Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Memory is always so precious. We hold it carefully in tight palms and open to embrace remembrance.”

It’s been ages since I’ve read any poetry – I mean literal years – and because I could sense a bit of a reading slump coming on (it’s just taken me three weeks to read a book in my favourite genre, even though I enjoyed it!) I thought this would be a nice palate cleanser that I could keep dipping in and out of without any pressure. I’m so glad I picked it up; it turns out it was the perfect cure! It Lingers On Within Me: Memories of 2023 is filled with such beautiful writing, accounts of Amy’s life spanning over one year. I’ve just fallen in love with her words. I’m so happy to be sharing my review!

About the book

It Lingers On Within Me: Memories of 2023 is a poetry anthology from Amy B Garratt and was developed through the Partnership Publishing Winter Writing Competition. A collection of Poetry/Prose over 50 pages, that covers 12 months of life experiences, and follows on from her first collection Sunlight Stripping Shadows Bare. A look into relationships, family, mental health, chronic illness awareness, and more.

My thoughts

It’s clear Amy has such a keen eye for detail and is a born writer. Her words were so beautiful right from the start and they were so easy to sink into. I really enjoyed each individual piece of poetry and the stories they told. 2023 seemed to be an important year for Amy, a year of savouring the little things, of being present in the moment, while also tackling those hard times and the challenges life throws her way. It was a pleasure to experience these moments with her, the good and the bad, even two years later.

There are so many positives to pick out from Amy’s writing so I’ll cover just a few of them here. One of my favourite elements was the way in which her poems are presented and the different styles in which she writes. I loved the variety of poetry types and this author seems to nail each and every one. Whether they rhyme or not, whether they are long, short or shaped, it was quite mesmerising and refreshing to take in each one and simply enjoy those words on the page. Most of the time, I read with a smile on my face (My Dress Has Pockets! being a personal fave) with the exception being those poems of a more serious nature. Whatever the topic, Amy gives these poems the care and attention to detail that they deserve, and the passion she has for words consistently shines through.

Let’s talk about that detail and the incredible description because with each page, I adored it more and more! I loved the author’s portrayal of the seasons, of the outdoors and the indoors, of colour and sound, of relationships, of nature. I loved just how much I felt everything I read. It really was beautiful. The floral scent of summer, the way autumn turns into winter, the changes in temperature and atmosphere. I could really feel all this, I could see so much colour. It felt really special! But alongside all this, Amy also writes about other things close to home. Her poetry dives deeper into mental health and chronic illness, how not every day goes to plan but we have to ride the wave anyway. I sensed a layer of darkness in some of her poems with deep messages at the heart. I found it brave and inspiring to share intimate parts of her life in this way, and it was something I really admired.

From the first poem to the last, Amy’s words provided food for thought and managed to evoke so much emotion in me. I found myself daydreaming, of taking in the little details, focusing more on the things that bring me joy. But I also felt so moved by the less joyful side of life explored through her words, and I appreciated the honesty of her personal experiences with mental health and illness. This collection of poetry is poignant and powerful, relatable and raw. Such gorgeous and meaningful words I could read over and over again. Thank you, Amy – I look forward to reading more of your work! 😊

You can grab your own copy of It Lingers On Within Me: Memories of 2023 right now on Amazon – support an indie author! Make sure you’re following Amy on Instagram for more updates.

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