Avery Reviews –
The Summer of Dead Birds by Ali Liebgott
This particular collection of poetry took me on such a journey. I was not at all familiar with Ali Liebgott prior to reading this book, but I’m certainly glad I am now. This collection was a little bit different than what I normally reach for. She really paints an entire story with her words. The poems are chronological, taking you down her personal journey of divorce and the bitter feelings of loss. While reading, it gave me a feeling of being personally connected to this person. It was like being across the table from a close friend, exchanging the details of your trauma while drinking coffee.
I love when a poet, especially one I didn’t know, who makes me feel like I did know them. To be able to connect a reader with stories that are so intimate and personal is no easy feat. Even when the poems had nothing to do with any experiences I have gone through myself, she still managed to make me feel something. It was easy to feel the sorrow that she wrote about. For me, it feels good to hear the intimate life details of a lesbian, especially one who is older than I am. It makes me feel like the future that I want is more attainable. It makes me feel less alone, and isn’t that the exactly what literature is meant to do?
By the end of this book, I felt like Ali and I were close friends. With all of the connections to animals, loss, and the feeling of traveling alongside her, I was left with a bittersweet feeling. If you’re looking for something that challenges your own perspective, and opens you up to feeling the pain of another person, this is exactly the sort of book you need to be reading.
The Relentless Reader 
Ooh, a poetry book! I have felt so much better about poetry ever since my poetry friend told me that if you read a book of poems and only love three of them, then that book has been a success. It set me free of worrying about whether I was a Philistine for not loving every poem. This sounds terrific!!
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