brilliant lovely collection of mostly poetry, newer ones I hadn't read in previous collections. the essays and other short prose were illuminating as well - so grateful this is out in the world and that I got to read an early copy!

You can’t conjure up an image of Mary Oliver without thinking of nature, so I knew what was waiting for me before I even opened this book. The poems had an equal mix of animals, the earth, and how we–or Oliver at least–sit around pondering all that surrounds us. I enjoyed how many poems included different birds from herons to hummingbirds, how several poems came back to the snake, and her memorable poem about bats.

I felt like the essays on writers such as Hawthorne and Emerson, for example, could have been left out. They didn’t work well with the rest of her prose, and I felt lost at some of her critiques without knowing some of the pieces she was referring to.

The rest of the book made up for it, though, and I’m thankful to Netgalley for allowing me to read it. I felt both lighter and heavier after reading Little Alleluias, with Mary Oliver knowing just how to tear at your emotions.

Mary Oliver has the rare gift of bringing movement to stillness and gently leading people back to themselves. This archival collection, which gathers three complete works, is as beautiful and grounding as her words have always been.

I’ve always found her poems deeply comforting, and she remains one of my favorite poets to return to again and again. Her work is approachable no matter your level of familiarity with poetry, but also deeply thoughtful and moving, each piece feels like a small breath of peace.

If you haven’t read Oliver yet, this collection is a wonderful place to start. Read her words, and you just might feel better.

✨ Thank you to Grand Central Publishing & NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for a review! Always a pleasure to work with you.

Pairs well with:
🍵 Chamomile or lavender tea
🍯 A slice of sourdough with honey
🎶 A quiet morning playlist (think Sufjan Stevens & Iron & Wine)
🌿 Reading outdoors in the soft light of early morning or golden hour

"Little Alleluias" is a wonderful introduction to the poems and lyrical prose of Mary Oliver. Reading these works is like taking a walk through nature and stopping to appreciate everything around you, from the smallest grain of sand or seed to the vastness of the ocean or the night sky. The writing is absolutely gorgeous and I cannot believe I've lived so many years without Mary Oliver's words in my life. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for introducing me to Oliver's art. Five bright and shiny stars!

There's no one like Mary Oliver to make you pause and wonder, "What am I even doing with my life?: This compilation of some of her evocative poetry and prose does that masterfully. As I read, I felt convinced that I, too, should be dressing in the dark and going out to wander my stretch of the world until I know it like the back of my hand. The peace and awe she experiences in nature become portals for her to contemplate everything from aging, to faith, to grief over a beloved dog, and beyond. As always, her writing is a balm for the spirit.

I especially enjoyed "The Leaf and the Cloud," the long poem that begins Little Alleluias. However, I was also pleasantly surprised by the prose pieces in the later part of the book, including essays on Emerson and Hawthorne. To be honest, Oliver's prose reads a lot like poetry, but that's hardly a complaint. I also liked that the collection mixes in some poems among the essays--particularly the two "Sand Dabs" poems, which are essentially lists of Oliver-style aphorisms.

Little Alleluias is sure to delight longtime Mary Oliver fans and create new ones, too. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing me a copy in exchange for my review.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

When I saw a new Mary Oliver collection I was delighted. Unfortunately, this was not what I was hoping for. I loved the idea of her poetry and prose from the years into one collection. However, this felt disjointed and during the essays part especially it dragged.

Mary Oliver's writing is fantastic, but I don't think this highlighted the best of her writing in a cohesive way. Some themes I felt through the first half of the book were love, grief, water, amazement. Once it came to the essays, the first few being lovely, then were added some essays about Emerson and Hawthorne that felt long and not in relation to the rest of the collection. I also think the idea of essays and poetry would have flowed better if they weren't separated by collection but alternated between some poems long and short, and essays.

Still, Mary Oliver's writing was enjoyable, at the very least.

A beautiful posthumous collection, full of Oliver's signature thought-provoking verse. A particular standout for me in this collection was a short recollection of a child in a quiet, almost empty barn. Knowing that this will be released years after the author's death, the words "A lifetime isn't long enough for the beauty of this world and the responsibilities of your life." definitely read differently.

A beautiful and varied collection of poetry and prose from the wonderful Mary Oliver. This book is a joy to browse and land on a piece to read, the imagery created whether is about the local birds or searching for gravestones leaps off the page into your mind.

Mary Oliver's poetry brings such tenderness and care to the mundane everyday aspects of life. Her poems are reflective of the worldview that every moment, no matter how tiny, is worthy of attention and praise.
Even the simple act of moving a spider from your house is transformed into a meaningful exchange between beings.

