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A History of Touch (22)
Bearing witness to “difficult” women in history.
A History of Touch is a poetry collection about women in folklore and history who were ill, disabled, or otherwise labelled ‘hysteric.’ The work bears witness to the lives of women with varying experiences, such as a woman whose epilepsy was mistaken for demonic possession, Sarah Winchester’s grief, Mary Roff and her love of leeches, and the “witch” Biddy Early. There is a poem about Bridget Cleary, who upon displaying her independence was burned to death by her husband, believing her to be a changeling. The collection includes pieces on anchoresses, Rosemary Kennedy, and accused witches. A History of Touch tells the stories of ‘difficult women.’ Each poem discusses an aspect of or a moment in a woman’s life, connecting these moments to different aspects of embodiment and the natural world. A History of Touch is an examination of women vilified or left behind for their strength or their weakness. This book uses strong poetic imagery and metaphor to elevate details drawn from real life to that of poetry. The book comprises of three sections, each drifting between biographical poetry (Scrying, about Biddy Early), experimental poetry (Projections of a Glass Womb, which manipulates the text of a midwifery textbook), fairy tale sequences (What a Pretty Sight), folklore, (Macha, Flickers) and pieces that incorporate elements of confessional poetry (Bloodletting, Whiskers).
A History of Touch is a poetry collection about women in folklore and history who were ill, disabled, or otherwise labelled ‘hysteric.’ The work bears witness to the lives of women with varying experiences, such as a woman whose epilepsy was mistaken for demonic possession, Sarah Winchester’s grief, Mary Roff and her love of leeches, and the “witch” Biddy Early. There is a poem about Bridget Cleary, who upon displaying her independence was burned to death by her husband, believing her to be a changeling. The collection includes pieces on anchoresses, Rosemary Kennedy, and accused witches. A History of Touch tells the stories of ‘difficult women.’ Each poem discusses an aspect of or a moment in a woman’s life, connecting these moments to different aspects of embodiment and the natural world. A History of Touch is an examination of women vilified or left behind for their strength or their weakness. This book uses strong poetic imagery and metaphor to elevate details drawn from real life to that of poetry. The book comprises of three sections, each drifting between biographical poetry (Scrying, about Biddy Early), experimental poetry (Projections of a Glass Womb, which manipulates the text of a midwifery textbook), fairy tale sequences (What a Pretty Sight), folklore, (Macha, Flickers) and pieces that incorporate elements of confessional poetry (Bloodletting, Whiskers).
104 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 12, 2022
**Thanks to NetGalley, Erin Vance, and Guernica Editions for this ARC**
A History of Touch by Erin Vance is the author's debut poetry collection and will be out May 1st, 2022.
I LOVED this collection of poetry. Vance writes poems about women throughout history and folklore who were difficult, disabled, or "hysteric". The poems are stunning without the background information but I echo other readers in saying that the true magic in these poems lay in understanding who each poem was about. The author includes a brief explanation of each poem at the end of the book, which I almost wish I had read before I started the book or as I went along.
A History of Touch is a spooky, gothic, feminist collection of unsettling poems that kept me reading into the night.
5 stars! - I loved it
A History of Touch by Erin Vance is the author's debut poetry collection and will be out May 1st, 2022.
I LOVED this collection of poetry. Vance writes poems about women throughout history and folklore who were difficult, disabled, or "hysteric". The poems are stunning without the background information but I echo other readers in saying that the true magic in these poems lay in understanding who each poem was about. The author includes a brief explanation of each poem at the end of the book, which I almost wish I had read before I started the book or as I went along.
A History of Touch is a spooky, gothic, feminist collection of unsettling poems that kept me reading into the night.
5 stars! - I loved it
April 8, 2022
i have found my favourite poetry collection of ALL TIME.
oh how i am so devastated that i dont have this in my hands and that i cant viciously annotate it.
erin vance has written poetry, using language like i have never seen it wielded before, to tell the remarkable stories of different women throughout history.
but it’s not the everyday cliché stories that everyone speaks abt but specific stories, niche historical events and half the fun of this was researching all the little details and finding more meaning in the verses. (she also has put a historical not at the end of the collection explaining every reference which i only found out about after)
my jaw dropped after so many of these poems. some of them i had to reread to gather the full effect. this was amazing.
this comes out may 1st PLS READ IT! thank you soso much net galley and guernica editions for this arc.
