Every once in a while when the world is noisy and stressful, it’s nice to sit down with a good book and read some beautiful words. If you’re like me, then maybe you grew up reading novel after novel, easily going through a stack of books in as little as a couple weeks. Once I got to highschool, however, the workload and required reading assignments significantly slowed down my ability to go through books. Poetry offered a solution to this problem because a majority of it is easy to get through, as well as simple to start and stop at any point. Now my shelf has a hearty collection of poetry and prose and the genre has become my go-to before bed, or when I’m looking for a quick read on a flight or even just the daily commute. If you’re looking for simple light read, or just hoping to eat up some lovely writing, here are five suggestions of where to start.
1. I Wrote This for You and Only You by pleasefindthis
I picked this book up out of curiosity in a bookstore many years ago, and I’m so glad I did. As the title suggests, as soon as I started flipping through it and reading the prose, I felt as though it really had been written just for me. It’s part of a series by an author that goes by ‘pleasefindthis’ with photographer Jon Ellis, and the book has a way of sneaking up on the thoughts in your head and somehow putting them into words. The book is 202 pages of prose and photography that remind you of how raw and poetic the world can be.
2. Dirty Pretty Things by Michael Faudet
This book explores themes of love and sex that are a bit darker, so reader be warned. You can find poems that are just one line, and poems that span several pages. I found some of the pieces in this book to be delightfully funny or clever, and others to be touching and full of rich imagery. Dirty Pretty Things was published in 2014 and is the first of four books published by Michael Faudet of the same fashion, the others are Bitter Sweet Love, Winter of Summers, and Smoke & Mirrors. I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on them yet, but they’re definitely on my list.
3. The Princess Saves Herself in This One by Amanda Lovelace
I love Amanda Lovelace’s books because all of them are based on female empowerment. Her writing has a way of telling you exactly what you needed to hear, and definitely inspires me to appreciate who I am. If you need to remember how amazing it is that you’re here, and get reminded that you’re a badass woman, then definitely give one of her books a read. Her poems also make great instagram captions, or motivational quotes to hang up on your wall.
4. Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately by Alicia Cook
This book is part poetry, part mix tape. Alicia Cook takes her readers through her thoughts and memories, accompanied by the songs she’s “currently listening to.” The songs, as well as the poems, breach a wide variety of topics, ensuring there is something for everyone within the book’s pages. I had fun discovering new music and remembering familiar hits when I followed each poem with Cook’s choice of song, it almost felt like a game or a scavenger hunt.
5. What is this Thing Called Love by Kim Addonizio
This book was a gift to me from a long time friend (who’s a writer herself so you know it’s got to be good). One of my favorite things about this book is that the author explores several different styles of poetry, and then explains the form or offers references in the footnotes. I like to think of this as a little interactive writing lesson. Addonizio calls on memories and situations that are both glaringly familiar and extremely personal at the same time. Her writing style is something I think any woman would not only enjoy, but see a bit of herself in as well.