A modern gothic tale in the form of missive poetry, written by Sweet Jane to her lover, Eleanor. Through letters recounting the dark secret that lead to Sweet Jane being committed, Sinclair discusses issues of mental illness, trauma, and identity.
Robin Sinclair (they/them) is a queer, trans writer of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Their debut full-length poetry collection, Letters To My Lover From Behind Asylum Walls (Cosmographia Books, 2018), discusses themes of identity, gender, and mental illness.
This book of poetry is exceptional! So-much-so, that I had to put it down to reflect on the powerful words it contains when I was just about half way through. I put it down for a week, then read it from the beginning, and again was submerged in this book to the point of chills, smiles and tears, both happy and sad. Loved it!
The reviews written for this book by, Kristi Carter, Tanya Singh & G.E. Schwartz (all whom are authors) express with perfect words the exceptional quality of Ms. Sinclair's writing ... "... delicate and wrathful ... " writes Kristi, "... ruminant, reflective, hauntingly tender when they speak ..." writes Tanya, and G.E. encourages us to, "Read the cycle of poems here in Robin Sinclair's Letters to My Lover Behind Asylum Walls and be immersed in its passages of rawness, brutality, wry humor and truths ..." And compares it to the feeling one has upon first reading, "The Bell Jar." Agree, Agree, Agree!
I implore you to acquire this book, TODAY!
Thank you so very much for this powerful book of letters written by Sweet Jane to Dear Eleanor.
What to read when you experience the loss of a loved one... I've lost my beloved father this August, and I wasn't sure what my first read after that loss could be. It is deeply intimate to read the letters of a person who suffers, who experiences a loss; The loss of a loved one, the loss of self. I will be rereading those letters, especially now that the autumn has just arrived. Stunning work, Robin! Thank you!
The poetry was dark and dreamlike and gritty. The story had me on edge the whole time. Reading Letters felt like trying to assemble a puzzle. I LOVED that Sinclair didn't shy away from difficult topics like violence in the mentally ill. I am about to give it a re-read!
This book was deep. It's crazy because I was getting Edgar Allen Poe Vibes. I felt the authors pain, confusion, and sorrows from being in a place that treated humans like animals. Also, the resentment of being away from a loved one.