want to dwell on them for a moment and take them in. Everything here just fits right where it is and makes for a speedy read as you just want more of them.

I loved this short collection alot and always appreciate Ellie's work, thank you again for the ARC.

A quick, fun, and, at times moving collection of poetry. I enjoyed this collection for its tone. One of my favorite poems was about pockets. The word play in one of the poems was very biting.

Gosh what a brilliant collection. Although I didn’t connect with them all there were some that stirred a lot of emotions, doing exactly as poetry should.

My favourites were: an ode to pockets, women’s issues, beards, bolt and diagnosis.

‘An ode to pockets’ - a take on the fact femme clothing has no pockets but wish such a true and heavy meaning/message - “women are expected to carry so much”

‘Womens issues’ - so important. As someone who miscarried and can’t have children a lump caught in my throat at the reminder period pads are in the baby aisle. A simple sentence but so important. I can’t put into words how poignant the last verses were and the tears I cried. Thank you, Ellie, for putting your experience into words and helping all of us grieve and feel while knowing we’re not alone in this.

‘Beards’ - yes yes yes as a queer person I wanted to yell this from the rooftops.

‘Bolt’ - incredible. Thank you! Everyone needs to read it!

‘Diagnosis’ - as someone with multiple diagnoses this hit home.

A fabulous collection I think everyone could get something from. Thank you.