i will be thinking abt this one and missing her everyday
oh how i am so devastated that i dont have this in my hands and that i cant viciously annotate it.
erin vance has written poetry, using language like i have never seen it wielded before, to tell the remarkable stories of different women throughout history.
but it’s not the everyday cliché stories that everyone speaks abt but specific stories, niche historical events and half the fun of this was researching all the little details and finding more meaning in the verses. (she also has put a historical not at the end of the collection explaining every reference which i only found out about after)
my jaw dropped after so many of these poems. some of them i had to reread to gather the full effect. this was amazing.
this comes out may 1st PLS READ IT! thank you soso much net galley and guernica editions for this arc.
i will be thinking abt this one and missing her everyday
February 18, 2022
Erin Emily Ann Vance is one of Canada’s most vital and brilliant emerging writers. To read her work is to encounter a fresh, authentic, and haunting voice, one that is thrillingly new. Deftly bridging divides between genres, tones, and forms, her poetry evokes poignant and indelible images.
Her debut poetry collection, A History of Touch, is beautiful and disturbing in equal measure. These carefully crafted poems draw on history, witchcraft, folklore, true crime, and the Gothic to explore cultural and intimate narratives around women’s embodiment. Vance’s language is always gorgeous, but the affect here is often powerfully disquieting. This book is a stunning achievement.
Her debut poetry collection, A History of Touch, is beautiful and disturbing in equal measure. These carefully crafted poems draw on history, witchcraft, folklore, true crime, and the Gothic to explore cultural and intimate narratives around women’s embodiment. Vance’s language is always gorgeous, but the affect here is often powerfully disquieting. This book is a stunning achievement.
April 18, 2022
Loved this book. It's a collection of poetry about woman in history and folklore. It's very dark, gothic and visceral. I loved that there were notes in the back to fill me in on particular poems.
This is a very impressive work, and will appeal to fans of dark history.
This is a very impressive work, and will appeal to fans of dark history.
March 10, 2022
Vance’s debut poetry collection absolutely lives up to expectations. A beautifully haunting, unapologetically macabre voice weaves dark, Gothic stories about the lives of certain female historical figures, her own experiences and those of women and femmes today, and the realities of horror, violence, and visceral reactions enacted towards female bodies, in all sorts of ways.
Themes of witchcraft, disease, menstruation and pregnancy, folklore, various forms of pain and suffering and more are bound up in wider, deeper commentary on various historical (and modern) forms of violence against women, communicated via Gothic and horror conventions. This creates a masterfully crafted overarching tone that leaves the reader pleasantly disturbed and intrigued by every poem.
Imagery is gorgeous and touching (in various senses of the word), full of nature and tiny daily details that evoke clear, artistic interpretations of each story that encapsulate intense, haunting emotions. Readers may find themselves grappling—in a good way—with subtle feelings of identification and disquiet as a result, wandering through moments of introspection and ruminations on Vance’s themes and commentaries.
The strength of Vance’s writing, without a doubt, extends from her prose to her poetry, and this collection will be a wonderful over-and-over read when in search of dark, moody autumnal feelings. Context for poems with specific historical references are included in a Notes section at the end of the collection, for anyone unfamiliar with referenced source material. I knew my excitement for Vance’s next publication would be worth it—and I was certainly not left disappointed! I already cannot wait to see what she puts out there next!
Themes of witchcraft, disease, menstruation and pregnancy, folklore, various forms of pain and suffering and more are bound up in wider, deeper commentary on various historical (and modern) forms of violence against women, communicated via Gothic and horror conventions. This creates a masterfully crafted overarching tone that leaves the reader pleasantly disturbed and intrigued by every poem.
Imagery is gorgeous and touching (in various senses of the word), full of nature and tiny daily details that evoke clear, artistic interpretations of each story that encapsulate intense, haunting emotions. Readers may find themselves grappling—in a good way—with subtle feelings of identification and disquiet as a result, wandering through moments of introspection and ruminations on Vance’s themes and commentaries.
The strength of Vance’s writing, without a doubt, extends from her prose to her poetry, and this collection will be a wonderful over-and-over read when in search of dark, moody autumnal feelings. Context for poems with specific historical references are included in a Notes section at the end of the collection, for anyone unfamiliar with referenced source material. I knew my excitement for Vance’s next publication would be worth it—and I was certainly not left disappointed! I already cannot wait to see what she puts out there next!
