Thank you to Natalie Graham, University of Georgia Press, and NetGalley for allowing me the extreme pleasure of access to an advanced reader copy of “Begin with a Failed Body” for an honest review.

This was an amazing collection of poems questioning all we ask of and expect of those icons who have built the bedrock of our world, through revolution and rhyme.

Often history does not teach about the trauma to one’s body suffered by anyone who was not a rioter or a soldier or slave, and yet never in true depth. This turns the tables and makes your eyes to how the body politic and freedom impacts everything done to every person's actual bones. I found myself smiling in some places and nearly weeping in others as the gorgeous flow of the poetry pulled me everywhere.

A must-have for all poetry collections and lovers.

What Natalie Graham did with this collection is to take me on a historical journey with vivid imagery. This is the kind of work that you not only read once, or twice, but you read as many times as you can because to be immersed in them is to fully grasp their depth. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

Wow. Just wow. This was a beautiful collection of poetry from Natalie Graham and I am so thankful I was able to read it. There is so much depth and soul in each word that pours from her and it left me wanting more. Beautiful work.

*I received an advance reading copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.*

If I unravel this body
into a pool of black shimmering,

of ribbons, coils of dance, of flitting—



Begin with a Failed Body: Poems by Natalie Graham is the poet's first collection of published poetry and the winner of the 2016 Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Graham earned her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Florida and completed her Ph.D. in American Studies at Michigan State University as a University Distinguished Fellow. Her poems have appeared in Callaloo, New England Review, Valley Voices: A Literary Review and Southern Humanities Review. She is a Cave Canem fellow and assistant professor of African American Studies at California State University, Fullerton.

This is a collection that I am not a typical audience member. The poems, without a doubt, are from the female and African American perspective. Nonetheless, I found the collection fascinating. In the first section, her work seems to capture Langston Hughes voice and language. The second section moves into religious topics with Judas and Mary Magnaline as subjects. The language of her poems flows well:

The oscillating fan shakes its rickety head.
She smoothes the raised black mane of a tattooed lion
and burns like Moses’s bush, fueled at four a.m.
by God-knows-what.
from "Palatka, Florida"

Graham seems to be greater than her actual age as references to items and activities seem to predate her in several instances. Perhaps this is more of an indication of the standard of living in poorer sections of Florida. This is also reflected in worn out shoes and Sunday dress as well as, for most of us, long vanished Datsun trucks. There is also a great sense of community from family and friends who take on the role as honorary aunts and uncles. Graham also presents a great deal of history included in the collection. Those who are neither not African-American nor from the South may have missed more of the personal references and history involved in the poems.

An excellent collection and an opening to a life that many have not experienced and perhaps a reminder that it should not exist in an enlightened and modern world.

Begin with a Failed Body

Poems



by Natalie Graham

University of Georgia Press

Multicultural Interest , Poetry

Pub Date 15 Sep 2017

I am reviewing a copy of Begin With A Failed Body through University of Georgia Press andNetgalley:

This books poems spell out life's traumas both Historical in the hear and now. It also speaks of Religious Icons, and the poems they inspire for Natalie Graham. The poems also speak loss.

The poems go on to talk about Judas and his betrayal.

I give Begin With A Failed Body five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

There are some good poems here. But overall I would not read these again.

What an experience reading this! These poems elucidate the epic depths of historical trauma on one's body, with precision and clarity. Her work will especially resonate with the oppressed.

I really enjoyed picking up this poetry collection. I always feel a little hesitant to read poetry by an author I'm unfamiliar with, but I must say that I'm glad I rolled the dice on this one. There is some truly lovely imagery in this collection. Natalie Graham is a skilled writer and I'd love to read more by her in the future.