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Lang Leav’s debut book, Love & Misadventure, takes a look at the ups, downs, and even “middles” of love through her poetry and prose. Leav, an artist and author from Sydney, Australia, originally self-published the book of poems. Soon after, she gained critical acclaim, a large online following, and a book deal from a major publisher.
Divided into three sections titled “Misadventure,” “The Circus of Sorrows,” and “Love,” the book contains a collection of Leav’s characteristic short poems along with a few longer pieces of prose. Often less than fifty words including the title, the poems are succinct but well-crafted, communicating a depth of emotion often difficult to convey in such short pieces.
Leav’s earlier works in the book play around with tone and rhyme, in particular many of those at the beginning of the book. Though in some instances the rhyme and rhythm work well in underscoring her point, at others it becomes difficult to ascertain the reasons for the rhymes other than their ability to add a sense of whimsy to the poems. Leav’s later poems in the collection work particularly well, using simple words to elegantly and eloquently express the kinds of emotions and thoughts that love inspires while shying away from the token rhymes used earlier in the book.
Her longer pieces of prose are also well-written. Leav does an excellent job of creating an emotional connection with her reader in the space of half a page. Love and Misadventure’s Internet popularity is due largely to her ability to write short but captivating pieces of prose and poetry that catch attention when people scroll through their Tumblr dashboards or Instagram feeds and see photos or quotes from her work. At times playful and upbeat, and at other times melancholic and romantic, Leav’s poetry is the perfect bedtime reading for any collegiette, whether she’s single and fabulous, or happily in love this Valentine’s Day!