I love Mary Oliver's poetry and this collection is no different. I was new to her prose, which I did enjoy also. A beautiful book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mary Oliver continues to write really beautiful and thought provoking poetry. I have always enjoyed reading Mary Oliver’s work and Little Alleluias did not disappoint.

"But tell me, if you would praise the world, what is it you would leave out?"

For Mary Oliver devotees, this poetry collection will find a home on their shelf next to Devotions. Oliver's reverence for nature, the way she weaves together musings about life, love, and faith, and the sense of wonder that her writing brings to the reader all make her into one of the greats. I am not sure how to really review poetry, because it is so deeply personal, but I will say that Oliver's works resonate with me in a way that not many others do.

The only reason I'm putting this at four stars and not five is that there are a number of longer poems in here, and as a matter of personal preference I find that her shorter, more succinct poems have a stronger impact on me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC to read and review.

What a lovely surprise and joy to have more Mary Oliver. I think I've read every collection of hers, and this one similarly did not disappoint. Just like all of her writing, I love how she writes about nature like she worships it. Her poems in this collection felt like continuations of her other writings with some repeated poems from other collections, reflecting on and closely describing nature, animals, plants, etc. with a deep devotion and love.
The prose did feel a bit surprising or out of place compared to her poems, but I still appreciated being able to read her writings and be in her head. I don't think the prose/essays live up to her other essay collection (Upstream). Regardless, I'll certainly return to the poems in this collection like I do with her other works!

mary oliver is a guiding light i'll follow anywhere. i loved this collection because it contained so many poems i'd never read before & lotsss of prose passages that were new.

howeverrrr, i did love the poems much more than the prose. the prose felt disjointed and disconnected from the recurring motifs. i also didn't understand why the poems and prose were arranged in the order they were. nothing felt cohesive and instead was all very scattered. although all beautiful, it seemed as if nothing was arranged with any intention. i guess that's common when an author's writings are published posthumously and without their expert eye.

as always, thanks to the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!

all in all, a great way to round out the mary oliver universe. what a woman! an eternal soul!

In 2025, we need more Mary Oliver, and Lille Alleluias delivers on providing a collection that is hopeful, insightful, and grounded in a way that only Mary Oliiver can write. What I took away from this book and why I found this book so profound was the invitation for little alluelias and exploring my relationship with and to gratitude. Only Mary Oliver can help the reader in this kind of a profound insightful work.

Mary Oliver will forever be one of my all time favorite poets. Her poetry always makes me feel things so profoundly and brings me back to the earth in a grounded way. As a person that loves all things nature, her poignant reflections on the natural world always leave an impact on me. The only reason I give this 4 stars rather than 5 is because some of the longer format prose just didn't work for me - the Hawthorne/Emerson ones in particular felt out of place. That said, I still very much loved this book overall and will forever love Oliver's art.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review **
This collection is a quiet celebration of life’s simple wonders. Mary Oliver has a gift for turning small observations into profound truths, and every page offers something to savor. The mix of poetry and prose creates a harmonious rhythm, each piece speaking to the other. I found myself pausing often to let a line settle in my mind. It’s a collection that feels both intimate and expansive, offering comfort and inspiration in equal measure. A book to keep close at hand for moments when you need a reminder of beauty.

Every time I read a collection of poetry I ask myself… “Why am I not reading more in this genre?” Also do I dare tell anyone this was my first Mary Oliver experience 🫣 It was beautiful, life giving, balm to the soul all the best feelings one could describe. Let’s just say I understand the love for this woman. Off to crack open my copy of Devotions.

Thank you Grand Central Pub

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I'm an avid poetry reader and every year I find myself coming back to Mary Oliver's body of work. This is the fourth poetry collection I've read by her, and I'm always left with a deep sense of comfort and understanding once I'm done with her books. She really gets the human condition, specifically that feelings of alienation, wonder, and nostalgia that we all experience from time to time.

I love the way she describes nature. There's one great poem called "Carrying the Snake to the Garden" where she writes that the snake "watched her with eyes like stars" and "fled like a running shoelace." She said the snake lifted its face and for a moment she thought it was going to sing. Beautiful. I also really loved the poem "Their Wings" which I found to be memorable and haunting. "Early Snow" was a lovely poem as well.

* Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review

Simple, magical, calming and peaceful.
Wonderful to read a few poems at night before bed. Great for people who love poetry and for people just starting to read it. Her reflections on nature are accessible and insightful. A must have!