I absolutely adored every poem in this collection. The poet uses themes that are universal; love, loss, fighting to survive, regret, mental health and different form of abuse. These themes are personal as well and speak to many people, myself included. Some of the poems are heart-breaking and I had to step away from reading them. I could feel the poet’s emotion with every line. These poems were a pleasure to read. These are the kind of poems that speak to me, I love to read them, listen to them and write them.

Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this arc.


I was intrigued by the description of the book stating vulnerability, rawness, and more. I think I had unrealistically high expectations for this book based on the blurb alone. Many of the poems were beautiful and loving. Some left me expecting more. I can’t say this was my favorite poetry book, BUT you can feel some emotion through her words. I may check for other books by this author.

“What a short life the bullet has compared to the wound”

I was drawn to this poetry book due to its promise to address the important topics of grief, abuse, mental illness, womanhood, and sexuality: all themes I relate to deeply. Plus, the cover of the book is, without a doubt, gorgeous, and the title is a quote from Jenny Holzer ("In a dream you saw a way to survive and you were full of joy"), of whom I am a big fan. Unfortunately, this collection didn't evoke in me the same admiration as its own cited inspiration. Instead, it is quite heavy-handed with little depth or innovation to offer and Instagram-poetry-like bluntness, akin to Rupi Kaur, etc. I have no doubts this collection will sell well, and a few quotes will end up as someone's ill-conceived arm tattoos. but it is not my cup of tea.

It's an interesting and sometimes raw poetry collection about mental health, love, loss and other topics. Even though I enjoyed some poems more than others, I would recommend this collection.

This collection is powerful. This is not a collection for the light hearted. It deals with several strong topics including rape and abortion but ending with beautiful love poems. This book made me stop and rethink so many things, made me question even more and really left an impact on me. It is not an easy read but one that you shouldn’t miss out on.

This powerful collection does a great job of exploring von Radics' story while also speaking to deeply human experiences - love and heartbreak, grief and growth - in a way that really resonates. It's short, but it's not light. Simple turns of phrase in von Radics' hands can have an enormous impact. This is my first of their work, but it definitely inspired me to seek out more.

3.5 stars

** Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book. **

I have loved Clementine Von Radics's poetry ever since I read <b> A Mouthful of Forevers </b> and started carrying a copy of it with me on every trip I took. There is something about the author's writing that reaches out and clenches a fist around my heart. Something so real and powerful. I love that her writing handles survival in all its messiness and doesn't shy away from the aftermath of it.

<b> In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive </b> is a collection of poems about love, abuse, sexuality, and -above all- survival. It takes the reader on a journey that shows all the different shapes survival can take, and then leaves them with the message that there is more to life than just surviving it. I really enjoyed reading this book and taking this journey with the author.

This wasn't exactly what i thought it would be. I' m sure others would find it relate-able or inspiring but for the most part it wasn't from my own perspective.

“From me there flowed a whole river,
and the ground itself took a breath.”

I have been a fan of Clementine Von Radics’ since A Mouthful of Forevers where I fell in love with the poem For Teenage Girls with Wild Ambitions and Trembling Hearts. Much like A Mouthful of Forevers, there is a story arc to the order of the poems—one of heartbreak and pain and suffering in the beginning that then shifts to the whole process of healing. All of it is raw, razor sharp, vulnerable, and honey sweet in just the right places. The poems vary between three different structures, keeping me as a reader in focus, while making use of structures that seem to be more prose-like to explore certain moments in time. These moments especially feel imbued with emotion. As a collection, In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive is viciously honest and freeing in many senses.
There are so many quotes that I put aside to reference, but there are honestly too many to count. Von Radics’ poems feel like walking through a dream, in the best way possible, and I come out hazy with a deep emotional understanding of what I have read. In the last poem, aptly titled, The Last Poem, I was left with a promise of joy. It is the perfect last poem for a collection that sees dark depths and the beginnings of tenderer love than before.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for a copy this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This collection was triggering for several things to me due to some recent happenings in my life but I thoroughly enjoyed the collection!

I had told myself this year I will read more poetry. I am fond of poetry although I do think its difficult to capture a wide audience with poetry. Understanding how someone’s mind works is difficult. The real way for me to enjoy such a book is to try and relate. Relate to something that I may not have experienced but can still feel through the pages.

In a dream you saw a way to survive showed me a perspective to a type of a relationship that I have never had exposure to (thankfully). It is evident through the wording that the author has experienced trauma and continues to deal with that backlash. Being exposed to such emotion makes me feel grateful that the author found confidence in the pages. However, unfortunately some of these poems I did not fully comprehend, grab onto. A few specific one’s I loved but as an overall book, majority of the pages didn’t grip me like I wanted them to. That being said, from an outside perspective I can respect the effort, and the work that the author has placed into this book. I can see her want to capture the audience, to show others what being in her shoes is like so I do think this book is worth the read.

