Butcher by Natasha T. Miller
Published by Button Poetry, 2021
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This collection of poems centres around Miller’s attempts to navigate grief after the loss of her brother, her mother’s alcoholism, and the everyday struggles she faces as a Black, queer woman in modern America.
Miller’s experience as a performance poet and activist really shines through, even as her voice is condensed into text form. There’s a directness to her writing style that makes the pieces at once approachable and impactful. There’s no hiding behind complex rhythms or elaborate imagery here; the themes laid bare with gut-punch clarity. Given the scope of the topics at hand – racism, homophobia, love and loss – I’d argue they’re all the stronger for it.
The poems are divided into a few sections, named after different cuts taken from the body of a cow. Beyond the obvious raw, brutal connotations, this initially suggests the idea of breaking ourselves down into constituent parts; acting as metaphorical “butchers” so we can cut away the viscera and confront the very “meat” of our lives. The device/imagery isn’t used to any real effect, however, and ends up being somewhat superfluous. It’s the one area I felt would have benefitted from a little more depth of exploration.
Still, the immediacy and power of Miller’s words are sure to resonate widely, and I’m glad to have discovered her work.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
No Shame by Tom Allen
Published by Hodder & Stoughton, 2020
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Tom’s wit, warmth, and honesty shine through in this charming yet poignant memoir. It centres around the idea of shame, with Tom sharing formative moments from throughout his life in which he was either cowed by the shame inflicted upon him by society, or when he actively defied it by embracing his own path.
It’s a book about his journey to self-acceptance, particularly his long struggle to come out and feel comfortable in his own skin. Whilst nothing hugely revelatory, this means it does serve as a lovely “I see you” to anyone else who may be wrestling with internalised shame for simply wanting to be themselves.
There’s also a particularly nice focus on the importance of good teachers in providing safe spaces for children to explore their identities. (Big love to the drama teacher who encouraged Tom to see through his plan to perform a dramatic monologue in full drag at his school show; providing him with a dress and wig, and even helping him with his makeup. ❤ Especially considering this was during the time of Section 28, meaning it could have cost her the job, it’s a lovely tribute to the key role of good allies in nurturing queer youth.)
This is Johnson’s memoir, reflecting on his experiences as a young Black gay man growing up in America. The book encompasses many big themes, including queerness, family, identity, racism, abuse, and masculinity.
This full-length narrative poem weaves in and out of the homes of seven people who all live on the same street in London, as they lie awake at 4am. They are strangers to each other, but through a series of snapshots into their lives, Tempest captures the universal anxieties of modern life, despite their different circumstances.
The Rib Joint is a memoir of sorts, comprised of a collection of personal essays. These essays explore Koets’ experiences growing up as a closeted queer woman in a conservative, religious community in the American South. In particular, she explores the pain of navigating the murky intersection between friendship and love, desire and self-loathing, and freedom and suppression when she and her female best friend fall for each other.
In this novella, adult siblings Cal and Becky pull over for a rest stop by the side of an old church. On the other side of the road, a field of impossibly tall grass spreads to the horizon. From it, they hear a young boy pleading for help, and his mother, begging them to stay away. Against the mother’s warnings, the two venture into the grass to try and help; a decision they will quickly regret.
The primary aim of this book is to encourage us all to follow the many examples of self-care and wisdom found throughout the natural world, by simplifying our daily lives and prioritising our own health and wellbeing. It does so by sharing fascinating facts about the weird and wonderful creatures we share the Earth with, and exploring what principles we as humans can take from them to apply to our own routines.
