What it is: Mouthful of Forevers is the newest book of poetry by Clementine von Radics. I’ve been a fan of her work for years, having seen her perform at the Portland Poetry Slam since I was in high school. She also hosts a writing workshop before the slam every week and I’ve really enjoyed working with her in that context.

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What I liked about it: Clementine’s poetry is gorgeous, and while it can be heavy it imbues a sense of relief and tranquility that keeps it from getting overwhelming. Her use of language ranges from clever to hard-hitting and each poem has a moment (or moments!) that resonate deeply. I reread and reread certain poems, sometimes out loud to feel Clementine’s words on my own lips.

What I didn’t like about it: I wanted to know more–poetry has a way of covering up details and facts with whimsical euphemisms, and I found myself craving a timeline to her life to make more sense of this collection. (Of course, that defeats the whole point, but whatever.)

Memorable quote: “He is drowning in his own sadness. Drowning people often believe that if they grab hold of someone else they can be saved, but it just makes you both sink faster.”

Overall rating: 5/5 stars. Partially because I wanted to quote the whole book. Truly amazing.

Challenge satisfied: #17, read a collection of poetry.

Additional notes: Because I’m familiar with her work, I found myself reading some of her poems in her voice, which was an unusual yet interesting experience. I recommend it.

Mouthful of Forevers is book 14 of 24 for my Read Harder Challenge. You can also read my reviews of I’ll Give You The Sun and Love on the Road 2015. 

An affiliate link is used in this post. All opinions in this review are my own and are not influenced by the affiliate.