This is a beautiful collection of poems inside a stunning cover!
I couldn't say that I could relate to all of the poems, but there were many that touched me deeply, and I could feel with the poet - and that's in itself a huge thing. Most of the poems were strong ones that dealt with deep feelings and serious life situations, like cheating, love, abortion, and most of all, mental illness. They showed what it's like to wake up every day with a struggle within yourself... how it feels when your own body and brain do everything to work against you. And still it is possible to exist, to live - to survive. To have good things in your life, too.
This book of poetry is an honest and authentic lesson on fighting one's self - to live.

Oh how I really loved this. This book really stood out amoung most modern poetry nowadays (which I love and am trash for). It wasn't as simplistic as most things are now, everything had a much deeper meaning and it is definitely a book I would go back and reread again because I'm sure I'd get even more out of it each time. The writing was beautiful and really had me feeling very connected to the emotions behind the poems, which can be so hard to find for me. The flow was SO GOOD, each poem just seamlessly flowed into the next and that's always something I'm looking for. Highly recommend if you're looking for a poetry collection that's a bit diffe5rent but just as good.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

This was my first introduction to Clementine von Radics' work. I absolutely adore poetry, loved this cover, and asked to read for this book immediately. I'm still processing some of the poetry, because it is very. . . confrontational (in a good way). There are a number of poems that I could share easily with my students (and probably will). Other poems hit me a little too personally, as poems should. This was a fantastic first view of von Radics' work. I look forward to reading more.

3.5⭐️

“No one else can decide
What your tough looks like.”

As early as now, I can tell that this book’s cover design will be one of my favorites this year. It’s just so gorgeous! This collection is as dark as it is beautiful. It’s all about pain, survival and healing. A lot of the pieces talk about heartbreak and betrayal. It offers a nuanced exploration of life mistakes and life choices. It is equal parts maddening and inspiring.

Be prepared when you start this journey for you may find both destruction and salvation, but most importantly it may just help you discover your own definition of survival.

This collection really caught me off guard as it pulls no punches. I found the poems, which cover a number of topics, downright brutal in their honesty.

Will stay with me a long while, and I'd definitely hunt down more of Clementine von Radics work on the back of this.

With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5*

*eARC provided by the publisher for an honest review, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own*

'In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive' is my third poetry collection I've read by Radics and I really enjoyed it. This collection was definitely the most gutting and raw collection I've read so far, and after recently having read her collection titled 'Home', I can definitely see how much Radics has grown and matured in her writing. Some pieces really struck a chord with me and were incredibly moving whilst others felt like they only touched the surface, something I do find with these collections of poetry as they are all very hit or miss. I will say this collection was a lot more emotional, mature and shattering than her previous works with TWs for abuse, abortion and mental health.


Here are some of my favourite pieces:

'My mouth, so far from yours, I said
I am afraid I will spend entire years
trying not to need you.
As if I wasn't certain.'

'I've polished this anger and now it's a knife.'

'I'm saying I loved a man for years
thinking he was the bandage
only to realise he was the wound'

'Sometimes I am the girl.
Sometimes I am the dripping blood.
But most often
I am the one
offering up
some unwanted mess
of my self
and calling it a gift'

I had high expectations, as I've adored all of her other work, and this did not disappoint. Another gorgeous collection of poetry. Her poems wreck me...in the best way. Highly recommended, like always.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.

A strong collection of personal poetry about dark moments mostly in relationships. Brave and powerful words by a poet I was unfamiliar with but who I will now seek out.

I came across Clementine von Radics when I bought a ticket to see Sabrina Benaim this coming April and was so excited to see one of von Radics' books on NetGalley!
"In a Dream You Saw a Way to Survive" is a beautiful collection of poetry about mental illness, heartbreak, and healing. I am looking forward to reading more of von Radics' work and seeing her perform in April!

Some of my favorite poems in this book are:
-The Fear
-To the Protestor Outside of the Clinic Who Called Me a Murderer
-You are Flying Home Today
-A Conversation Between My Therapist and the Mouth that Sometimes Belongs to Me
-Bitter
-Notes on the Term Survivor
-You are on the Floor Crying
-Carrie A Nation
-Mantra
-On Punching the Dude Who Tried to Pull Me Out of the Pit
-For Vincent van Gogh, Patron Saint of Psychotic Manic Depressives
-It Was a Thing I Knew for Certain
-The Last Poem

I received a copy of this ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.