May 25, 2022
Warn them: Motherhood is death.
Spinsterhood is death. Death is the colour
of menstrual blood and breast milk.
horor poetry about women by women is literally my entire aesthetic. 😔🤘
first of all, this is the one of the most incredible collections i've ever read. the imagery is extremely vivid, which makes for an incredibly haunting experience. the metaphors are sublime. the final lines pack a punch.
most of the poems had allusions to nature and were very descriptive, which reminded me a lot of sylvia plath's work. these poems, however, are much darker and more feminist.
also, each poem tells an entire story almost. even the shorter ones. it's truly a talent.
some entries had names at the beginning of who they were inspired by, and even names inserted mid-poem sometimes. honestly, i wish ALL poems had a note that specified who they were about. that's actually my only qualm. the quick notes at the end weren't enough. at least, i don't think they were a complete list?
anyway, this book is about to send me into a deep dark rabbit hole of twisted history. researching about "mad" women is almost a hobby of mine. i love powerful poetry about women and their struggles.
i recommend this collection to poetry lovers, horror lovers who are interested in getting into poetry, to feminists, to women, to everyone.
*digital arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spinsterhood is death. Death is the colour
of menstrual blood and breast milk.
horor poetry about women by women is literally my entire aesthetic. 😔🤘
first of all, this is the one of the most incredible collections i've ever read. the imagery is extremely vivid, which makes for an incredibly haunting experience. the metaphors are sublime. the final lines pack a punch.
most of the poems had allusions to nature and were very descriptive, which reminded me a lot of sylvia plath's work. these poems, however, are much darker and more feminist.
also, each poem tells an entire story almost. even the shorter ones. it's truly a talent.
some entries had names at the beginning of who they were inspired by, and even names inserted mid-poem sometimes. honestly, i wish ALL poems had a note that specified who they were about. that's actually my only qualm. the quick notes at the end weren't enough. at least, i don't think they were a complete list?
anyway, this book is about to send me into a deep dark rabbit hole of twisted history. researching about "mad" women is almost a hobby of mine. i love powerful poetry about women and their struggles.
i recommend this collection to poetry lovers, horror lovers who are interested in getting into poetry, to feminists, to women, to everyone.
*digital arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
I loved how the poems took historical events and folklore to give voices to women who weren’t listened to or who’s voices were taken away. I found the poems most impactful knowing who or what they were about (and had fun learning the historical context). Some are easy to look up because the names or keywords are in it or from notes in the back, but not all are and those I had more trouble understanding. I think it’s worth bookmarking the notes in the back because I didn’t read it until the end and then had moments where I went, “wait, that poem was about a banshee?” I rec this most to readers that enjoy hidden history/hearing from voices that have been ignored as well as true crime and folklore fans (and there’s likely a lot of overlap between the two).
E-arc from netgalley
E-arc from netgalley
April 24, 2022
3.5 stars
This is an impressively horrific collection of poetry exploring various women throughout history. Filled with body horror and gruesome events wrapped in lyrical and visual text.
I was amazed by just how much of a reaction this collection evoked. Though there is a text explanation of some of the poems at the end I wish these descriptions had been woven throughout the collection. There were times when I felt very lost and the works started to blend together. The explanations would’ve provided a nice break and provided context.
This is an impressively horrific collection of poetry exploring various women throughout history. Filled with body horror and gruesome events wrapped in lyrical and visual text.
I was amazed by just how much of a reaction this collection evoked. Though there is a text explanation of some of the poems at the end I wish these descriptions had been woven throughout the collection. There were times when I felt very lost and the works started to blend together. The explanations would’ve provided a nice break and provided context.
March 19, 2022
"Holiness / is a slippery fish. / We are the scales flaking into the fire. // You never believed us in the first place."
Read
July 5, 2022Witches, ghosts, women exploited, women forgotten.
April 2, 2022
Rating: 4/5
(Gifted a copy on NetGalley in exchange for a review)
Teeming with body horror and injustices throughout the ages, “A History of Touch” was a vivid collection of poems. Best understood as stories of horror done by and to women throughout history, I found Vance’s poetry to be particularly unpleasant, in the best way, to read. It is worth noting that notes on the historical references can be found in the back and the added context improves the poems.
