Them!

by Harry Josephine Giles
Them! cover
Good Books rating 4.42
Poetry
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Paperback • £10.99
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  • ID: 2276
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781035025220
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2024-06-06
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Them! by Harry Josephine Giles is a dynamic and exuberant collection of poems that delve into the complexities of trans life in contemporary society. Through the lenses of work, technology, and ecology, Giles excavates the lexicon of sex and gender, using irony, fury, and possibility to sing back at societal norms. The visual poetics of the collection create an unusually engaging reading experience, as Giles finds new ways to express herself 'in the cracks of what's possible'. The poems feature a variety of voices, from 'the reasonable people' and bureaucrats to a bewildered worker grappling with neoliberalism and a group of women encountering a spectral guest at a quiet dinner. Throughout, Giles explores the tension between the artist's need for reverie and the noise of activism, questioning whether one must set aside the struggle to create. With subversive wit and a wealth of influences, Them! is a zestful poetic intervention from one of the most necessary poets of this generation.

Reviews
The Scotsman · 2024-06-27
transformative 4.75

The reviewer describes Them! as a mind-shifting collection that creates a kind of concrete poetry resembling the collapse of a civilisation.

The reviewer is struck by the mind-shifting quality of Them!, noting how Giles creates a form of concrete poetry that is both visually and thematically striking. They compare the collection to the collapse of a civilisation, highlighting its intense and transformative nature. The reviewer appreciates the way Giles explores trans experiences with a unique and powerful voice, making the collection a revealing and impactful read. They also mention how the poems challenge and expand the boundaries of traditional poetry.

Quick quotes

    In this mind-shifting collection, Harry Josephine Giles creates a kind of concrete poetry that looks like the collapse of a civilisation.

    Them! leads us into the revealing heart of trans experience with unflinching honesty.

    Giles' poems are a vital and necessary addition to the canon of trans literature.

Fiendfully Reading · 2024-06-16
resonant 4.50

The reviewer is already a fan of Giles' work and finds Them! deeply resonant with its references to vaporwave and other cultural touchstones. They highlight the collection's emotional impact and unique style.

The reviewer is already familiar with and appreciates Harry Josephine Giles' work, so they came to Them! with high expectations. They found those expectations met and exceeded, particularly noting how the collection resonates with their personal interests, like vaporwave and Pokemon. The reviewer highlights the emotional depth and the unique stylistic choices that make this collection stand out. They also mention how the poems tackle complex themes with a blend of irony and sincerity that makes them both thought-provoking and deeply moving.

Quick quotes

    Them! is so packed full of things that get to me, from references to vaporwave, the Pokemon Mew, and ...

    Giles' work has a way of getting under your skin, and Them! is no exception.

    The collection is a powerful exploration of identity and experience.

Goodreads · 2024-06-06
compelling 4.00

The reviewer describes Them! as witty, candid, and compelling, navigating the complexities of online and offline worlds with fury and insight.

The reviewer praises Them! for its witty and candid approach to exploring the intersection of online and offline life. They highlight the collection's compelling nature, noting how it balances fury and insight to create a powerful reading experience. The reviewer appreciates the way Giles tackles these themes with a unique perspective that makes the collection both engaging and thought-provoking. They also mention how the poems resonate with contemporary issues, making them feel timely and relevant.

Quick quotes

    Witty, candid, furious, and always compelling, Them! negotiates the fraught and fruitful space between the worlds of 'online' and the 'outside'.

    Giles' poems are a vital account of the experiences of trans lives.

    The collection is a must-read for anyone interested in the complexities of modern identity.

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