Unfortunately not my thing. Repetitive, tons of extra white space, and just not particularly thought-provoking. Not the worst poetry anthology I've read, but certainly not one I'd recommend.

Such a captivating poetic structure. Longer collection than I’m used to but remained in tranced in its entirety.

Recommended if you enjoy swift, disjointed poems. Linking everyday elements in a rapid cadence. This collection wasn't quite the rhythm I enjoy, but I recommend it to others.

This was my first time reading anything by Eileen Myles and I wish I could say it was I had enjoyed it but unfortunately, it just didn't click with me. There were a few poems throughout this that I did find myself liking a lot but for the most part everything else was just really lost on me. Maybe this is a form of poetry that isn't my preference and it definitely won't stop me from giving Eileen Myles another chance by reading something else by them in the future!

It's really quite wonderful.
For me, it's incredibly exciting when I discover an author new to me who rocks my literary world and makes me want to immerse myself in their literary world. This is what happened with a "Working Life" as I finished the book and instantly began plotting my journey through the 20+ volumes of poetry produced by this extraordinary talent and Lambda Literary Award-winning author whose work I simply can't wait to absorb over the coming months.

This is the first poetry collection I have read by Eileen Myles and I am impressed! The poetry is moving and captivating. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

I would like to thank Grove Press and NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for writing an honest review!

Unfortunately, I DNFed this poetry book at 10%

I was so ecstatic to read this poetry book but I seriously can't comprehend anything that is said. I tried to understand the underlying meaning but it felt like the author just combined words together with no purpose. Someone else could possibly like this but I just couldn't.

I'm embarrassed to admit that a "Working Life" is my introduction to the work of Eileen Myles, an acclaimed poet who, for whatever reason, has never been on my radar beyond a passing awareness of their name.

Now then, have you ever read a book by an author and then instantly started exploring their other work? That's my experience with Myles, a prolific poet, activist, and writer who writes in such a way that I instantly felt comfortable in the Eileen Myles universe.

If you know me, you know that I'm a longtime fan of Charles Bukowski. It has, quite literally, been since Bukowski's death in 1994 that I've been searching this grand universe for a poet who would impact me in much the same Bukowski impacted me over the course of my life. This is not to say there aren't poets I love. There are poets I love. However, my relationship with Bukowski's writing went much deeper and it's this deep, soulful place that Myles touched with a "Working Life," their latest book of poetry that is immersed in what feels like the fullness of life in all its abundant and weird and quirky and awesomely beautiful moments.

Myles beautifully weaves together a tapestry of heart and mind into poetry that is insightful, revealing, thought-provoking, and filled with heart. I've never quite figured out how people pick out favorite poems, however, as I immersed myself in a "Working Life," I found myself most deeply resonating with such poems as "For My Friend," "First Poem," "In You," March 3," We," Beloved Park," and a host of others. I found myself visiting and revisiting poems, determined to embrace them again even before I thought to myself "I should sit down and write this review."

I found myself looking back at Myles's other titles thinking "How have I not read Eileen Myles until now?" The poetry in a "Working Life" is described in the book's summary as "cheerily morose" and this is such a wonderful description because I think it speaks to the full spectrum of Myles's tone. As I explored Myles's own website, I realized that our worlds and lives are very different, yet Myles writes in such a way that I feel as if there's a bridge to communal existence.

It's really quite wonderful.

For me, it's incredibly exciting when I discover an author new to me who rocks my literary world and makes me want to immerse myself in their literary world. This is what happened with a "Working Life" as I finished the book and instantly began plotting my journey through the 20+ volumes of poetry produced by this extraordinary talent and Lambda Literary Award-winning author whose work I simply can't wait to absorb over the coming months.

Every volume of poetry Eileen offers seems to be a snapshot of Where We Are Now. Their recent collection embodies the pandemic, the fight for East River Park, the misunderstandings of relationships, the political climate, their travels and reflections of life in different countries. Thank you, Eileen, for keeping us on track, and articulating our feelings these days in your authentic, singular voice.

Thanks to NetGalley and Edelweiss Plus for the eARC.