(Gifted a copy on NetGalley in exchange for a review)
Teeming with body horror and injustices throughout the ages, “A History of Touch” was a vivid collection of poems. Best understood as stories of horror done by and to women throughout history, I found Vance’s poetry to be particularly unpleasant, in the best way, to read. It is worth noting that notes on the historical references can be found in the back and the added context improves the poems.
March 15, 2022
Erin Emily Ann Vance's work is powerful, exploring the lives and pain of mad and disabled women throughout history. Her work cuts deep and is beautiful, with imagery that is at once lovely and ugly, turning in context. Her use of repetition is haunting, and lovely, and every choice that she's made is evident in her craft. I received an advance review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 21, 2022
3.5 stars.
A History of Touch by Erin Emily Ann Vance is a collection of feminist poems exploring some of the persecuted and punished women of history.
The description specifies women who were ill, disabled, or considered hysteric, but I didn't feel like that element was a prominent aspect of the way the poems were represented (the focus was definitely on womanhood and misogyny and any disability or ableism featured was incidental. I'm not knocking it for being what it is, rather it was a bit disappointing to find it wasn't what was described. I feel baited into reading it (as a chronically ill disabled woman, I'm always trying to read more disability poetry), which is disappointing because I know it hurt my opinion of a book I otherwise enjoyed.
The poetry itself is good, the poet has a great sense of word flow and the feminist subject matter is right up my alley. I'm also a huge sucker for history, so it was great to explore a little of it through poetry. I appreciated the notes at the end that added historical context for the poems in case you aren't familiar with all of the subjects (I was familiar with many but not all and it was very helpful to have the extra info at the end). I do wish that its subjects hadn't been quite so white across the board, but if the author was trying to stay in her lane I definitely respect that. It's maybe not a favourite, but I definitely still enjoyed it quite a bit, and some of the poems especially stood out.
Overall, it's a very solid collection of feminist poetry that I would recommend (especially for those going in without incorrect expectations). I'll be keeping my eye out for the poet's name in the future, I'd be interested in reading more of her poetry.
A History of Touch by Erin Emily Ann Vance is a collection of feminist poems exploring some of the persecuted and punished women of history.
The description specifies women who were ill, disabled, or considered hysteric, but I didn't feel like that element was a prominent aspect of the way the poems were represented (the focus was definitely on womanhood and misogyny and any disability or ableism featured was incidental. I'm not knocking it for being what it is, rather it was a bit disappointing to find it wasn't what was described. I feel baited into reading it (as a chronically ill disabled woman, I'm always trying to read more disability poetry), which is disappointing because I know it hurt my opinion of a book I otherwise enjoyed.
The poetry itself is good, the poet has a great sense of word flow and the feminist subject matter is right up my alley. I'm also a huge sucker for history, so it was great to explore a little of it through poetry. I appreciated the notes at the end that added historical context for the poems in case you aren't familiar with all of the subjects (I was familiar with many but not all and it was very helpful to have the extra info at the end). I do wish that its subjects hadn't been quite so white across the board, but if the author was trying to stay in her lane I definitely respect that. It's maybe not a favourite, but I definitely still enjoyed it quite a bit, and some of the poems especially stood out.
Overall, it's a very solid collection of feminist poetry that I would recommend (especially for those going in without incorrect expectations). I'll be keeping my eye out for the poet's name in the future, I'd be interested in reading more of her poetry.
April 23, 2022
eARC provided by NetGalley and Guernica Editions in exchange for an honest review.
“This is the waxen depth of unmarked women made of wire.”
Eerie and disturbing, A History of Touch paints images of women who are labeled "difficult" throughout history, told by the harsh brushstrokes of verses. The poems are as brutal as the way men and society treated and dehumanized these women, from Bridget Cleary and Rosemary Kennedy to various unnamed ones, maybe forgotten, but not without the lasting marks they left behind. Vance, with her carefully woven words, gave these women voices when they were denied of their own in their time.
