lighthouse hymns

There are few things that I love more than talking about books, and for that reason I could not be more excited to link up with Rachel and Kristin for #Collaboreads. This month, the theme was a book that you can finish in one day, and I decided on Blues Triumphant, a collection of poetry by Jonterri Gadson. (And yes! A poetry collection counts as a book ;) ).

Goodreads Description: "The poems in Blues Triumphant ask the question, "What am I most afraid to say?" and then these poems say it. Blues Triumphant is about triumph in spite of motherhood's demands, in spite of family dysfunction, in spite of depression and anxiety, in spite of heartbreak, in spite of racism and identity crises, in spite of it all, seeking, finding, and celebrating the spaces where one feels most alive."

Riveting: What part of the book could you NOT get enough of?

One of the most beautiful elements of this collection is the insistence that identity is something that we forge over time and is eventually an amalgamation not only of our experiences, but of the things we nurture, treasure, care for, fight for, and love. The speaker of these poems travels from girlhood to adulthood, and uses language to carve out a space of courage for herself in the face of heartbreak, loss, and growth. Motifs, images, and even lines repeat and echo throughout the book, emphasizing how seasons of life bleed into one another, but also creating the opportunity to imagine new possibilities and rewrite the meaning of our past as it relates to who we are now.

One of my favorite poems from the collection is Consummation:

Everything parents us:

looming shade trees

with people names,

each granule of sand

with its own heartbeat

lives to give the sensation

of kiss. We are the light

all green grows toward.

everything touched

touches back.

Elements: How did you relate to/care for the characters? What’s your thought on the plot line and twists and turns?

This is a poetry collection, and so the extent to which a reader interacts with “characters” is going to take a different shape than in a novel. Similarly, while this collection certainly traces the coming of age process, it does so in a way that is unique to the medium of poetry and largely different from a work of fiction. Admittedly, I did not identify much with the speaker of the poems. Despite that, there were moments of illumination and insight that sparked recognition in me. Gadson’s voice has power, and as I watch the speaker grow from a young girl developing a sense of her own difference at a Christian summercamp to an adult meditating on the meaning of family, loss, life, and womanhood, I came to care about the poet’s narrative arc.

Associate: What other books are like this one? If none, did it remind you of a particular TV or movie with it’s themes and characters? Does it serendipitously line-up with things going on in your life or the news right now?

As an examination of girlhood, growth, love, sex, family, and race, it reminded me a great deal of Zadie Smith’s Swing Time. The presence of these themes, as well as the organization of the poems into a clear narrative arc also remind me of Rupi Kaur’s Milk and Honey.

Design: You know you judged this book by the cover. What did you think of it? How did it relate to the contents of the novel?

Let me tell you, the cover is exquisite. The photograph that I took of it does not do it justice. In real life it almost looks like an oil painting, and is easily one of the most beautiful book covers that I have ever seen.

Stars : How many out of five do you give this book? Would you recommend this book to a friend?

I would give this collection 4/5 stars. It’s not my most beloved collection of poetry, but it is praiseworthy, nonetheless. As for whether or not I would recommend it to a friend would depend a great deal on whether that friend appreciates poetry, and what their taste and interest is.

This year, Father’s Day came and went and with it was so much to be thankful for. I am thankful for salty sea breezes and the thump thump thump of waves against the hull of a ferry boat. I am thankful for the driftwood that settles on the Southern edge of the island, ready to be built into forts come summertime. I am thankful for long walks with my momma and with Frodo, where the sun skitters from in and out of the cloud-cover.  I am thankful for crisp champagne and plump oysters and brunches that leave you feeling sleepy and full and content. I am thankful for barbecues and fresh strawberries and crab-legs pulled off the grill. I am thankful for cousins who make me laugh and brothers who are willing to pass lazy afternoons wandering the golf courses.

Ever since I created it in December, this blog has remained largely untouched. My hope is that this link up, hosted by Kristin of Taz and Belly will be an appropriate way to ease into this whole blogging thing. On va voir!

Dear Boston College: It’s unreal to me that these two years have come and gone. They have been the most difficult and most transformative of my life. I am a more thoughtful, strong, aware woman because of you. Not only that, you turned me into a teacher. Thank you.

Dear Masters Degree: It’s pretty dang rad that I have an M.Ed. after my name now. Just sayin.

Dear Mom and Dad: You were there for me during some of the most anxiety-inducing weeks of my life. Thank you for being a net to catch me. Thank you for the encouragement and love. Thank you for always listening. Thank you for your constant generosity.

Dear Hamilton: You truly knocked my socks off. This is a story that needs to be told, and you did a perfect job of telling it.

Dear Anastasia Cast: You were simply outstanding. And seeing you from the front row was truly surreal. Sitting 4 feet away from Ramin Karimloo while he belted out a ballad was a dream come true, and now I can’t stop grinning whenever I see Derek Klena in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Dear New York: You get me every time.

Dear AP US History: Honestly, I don’t feel ready. Everything about this scares me, and I feel torn between wanting to create a course that gives my kids a chance to delight in the stories and characters that make history so compelling, or something that covers as much of the test content as possible. Why did I pick a subject that grows every year?

Dear Seattle: It is so good to be home. Now please warm up, I’m ready for summer.

Dear Jetlag: I can’t quite decide how I feel about you. There’s something lovely about waking up before the rest of the world, but I would also love it if I could sleep in past 5:15, please and thank you.

Dear Wonder Woman: This was a story that we desperately needed and you did a beautiful job of telling it. As we left the theater, I saw a row of 8 middle school age girls sitting in one of the front rows and I am so thankful that they have the opportunity to see stories that celebrate a woman who is kind and generous and loving and unapologetic and courageous and messy and bold and funny and educated and strong. Everything about this film was a treat.

Dear Summer Vacation: I honestly don’t know how to treat you. Am I supposed to be using as much time as possible to prepare for next year? Am I supposed to laze the days away in a hammock? I am completely unsure.

Dear Lighthouse Hymns: Considering where I am living next year, your name feels ever more appropriate. I know that I created you months ago and so far have done nothing with this space, but my hope is that this will change. I care about documenting the details of life, and I believe that my voice matters. May this be a space where that may happen.

There is something that I love about the opportunity to recognize and reflect on the small (and not so small!) things that are the stuff of life at any given moment. Kristin's bi-weekly link up is the perfect way to do so. Here is her post for today!