Why I Never Finished My Dissertation by Laura Foley

(Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Named one of seven Best Indie Poetry Books of 2019 by Kirkus.

Foley’s writing may appear sparse and reserved but it harbors a subtle power. The poet’s greatest strength is her acute sense of observation. She possesses the ability to thread sensuousness into the fabric of everyday life. . .This is a dazzling volume of poetry that delights in crisp imagery and tender recollections.
—Kirkus Reviews

Eric Hoffer/Montaigne Medal Finalist
Eric Hoffer/da Vinci Eye Finalist
Eric Hoffer Book Award Honorable Mention

The quest to discover why this poet does not complete a dissertation, leads to an astonishing read. This collection reveals a wide range of life-changing experiences beginning with a marriage to a hunchback Moroccan, almost twice the writer’s age. Other poems express revelations and observations that arise out of travels, such as a trip to Tehran, where the poet stands on a bullet-riddled balcony watching a hurried crowd “spill Khomeini from his coffin.” The signature poem unveils a suddenly busy domestic life in a second marriage with three young children and puppies. Toward the end readers experience love which results in marriage with a same-sex partner. No matter one’s personal story, what makes a story great is how it is told.
—The US Review of Books

my thoughts:

It's National Poetry Month, so that means I am reading more poetry and LOVING every minute with it. I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of new-to-me poet Laura Foley's latest work, Why I Never Finished My Dissertation.  The title intrigued me. As someone who had to write two dissertations, I can see why someone would not finish. It is tedious work that drains you.  Plus, I just wanted to find out more about this woman who named her book after a fact about her life. Talk about reeling me in. 

Foley has written a terrific book of poems that share so much about her life. A green-card marriage, being a mom, loving a woman, visiting her sister who resides in a psychiatric home, and the beauty of nature and life. She writes about it all and you can't help but fall in deep with her words. The ways in which she uses words and phrases to reflect her emotions is intoxicating. She tells her stories about these experiences with such honesty, you can't help but imagine these scenes taking place and feel the pain, joy, and love within it.  Why I Never Finished My Dissertation is a must-read for fans of poetry - you will LOVE this book to bits!

I would happily recommend Why I Never Finished My Dissertation to anyone and everyone looking for a new book of poems to delve into - you don't want to miss out!

Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!