
Member Reviews

This is a lovely book for poetry-lovers and gardeners alike!
Taylor arranged the poems to reflect the life cycle of a garden, which also mirrors the life cycle of each person. She includes a variety of poets, old and new, and from different cultures and experiences, all giving added dimensions and insights to this poetry collection.

Poetry anthologies that have to do with nature will always be favorites of mine, this is no exception.
A beautiful collection of poetry about the world we inhabit and the wonders of daily life.

LEANING TOWARD LIGHT is such a gorgeous collection. Really enjoyed this book, and I would highly recommended it.

"Leaning Toward Light" by Tess Taylor is a poignant and beautifully crafted collection of poems that delves into themes of memory, family, and the natural world. Taylor's lyrical verse captures the delicate balance between light and darkness, reflecting on personal and collective experiences with a keen emotional depth. Her imagery is vivid and evocative, painting a rich tapestry of life's complexities. The collection is both intimate and expansive, inviting readers to explore their own reflections through Taylor's insightful and heartfelt observations. This book is a testament to the power of poetry to illuminate the subtleties of human experience and connection.

5 stars.
"It should surprise no one that, as a poet, I've been tickled for years to learn that the word *anthology* means a "gathering of flowers"" (Aimee Nezhukumatathil - foreword).
And such a wonderful "gathering of flowers" this book is!
First, it's gorgeous! While I originally saw this book digitally, I didn't finish my review in time and asked my local library to bring it in for me. Truly, this collection is absolutely MEANT to be seen in it's gorgeous hardcover format. The illustrations (by Melissa Castrillón) are so joyfully colourful, playful, and perfectly emit the right vibe for each section that they preface.
I love that this anthology of poems is sectioned according to the seasonal cycles that any garden (and life) goes through. Each begins with a stunning illustration, a short note and recipe from one of the contributors, and is followed by a collection of poems that speak to that particular season.
What I love most about this beautiful book, is that the contributions are from a true myriad of poet gardeners. There are a few classic entries, but most of the poems contained within these pages are from contemporary and emerging artists - many of whom are from the Global Majority. Essential inclusion, for a better world ❤️ Plus, there is a section at the back of the book which introduces each of the contributors, in turn. This amazing editing by Tess Taylor, accompanied by a beautifully-written foreword by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, completes what is an absolute delight of a book.
Ultimately, this book is for you if you have any ties to gardening whatsoever, and a soulful appreciation of life. This book would also make an incredible gift for any soulful gardener in your life (even if they only have a few pots on their balcony)!
Huge gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher, Storey Publishing LLC, for a digital ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review. Gratitude also goes out to my local library for bringing in this book when I didn't finish my review in time!! May it bring joy to so many in our community.

Title: Leaning toward Light: Poems for Gardens & the Hands That Tend Them
Author: Tess Taylor
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 2.50
Pub Date: August 29, 2023
I received a complimentary eARC from Storey Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Thoughtful • Pretty • Chaotic
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Caring for plants (much like reading a good poem) brings comfort, solace, and joy to many—offering an outlet in difficult times to slow down and steward growth. In Leaning toward Light, acclaimed poet and avid gardener Tess Taylor brings together a diverse range of contemporary voices to offer poems that celebrate that joyful connection to the natural world.
💭 T H O U G H T S
As an avid reader and green thumb, I was really looking forward to dipping into this collection of poems centering around gardening and the human connection to the natural world. I would by no means consider myself to be a poetry connoisseur, so I didn't really know what to expect.
Divided into seven distinct sections, each with antidotes, illustrations, recipes, a variety of poems or musings, I was able to digest this collection in one sitting. The highlights for me were the recipes, and I preferred the paragraph portions of the writing to the actual poetry. As much as it is organized into sections, it is also disorganized in another way. Some poems didn't really seem to fit where they were. As I progressed, I found myself skimming, which is never a good sign with poetry and/or when it's a topic that interests me.
As an avid gardener and nature lover I expected to love this anthology. However, only several of the poems resonated with me, and the majority did not. Overall, this was a quick read that was highly forgettable and missed the mark for me. Maybe it would be more for the casual reader who enjoys gardening than for avid readers. The artwork is beautiful and it is definitely more of a coffee table book than anything else.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• gardening
• contemporary poetry
• human/nature connection
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"We befriended a plot of earth, and it befriends us in return."

This book has made a lovely addition to my library’s collection. Its appealing cover catches patron’s eyes and the topic is very popular in our area.