Even hours after reading this, I admit that I am still at a loss for words. This collection of poems is simultaneously engrossing and revolting, in a way that I didn't know could be fitting. But I think that's the allure of it: they are compelling to read because they are off-putting in the first place—the imagery Vance paints on the readers' minds through her words is clear, profound, and blood-soaked enough that they can't help but reel away at the start. I expected the poems to be visceral, but I didn't know that there were a lot of body horrors incorporated into them along with the depiction of injustices and crimes against women. While this might interest other readers, I find that this was exactly what threw me off-guard at first, making some passages difficult for me to read. This unique allure of Vance's writing, then, is what makes or breaks the collection, depending on the readers themselves and their tastes in poetry. The individual poems center around different women, most of whom I've heard nothing of prior, and some are folkloric. The insights and contexts of the pieces were lost to me, but searching on the internet provided some understanding. It turned out that there were actually historical references and notes about the women at the end of the book, which made me see the poems in a different and clearer light than before, that I had to reread some of them just to bask in the experience. Some of my favorite pieces are "Crow Theory" and "The Purported Last Words of Ruth Blay".
“Don't let my students watch, don't let the girls see. I haven't yet taught them what it means to be a woman.” Heart-wrenching in its honesty, these lines were what fully drew me in and made me realize that this poetry collection will be haunting me for a long time.
I would say that these poems cater to a specific type of reader, so I recommend this to anyone who enjoys gothic and horror poetry.
3.75 stars rounded off to 4.
“This is the waxen depth of unmarked women made of wire.”
Eerie and disturbing, A History of Touch paints images of women who are labeled "difficult" throughout history, told by the harsh brushstrokes of verses. The poems are as brutal as the way men and society treated and dehumanized these women, from Bridget Cleary and Rosemary Kennedy to various unnamed ones, maybe forgotten, but not without the lasting marks they left behind. Vance, with her carefully woven words, gave these women voices when they were denied of their own in their time.
Even hours after reading this, I admit that I am still at a loss for words. This collection of poems is simultaneously engrossing and revolting, in a way that I didn't know could be fitting. But I think that's the allure of it: they are compelling to read because they are off-putting in the first place—the imagery Vance paints on the readers' minds through her words is clear, profound, and blood-soaked enough that they can't help but reel away at the start. I expected the poems to be visceral, but I didn't know that there were a lot of body horrors incorporated into them along with the depiction of injustices and crimes against women. While this might interest other readers, I find that this was exactly what threw me off-guard at first, making some passages difficult for me to read. This unique allure of Vance's writing, then, is what makes or breaks the collection, depending on the readers themselves and their tastes in poetry. The individual poems center around different women, most of whom I've heard nothing of prior, and some are folkloric. The insights and contexts of the pieces were lost to me, but searching on the internet provided some understanding. It turned out that there were actually historical references and notes about the women at the end of the book, which made me see the poems in a different and clearer light than before, that I had to reread some of them just to bask in the experience. Some of my favorite pieces are "Crow Theory" and "The Purported Last Words of Ruth Blay".
“Don't let my students watch, don't let the girls see. I haven't yet taught them what it means to be a woman.” Heart-wrenching in its honesty, these lines were what fully drew me in and made me realize that this poetry collection will be haunting me for a long time.
I would say that these poems cater to a specific type of reader, so I recommend this to anyone who enjoys gothic and horror poetry.
3.75 stars rounded off to 4.
April 10, 2022
Difficult women are at the core of Erin Vance's poetry collection "A History of Touch," a literary journey about women in folklore and history who were ill, disabled, or otherwise labeled as "hysteric."
If you're expecting a particularly touchy-feely collection of poetry, "A History of Touch" may not satisfy as it aims as much for the mind as it does the heart and it demands a commitment to thought and contemplation. Appreciating "A History of Touch" is made easier by a knowledge of women's history, though Vance has aided in that effort at book's end with at least brief notes giving foundation to the majority of her work here.
"A History of Touch" is described as discussing an aspect of or a moment in a woman’s life, connecting these moments to different aspects of embodiment and the natural world. "A History of Touching" is an examination of women vilified or left behind for their strength or their weakness.
One's own history will likely help determine which poems resonate most deeply. While it would seem that "A History of Touch" is most targeted toward women, it's easily appreciated by a universal audience and this adult male with significant disabilities had no problem connecting with Vance's material.
The title poem resonated deeply, though I'll confess that's as much because if I were to have a life word "touch," or perhaps tenderness, would be it. I also connect with more confessional poems like "Bloodletting" and "Whiskers." The biographical poetry, on the other hand, didn't as deeply resonate and some of the experimental works left me with mixed responses. "Projections of a Glass Womb" is nothing short of remarkable. As someone who grew up with the story of Rosemary Kennedy, I found myself deeply moved by "Rosemary's Lobotomy." There are still others that resonate more deeply once a deeper understanding is provided.
