LOVE LOVE LOVE this entire collection. It was real, raw, and relatable. Blythe Baird did not hold back which made every poem so intense. This was so much better than many collections that are released lately of just short, simplistic sentences.

3.5/5

I don't know anything about poetry....but I love what it says. This book was good. I would recommend it because everything that is said here is si freaking true!
It touched me a lot. I think a lot of us woman, girls will recognize ourselves in some parts of this book.

Thank you for giving me the Arc!

This is not just a book of poetry.

It's a critique of society, of women's place in that society, of eating disorders, of sexuality, of sexual violence that HAPPENS to be in the form of poetry.

It reminds me of some of Carol Ann Duffy's work in places; it has that kind of feel to it, what with the line breaks and patterns across the page. It also reminds me of Amanda Lovelace's poetry; it's got the same kind of content.

Thing is, this book is far more raw than either of those. At first it felt a little lacking for me, without the flair or aesthetic I'm used to. It was certainly relatable, but it felt a little empty for me. However, as I read on, I found myself enjoying the bluntness of it - this is someone who is fed up with the way the world is and really couldn't care less about wrapping everything up in fancy metaphors and imagery (though there is a little bit of that).

I particularly like 'Everything is Fluid'; it's a short poem regarding sexuality, and it resonated with me to the point that I just highlighted the entire thing on my kindle. It's one of those short little poems that I'd stick up on my pin-board to remind myself that I'm not 100% alone in this kind of thing.

'Horoscopes for Self-Doubt' was another favourite, even if my eyes did skip straight to my star sign - that one definitely put a smile on my face, because the little piece of advice fitted exactly with what I've struggled with recently.

If you like feminist poetry, I'd suggest giving this book a go - it covers such a broad spectrum of subjects, chances are, you'll find something you relate to.

I am so mixed on this review. There were so many poems I absolutely loved that were insightful and validating. It was very clear to me that Blythe Baird is still suffering and using poetry as an outlet for her pain. I totally applaud using poetry as a tool to recover, its a healthy outlet, and it offers us something beautiful and haunting to read. By the end however, it was also clear that she is just sitting in her pain, to the point where many of the poems almost romanticized mental illness. As an assault survivor, this was a bit triggering for me to get through, but many parts felt like she was speaking from inside of my body (like the title says). There is a necessary discomfort that is expected when reading about these heavy topics, but I found some of the poems to be pushing that boundary in the wrong direction (Vindictive maybe, but I still cant find the right word to describe it). I have so many thoughts about it that I need to sift through, but i will hold my peace until I get the chance to read it a second time though. This collection is easily made worth the purchase through the poems "Girl Code 101" "Pocket-Sized Feminism" "Skirt Steak Girls" and "I Lose My Voice During Sex"

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41766537-if-my-body-could-speak" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="If My Body Could Speak" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1544868775m/41766537.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41766537-if-my-body-could-speak">If My Body Could Speak</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13473096.Blythe_Baird">Blythe Baird</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2689544984">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I am so mixed on this review. There were so many poems I absolutely loved that were insightful and validating. It was very clear to me that Blythe Baird is still suffering and using poetry as an outlet for her pain. I totally applaud using poetry as a tool to recover, its a healthy outlet, and it offers us something beautiful and haunting to read. By the end however, it was also clear that she is just sitting in her pain, to the point where many of the poems almost romanticized mental illness. As an assault survivor, this was a bit triggering for me to get through, but many parts felt like she was speaking from inside of my body (like the title says). There is a necessary discomfort that is expected when reading about these heavy topics, but I found some of the poems to be pushing that boundary in the wrong direction (Vindictive maybe, but I still cant find the right word to describe it). I have so many thoughts about it that I need to sift through, but i will hold my peace until I get the chance to read it a second time though. This collection is easily made worth the purchase through the poems "Girl Code 101" "Pocket-Sized Feminism" "Skirt Steak Girls" and "I Lose My Voice During Sex"

This is a powerful collection of poems that any female can relate to. The writing is emotionally raw and forceful, the imagery is beautifully vivid and gut-wrenching. The tone of the collection is one of anger and healing. I especially appreciate how Baird makes it clear that poetry is the only stage where she feels safe talking about her personal experiences and the issues of rape, violence, and sexism. Her poems are very succinct, and point out the frequency with which these issues occur in our society, in our schools, in our families.

Confessional poetry at its best and most brutal. This should be required reading for all Americans in our culture and for all people.

Blythe Baird tells her stories, and at least one reality of what it is like living as a young woman pre- and post-#MeToo, through accessible and clever verse. She delves into topics many of us - regardless of gender - are scared to speak about out loud: trauma, mental illness, and the type of feminism that isn't always considered 'cool' by the bros.

Baird recounts the struggles of developing and overcoming a mindset consumed by disordered eating with grim yet admirable clarity. She speaks truth to the ways in which this society has been conditioned to praise weight loss, regardless of how it happens or what damage it causes. She weaves in her personal experiences with sexual assault, grappling with her sexual orientation, and relationships with friends, partners, and family.

If My Body Could Speak is a product of turning art into what you need it to be. Crafting your stories, even those that haunt you, into something you can love and hope others can benefit from as well.

If My Body Could Speak is a poetry book which feels more like a prose-collection taking you through the life of a woman who was fat once, is thin now and not because she exercised.

These poems capture a lot of things that a woman goes through in the society we live in, from everyone loving a lean body to a relatively fat filled one, the stigma towards periods, a woman's body being nothing more than a tool of seduction and pleasure, molestation and rape, life beyond the aforesaid and more than anything, one's sexuality.

It feels like the author is pouring her heart out which I feel requires much strength of character. If this is purely fiction, I congratulate the author in achieving this feat and bringing out the feelings of victims of such incidents quite amazingly.

Quite an apt account if really our body could speak against the constant body shaming we go through.

Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Honest, real, and amazing. It acted as a reminder to forgive myself (and asking forgiveness to my body) and tackled issues I do care about.

4/5

(I received a digital ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)

Whatever juice Button Poetry is sipping, they’d better sign me up for more of it because every time I come across their books I know I am in for an awakening.

So, Blythe Baird, ever heard of her? Well, this was my first encounter and I don’t know how I am feeling and that’s the truth of it. For, “Read Pocket Sized Feminism,” is a reminder of the effect of choosing to either stand up or stay silent in the presence of injustice. “To Live in the body of a Survivor” tore me to shreds while “Smoke” reminded me of the things we give up, “Lipstick” of the privileges we are taught and “Skirt Steak Girls” tabled my biases. If you are to read any poem in this book I’d recommend “The Aesthetic of Rape Culture”-because when someone’s version of truth closely hits home, you cannot pretend to not see it for what it is.

Now, I have to reel in the credits: thank you Netgalley and Button Poetry for the eARC, and Blythe– it was a pleasure meeting you.

As a women I can relate with the need to be perfect. Growing up having a sister who battled with an eating disorder I can relate to young girls and body issues. Many of the poems encompassed genterations and feeling of any age. Well written.