4.75/5 stars
tess taylor. talented editor. the ways she interpreted the concepts of tending the earth and the self through the poems she compiled were pleasantly expansive. i genuinely did not expect the variety of the poets from different time periods, identities, and backgrounds included in this compilation. i expected something solely modern, but i’m so happily surprised she included some classics i enjoyed in my childhood.
the compilation was split into 7 sections:
1: planting & sprouting
2: weeding & wilding
3: growing & tending
4: being & waiting
5: grieving & release
6: harvest and feeding
7: wintering and turning again
each section had beautiful illustrations, prose, and even recipes with stories from the poets that were included as well. the storytelling recipe aspect was another unexpected detail that elevated the compilation. to understand some of the poets’ experiences that helped mold the poems they wrote felt so sacred and intimate. preserving personal/familial histories is something i find super important. so this was, of course, magic to me.
in my opinion, books that make you feel differently about the physical world you walk through are almost always some of the best and most enduring reads. this is definitely one of those books. although not every poem was my style, the combination of novel and historic content within this compilation made it almost indescribably fascinating to digest. therefore, 5 stars. definitely one for the gardeners, the green thumbs, and those with familial ties to the land around them!
i’ll leave you with two of my favorite excerpts:
what regenerates in a household - laura villareal
"You call them recuerdos when I apologize,
ways to find me in our home when I'm not around."
earth - cleopatra mathis
"You see a woman of a certain age,
not old, yet seeing every sign
of how the world will change her."

Was quite cute! Lovely illustrations and very heartfelt. I believe I would of enjoyed it more if I was a gardener but will be reccomending to all those who garden!

Here is a wonderful collection of poems for gardeners and nature lovers. The poetry is highlighted by some lovely illustrations and a even a few recipes.
This book would be a pleasure to read as a brief respite during the busy gardening season, and as a comforting reminder of greener times to come during the long, long winter.

A beautiful collection of poems that bring a grounded nature to the reader. A connection to the natural world through free verse.

This was actually a very unexpected read, I'd gone in thinking it was one thing realised it was another and I thought I'd give it a go and honestly I'm SO glad that I did!
I just feel like it brought so much insight and positivity and just overall a very lovely experience!

I wanted so badly to love this anthology. I, too, picked up tending to plants during Covid and wanted to relate to the works, and while some resonated and I loved, most did not, unfortunately. The artwork within the collection was beautiful and the recipes interspersed are certainly going to be ones I try. Overall, this one was a miss for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Storey Publishing for the advance copy to review.

A beautiful collection of classic and contemporary poetry themed around gardening. It features short recipes, a handful of brief essays, and beautiful illustrations. I would definitely pick this up in print, due to the gorgeous illustrations and for better flow when reading. Would make a lovely (holiday?) gift or addition to your home library permanent collection.

When I first started gardening, I felt like I didn’t belong. How does one not belong in your own garden? I’ll tell you how: when every thing you know of gardens is written by WASPs and old white classicists, that’s how.
Leaning toward the light is (mostly) modern poetry about gardens, gardening, and the mindfulness that comes with it. It is an anthology that strives to make the gardening community accessible to a 21st century audience in all its iterations - and intersections. And it is beautiful, full-colour: a book I would easily acquire for my coffee table.

Leaning toward Light is a beautifully done small anthology of not just poems but short introductions, recipes, and art as well. The poems touch on the power of working the land, seeing the beauty in what can be produced, and the memories that can be evoked through sight and smell.
Collecting poems and snippets from some of the most well-known, the best, and creative up and coming poets, Leaning toward Light offers something to touch the soul of everyone.
I admit I laughed out loud, cried, and travelled down my own memory lane as I read the words collected in the digital pages. I have even tried a recipe or two so far using produce from my own little container garden and found them to be delicious!
This really is a wonderful collection that readers of poetry and those that want to give it a try will greatly enjoy and appreciate.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

I adored this book. The recipes, the grouping of works, and the content meant so much to me. I was particularly fond of the poem by Jericho Brown and the Poem about an authors late son. The latter in particular made me cry in the middle of the night while reading it next to my toddler who was struggling to sleep.
If you love the environment, and like poetry (even a little bit) I believe fully that you will find at least a handful of works in this book that will sustain you and make you feel. Most of them did for me, I found myself reading poem after poem, and noting down the authors so that I could find more of their work.
This is a great anthology, and it was clearly compiled with love and atttention.

This was an absolutely gorgeous book, full of soul nourishing poems!! The format got a little wonky on audiobook, but I’m really excited to buy a copy of this since the illustrations were really beautiful too.

The poetry was beautiful, though it is a very niche set of poems (understandably). I think if you love gardening, this would be a beautiful collection to have.

This was a lovely book that felt like a warm hug on a breezy, sunny day. I enjoy anthologies, and reading a collection of various pieces in relation to gardening was relaxing. It was great reading different works and seeing how different authors present their thoughts on gardening and nature. I also liked how this book wasn’t strictly complied of poems, but of personal pieces, paragraphs, recipes and beautiful illustrations. I definitely recommend this book to those who want a happy, light read!
Thank you NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this.