At times thought provoking and other times immersive in its imagery, "A History of Touch" is a memorable collection providing voice to women who in history were so often denied theirs. Stimulating both intellect and emotion, "A History of Touch" is a sublime poetry choice for those who understand and appreciate women's history and its great history of diverse voices and experiences.
If you're expecting a particularly touchy-feely collection of poetry, "A History of Touch" may not satisfy as it aims as much for the mind as it does the heart and it demands a commitment to thought and contemplation. Appreciating "A History of Touch" is made easier by a knowledge of women's history, though Vance has aided in that effort at book's end with at least brief notes giving foundation to the majority of her work here.
"A History of Touch" is described as discussing an aspect of or a moment in a woman’s life, connecting these moments to different aspects of embodiment and the natural world. "A History of Touching" is an examination of women vilified or left behind for their strength or their weakness.
One's own history will likely help determine which poems resonate most deeply. While it would seem that "A History of Touch" is most targeted toward women, it's easily appreciated by a universal audience and this adult male with significant disabilities had no problem connecting with Vance's material.
The title poem resonated deeply, though I'll confess that's as much because if I were to have a life word "touch," or perhaps tenderness, would be it. I also connect with more confessional poems like "Bloodletting" and "Whiskers." The biographical poetry, on the other hand, didn't as deeply resonate and some of the experimental works left me with mixed responses. "Projections of a Glass Womb" is nothing short of remarkable. As someone who grew up with the story of Rosemary Kennedy, I found myself deeply moved by "Rosemary's Lobotomy." There are still others that resonate more deeply once a deeper understanding is provided.
At times thought provoking and other times immersive in its imagery, "A History of Touch" is a memorable collection providing voice to women who in history were so often denied theirs. Stimulating both intellect and emotion, "A History of Touch" is a sublime poetry choice for those who understand and appreciate women's history and its great history of diverse voices and experiences.
March 10, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review the ARC for A History of Touch by Erin Vance!
A History of Touch by Erin Emily Ann Vance comes out on the 1st of May, this year. This book is an attempt to bear witness to difficult women throughout history, who were brushed off as hysterical or witches, which means we range from Cassandra to Rosemary Kennedy; from the lobotomized to those burned at the stake.
While the premise is fantastic, I don't actually like most of the poems in this book. I just couldn’t get into them and they didn’t make me feel anything, even though these are women who I should want to feel for.'
That being said, there were definitely some poems that I liked, such as Confession. The speaker here is Elsie Wright. Elsie and her sister Frances were responsible for the Cottingley Fairies hoax; 5 pictures that they used to try and prove that fairies were real. While Elsie confessed that all were stages, Frances maintained, until the end, that the last one was real.
According to Wikipedia, the entire thing may have been a joke, with the girls too embarrassed to admit that the pictures were a prank when Sir Arthur Conlon Doyle (YES THE SHERLOCK HOLMES DUDE) thought they were real.
That goes to show that as long as news has existed, human beings have always had a tendency to believe the fake kind.
That goes to show that as long as news has existed, human beings have always had a tendency to believe the fake kind.
"It is said that witches ride in eggshells downriver
to deliver babies out of wedlock, under cover of night,
that witches turn into hares to escape the grasping fingers
of men with scythes for eyes and briars for tongues.
Of the truthfulness of these two things I do not know,
but I do know that when they ducked Grace Sherwood in
the water, with a thirteen-pound bible tied to her neck,
she sputtered to the surface
and spat in the faces of her accusers."
~ The Mouth of Lynnhaven
A History of Touch by Erin Emily Ann Vance comes out on the 1st of May, this year. This book is an attempt to bear witness to difficult women throughout history, who were brushed off as hysterical or witches, which means we range from Cassandra to Rosemary Kennedy; from the lobotomized to those burned at the stake.
While the premise is fantastic, I don't actually like most of the poems in this book. I just couldn’t get into them and they didn’t make me feel anything, even though these are women who I should want to feel for.'
That being said, there were definitely some poems that I liked, such as Confession. The speaker here is Elsie Wright. Elsie and her sister Frances were responsible for the Cottingley Fairies hoax; 5 pictures that they used to try and prove that fairies were real. While Elsie confessed that all were stages, Frances maintained, until the end, that the last one was real.
