REVIEWs & COMMENTARIES
On reading Falling Slowly
"Gathered from a specific time, when surrounded by loss - not only in her personal relationships, but via the media coverage of warzones, as well as her own experiences of civil conflict - the normalising of the inconceivable, collective grief, and her homeland apartheid, layers of meanings gradually become apparent, visit after visit. From the visible to the emotional lanscape, Amantine explore the realities of the underlying lament of women living in the world of today, without fully revealing them.Overarching all of these experiences is the undeniable longing for intimacy, for connection and joy that exists, regardless of the situation. These understandings are as relevant as they have ever been. Amantine’s ‘Falling Slowly’ promises
a journey through longing, the unravelling of relationships, and the shifting patterns of desire for sensual connection. This beautiful affecting collection explores the uncovering of bodies which share intimacy, corporeal proximity of living and loss, the intoxication of dwelling and visceral affection, alongside the brutality of coercion and stratum of toxic behaviours. "
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" . . . Brodeur tells the reader that this collection of work is to, for, and about all women – especially those who have experienced trauma. One could, and perhaps should read this collection in much the same way that one reads and understands cautionary tales. Brodeur bravely mines their personal experience to make sense of themselves and guide others.
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"... The language is lush: “Come to me in shades / of black and white so I might fragrance / your heart in colour”. Lyrical writing throughout, in conjunction with political sensibilities, makes for a very powerful reading experience indeed."
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"... It is a brilliant, amazing read from page to page. Inspirational."
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Paul Brookes, The Wombell Rainbow
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"Predicate of My Unmade Bed" is one I want to introduce to many. Like all good poets, Amantine Brodeur questions the form that creates 'widow ligatures' and all that hyphenation', but knows it to be the best form to deliver clarity, cryptically. This is beautiful stuff. "
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Elizabeth Kiem,
