Problematic

by Lou Willingham

This is a short collection of poems about trans loss and rage. Written over several years, they centre around the idea that we should all be safe to live our lives without fear. This collection of micropoetry chronicles my own feelings of helplessness and rage in the face of normalised transphobia.
This collection is an autobiography.
This collection is a battle cry.


Content transphobia mention, violence mention, blood mention, death and murder mention

Genres: Poetry

56 pages, Paperback

Published May 18, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel Bowdler · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really stunning piece of queer literature that I’d highly recommend to anybody, cis or trans, het or queer. this collection centers on the loss of trans lives and the hostile society we live in, and while there is vital passion and anger in these words, there is also an underlying message of hope for a better world. the best poetry is the kind where the poet offers up their heart and soul for everybody to see, and problematic did just that. it is not just social commentary: it comes from the perspective of an individual navigating a world where trans people remain unsafe, and that can never not be important.

[Rebecca Crunden]

I’m a huge problem to a sane world.
Would a sane world give one person more freedoms than another based on their skin,
their bank statement,
their place of birth,
their clothing,
their genitals,
their ability,
their age?
Is freedom of expression of self a problem?

This is my first read by Lou Willingham and I will definitely be checking out more of their works! This is a very raw, emotional collection of modern poetry that explores important themes of rights, society and self.

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[M.G. Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the author's other two micro poetry collections and found them deeply moving, I decided to complete the trilogy.

This is a collection focusing on a range of trans issues: society, the self, perception of trans people, and a few seemingly aimed as critiques at general or maybe even specific transphobes.

As I probably said in the reviews for the other two titles, I'm not a poetry person. But Lou Willingham has a knack for raw, passionate writing that seizes your attention and doesn't let go.

Trans lives matter.

[Lacrima Mundi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful collection of micro-poetry by Lou Willingham.

Resonates with everyone who's ever been an outcast, an outsider, the odd duck, or just different - and never been [fully] accepted because of it.

Doesn't matter if it's because you're queer, neurodivergent, disabled, or anything else about you is "off" in the eyes of [still way too] many other people, thus makes you "problematic" for them.

If you're more often on the outside than the inside, you'll find yourself nodding along to a lot of those poems, many of which are not least about owning your weird, and showing the middle finger to those who refuse to accept you just the way you are.

Embrace your "problematic" and identify as a real problem whenever people are begging for it!

[EM Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book twice now, and I will probably end up doing a more thorough review eventually, but I wanted to put a few words out there for this brand new little book.

What I love about it most is that every poem is individual, functioning on its own, but they also all work as one cohesive journey, walking through the mindscape of Willingham's thoughts and emotions on existing in a world that doesn't seem want trans people in it. It builds to this wonderful crescendo, and then picks it all apart ending on a gentle note of hope. The style is simple, but hits hard, and I seriously look forward to more chaotic publications just like this.

[A.M. Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I'll be honest, I hate poetry. But if Lou Willingham writes something, I've got to read it. And you know what? This book slaps, and it slaps HARD. Like, I felt things. For such a short book, it packs a powerful message. It has so many good quotes that I can't share them all, or I'd just be sharing the whole damn book. But one that really stood out, and one that transphobes need to read and re-read, is:

a skeleton has two jobs
to support us
to protect us

you should try being more skeletal

[Katherine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection masterfully captures the raw fear and anger so much of the queer community feels right now due to the rampant transphobia and hate they’re being faced with - from the media, from politicians, from complete strangers, and even from those who once professed to love them.
This is an important, powerful and moving collection, and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs help understanding what it’s like to live in a world that says everything about you is wrong.

[Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely powerful. I highly recommend this to everyone and anyone, trans, non-binary, cis… everyone should get a chance to truly see this perspective. Fantastically well-written and strong, strong meaning.

[Amanda Shortman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning piece of work, full of anger and power and resistance fuelled by the raging transphobia in our world today. It's something I dip in and out of from time to time when the world reminds me yet again the fight we have on our hands. Everyone should have a copy of it in their home.

[Hannah Baldwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

i hear lou in every single word of this collection!

[jasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Sarah Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is only a short collection, but within it Lou Willingham has captured magnificantly her anger at a world that will not let trans people live in peace and their joy, despite that, in being non-binary.