According to Wikipedia, the entire thing may have been a joke, with the girls too embarrassed to admit that the pictures were a prank when Sir Arthur Conlon Doyle (YES THE SHERLOCK HOLMES DUDE) thought they were real.
That goes to show that as long as news has existed, human beings have always had a tendency to believe the fake kind.
That goes to show that as long as news has existed, human beings have always had a tendency to believe the fake kind.
"It is said that witches ride in eggshells downriver
to deliver babies out of wedlock, under cover of night,
that witches turn into hares to escape the grasping fingers
of men with scythes for eyes and briars for tongues.
Of the truthfulness of these two things I do not know,
but I do know that when they ducked Grace Sherwood in
the water, with a thirteen-pound bible tied to her neck,
she sputtered to the surface
and spat in the faces of her accusers."
~ The Mouth of Lynnhaven
May 7, 2022
3.5 stars
This collection of poems was powerful, haunting and the perfect amount of gothic and macabre. The essence of the poems spoke to me and the underlying rage of some poems felt like a rightful tribute to all the “difficult” women that were abused in history.
I was surprised to see this poetry was more traditional than what I imagined, and probably for that reason, I did not always get what the lyrical imagery was referencing. I found the end notes to be very helpful, but I would have liked to read them either before or right after the poems they were about, because I clearly missed some of what was said on the first reading.
I think it’s a collection I will have to re-read to appreciate fully.
This collection of poems was powerful, haunting and the perfect amount of gothic and macabre. The essence of the poems spoke to me and the underlying rage of some poems felt like a rightful tribute to all the “difficult” women that were abused in history.
I was surprised to see this poetry was more traditional than what I imagined, and probably for that reason, I did not always get what the lyrical imagery was referencing. I found the end notes to be very helpful, but I would have liked to read them either before or right after the poems they were about, because I clearly missed some of what was said on the first reading.
I think it’s a collection I will have to re-read to appreciate fully.
April 16, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley, for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Welp, looks like I'm the killjoy today.
A History of Touch is a gory, grimy, bitter poetry collection about the horrors of motherhood, misogyny, and mistreated women. Rife with motifs of breasts, nursing, and hair torn from the scalp, most of the poems focus on the numerous miseries that women have faced throughout history on behalf of men and the burdens placed on them by nature. The anger found in these pages will surely appeal to some readers (judging by the other reviews, it certainly has), but for me it was all too violent, too caustic, and, frankly, too gross.
Welp, looks like I'm the killjoy today.
A History of Touch is a gory, grimy, bitter poetry collection about the horrors of motherhood, misogyny, and mistreated women. Rife with motifs of breasts, nursing, and hair torn from the scalp, most of the poems focus on the numerous miseries that women have faced throughout history on behalf of men and the burdens placed on them by nature. The anger found in these pages will surely appeal to some readers (judging by the other reviews, it certainly has), but for me it was all too violent, too caustic, and, frankly, too gross.
April 20, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for Erin Vance’s first full length poetry collection “A History of Touch” and it tested my balance to say the least. Erin Vance is a master of weaving folklore and history into poetry and she walks perfectly the line between unnerving and achingly beautiful. This book has everything one could want from a macabre feminist collection: visceral longing, righteous anger, haunting soliloquy and searing truth. Read this if you love Shirley Jackson, true crime, feminist history and Irish folklore, and especially read this if you love poetry; Vance has a specific and rare poetic voice that is like no one else, but is all the same very familiar.
June 29, 2022
Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Review Copy (ARC) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and this does not affect my opinion of the book.
A History of Touch is a lyrical hall of horrors that explores the darkness, the gore, and the painful things many women have to go through. Vance walks in the shoes of many silenced, hidden, and maligned women in history, and in each poem, she unearths their pain and screams so loudly that anyone cannot help but hear.
Read my full review on Inkhaven
A History of Touch is a lyrical hall of horrors that explores the darkness, the gore, and the painful things many women have to go through. Vance walks in the shoes of many silenced, hidden, and maligned women in history, and in each poem, she unearths their pain and screams so loudly that anyone cannot help but hear.
Read my full review on Inkhaven
March 14, 2022
"like a tree
I'm losing my leaves"
This is a dark (Disturbing) book of poems and I really enjoyed it. It really isn't for the faint of heart like the ones tilted where the house stood and the Moorhouse for example.
I quite enjoy this book.
These poems are written very well. You can really picture what's being said even if you don't won't to.
