heft by – Good-Books

Doyali Islam's second poetry collection, 'heft,' delves into themes of rupture and resilience, examining personal and societal struggles with a blend of high lyricism and formal innovation. The poems tackle a range of burdens—psychic, social, cultural, physical, and political—while also celebrating the small courages and beauties of everyday life. The collection features visually arresting forms, including split sonnets and double sonnets, and weaves together myth, memory, and the resilience of the Palestinian people. /n/n Islam's work is a testament to the spirit of witness and the everyday, binding tenderness, survival, and risk into a luminous and rigorous exploration of life's complexities. The poems are unafraid to investigate the burdens and ruptures that define our existence, offering a ledger of survival and the human experience.

Reviews

The Adroit Journal · A. V. Mahoney · 2020-05-29

insightful 4.50

The collection creates a space of belonging and empathy, navigating complex emotions with depth and sensitivity. The poems explore themes of love, family, and cultural heritage with a unique perspective.

The reviewer praises the collection for its ability to create a sense of belonging and empathy, highlighting the poet's skill in navigating complex emotions. They appreciate the exploration of love, family, and cultural heritage, finding the poems to be deeply resonant and thought-provoking. The reviewer also notes the innovative use of poetic forms, which adds to the overall impact of the collection.

Quick quotes

It creates a space of belonging, of love and, especially, of empathy.

It is a map that navigates those shifting spaces I'm so drawn to.

Islam's poems are a testament to the power of language to connect and heal.

Poets.ca · 2020-05-29

thoughtful 4.00

The collection delves into the poet's rich cultural heritage and relationships, particularly with family. The poems are praised for their emotional depth and exploration of complex themes.

The reviewer highlights the poet's ability to mine her rich cultural heritage and explore her relationships, particularly with family. They appreciate the emotional depth and complexity of the poems, which tackle themes of illness, pain, and sexuality with sensitivity and insight. The reviewer finds the collection to be a powerful exploration of the human experience, resonating deeply with readers.

Quick quotes

In heft, Islam mines her rich cultural heritage.

Relationships abound in her poems, chiefly her relationship with her family.

The poetry collection casts its lens on normal female sexual experience.

CBC Books · 2020-05-15

engaging 4.20

The poems in the collection examine the nature of illness, pain, and sexuality, offering a unique perspective on female experiences. The reviewer appreciates the collection's exploration of these themes with candor and depth.

The reviewer notes that the poems in the collection delve into the nature of illness, pain, and sexuality, providing a fresh and insightful perspective on female experiences. They appreciate the poet's candor and depth in exploring these themes, finding the collection to be both poignant and thought-provoking. The reviewer also highlights the innovative use of poetic forms, which adds to the overall impact of the collection.

Quick quotes

The poems in Islam's Heft look at the nature of illness, pain and sexuality.

The poetry collection casts its lens on normal female sexual experience.

The collection offers a unique and insightful perspective on the human condition.

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