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.

This is the first poetry book that I have ever read and I was not disappointed. “If My Body Could Speak” is raw and from the heart. It is beautiful and emotional. I loved every bit of it (to the point that I stayed up late just to finish it). These poems touch on topics such as eating disorders, body image, rape and rape culture, feminism, sexuality, and more. I want to thank Blythe Baird for putting her poems out there to share with the world. This is definitely the kind of book I wish was required reading back when I was learning about poetry in high school.

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.)

Brutally honest and raw, this title is a phenomenal read that every woman, from teens to older ages, needs to read. The poems are so real and relate-able for the majority of the female population with it's pieces on sexuality and the way woman's bodies are seen, body image, eating disorders, stress and anxiety, bullying, body development and much more. Each piece is emotional and connects with the readers' experiences in life. I would highly recommend.

The concept behind the book was wonderful. I also love love love the idea of writing a poem. I have read books like that before and have really enjoyed them. 

However this book I found to be lacking something. I felt like I was not invested in the characters story. I felt as though there needed to be more involvement of the reader.

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.