I wasn't expecting the poems that were in this. I don't know what I was expecting but not these. I couldn't put this down.
I was granted a copy from NetGalley for an honest review
I'm losing my leaves"
This is a dark (Disturbing) book of poems and I really enjoyed it. It really isn't for the faint of heart like the ones tilted where the house stood and the Moorhouse for example.
I quite enjoy this book.
These poems are written very well. You can really picture what's being said even if you don't won't to.
I wasn't expecting the poems that were in this. I don't know what I was expecting but not these. I couldn't put this down.
I was granted a copy from NetGalley for an honest review
April 22, 2022
I recieved a free copy of this book on Netgalley.com for my honest review.
Raw, Powerful, and often time so distrubing it's difficult to read. I honestly don't even know how to begin this review. The body horror elements that are present in this selection of poems made it difficult for me read at times. If I had to reccomend one poem from this collection it would be "This Little World" 4/5 purely because of all the body horror.
Raw, Powerful, and often time so distrubing it's difficult to read. I honestly don't even know how to begin this review. The body horror elements that are present in this selection of poems made it difficult for me read at times. If I had to reccomend one poem from this collection it would be "This Little World" 4/5 purely because of all the body horror.
May 3, 2022
4.3/5 stars, full review to come! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review. I still have a hard time with modern poetry that lacks like.. a rhyme scheme or specific meter... but thematically she was POPPIN' and I highlighted a fair few lines. I really loved that there were notes at the end to give context to some of the poems!
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment of subject/ideas: 5/5
Aesthetic: 5/5
Writing: 3/5
Enjoyment of subject/ideas: 5/5
Aesthetic: 5/5
April 21, 2022
I would like to thank Guernica Editions for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley.
Although I was intrigued by the synopsis of this poetry collection I only managed to read the first two poems before dropping it.
If you have a feminist with a strong stomach and reading about violence inflicted on women's bodies doesn't make you sick then you should give this book a try.
Although I was intrigued by the synopsis of this poetry collection I only managed to read the first two poems before dropping it.
If you have a feminist with a strong stomach and reading about violence inflicted on women's bodies doesn't make you sick then you should give this book a try.
June 30, 2022
2.5 stars (eARC provided on net galley)
an interesting collection which references prevalent issues in women’s lives using a beautiful, descriptive style, however, for me I found some of the messages and imagery to be too lyrical to understand. despite this, I feel this collection would work for some people and would still recommend
an interesting collection which references prevalent issues in women’s lives using a beautiful, descriptive style, however, for me I found some of the messages and imagery to be too lyrical to understand. despite this, I feel this collection would work for some people and would still recommend
October 20, 2022
One of, if not the finest, collections of poetry I have ever read. Each poem is ripe with beautifully acidic imagery and is presented with raw, organic emotion that tells deeply important stories about the past and present of womanhood. This book is spectacular. Vance is a wholly individual and incomprehensibly skilled weaver of words. Do yourself a favour, poetry lovers, and purchase this book.
March 7, 2022
This poetry collection is haunting, dark, and visceral. These absolutely beautiful and often unsettling poems weave through history and literature to pay tribute to some of the women that the world shunned or hurt. This is a wonderful book of poetry if you enjoy dark imagery.
May 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this poetry, it painted such vivid images with beautiful words. I had high expectations for this and it definitely lived up to it!
June 10, 2023
These are evocative poems about scorned/abused women through out history. I could only read a few a time, there is a building menace that the reader must witness.
May 20, 2022
When I was young
and talked to the fairies,
I did not see in the pool of my future
a busy house and an empty body.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book
A History of Touch is a fascinating collection of morbid gothic poetry. While the collection didn't have many standout moments for me (besides the one quoted above which, for some reason I can't explain, literally gave me chills?) it still managed to convey the atmosphere really well.
I genuinely enjoyed the darkness and the overall theme of the poems. There's a sense of beauty in the coherence here that made me quite like the book despite the fact that maybe I didn't fully understand everything or truly feel everything that was depicted here. I do wish that some of the notes that were described in the appendix of the book actually came earlier and, in a way, even accompanied the poetry since a lot of the time the poem was in reference to something quite obscure and so, knowing which crime or historic event it was alluding to would have really helped in the poem landing the blow it intended to. Regardless, quite a well-written collection and one I'd recommend if you're into poetry.
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