Bring Down the Chandeliers

by Tara Hardy

Tara Hardy is a father-daughter incest survivor. In these poems you will find sex and survival turned inside out, offering fresh perspective on what it means to be counted among the wounded. Where we expect to find liability, we find muscle. Where we expect to find numbness, we find thirst. Bring Down the Chandeliers is an exploration of trauma, body and faith. It is also an inquiry into forgiveness. As such these poems are not just for sexual assault survivors; they are for anyone who has struggled to forgive oneself and/or one's trespassers. They are for anyone making a life in the midst of aftermath. Tara Hardy is, as Dorothy Allison claims, "The real deal. Passionate, brave, gifted, insightful, dead-on in language and craft." Find yourself strangely hopeful amid her explorations of addiction and justice. Consider your own compass as she navigates body, as she confronts sex as the site of what was both stolen and returned. Find a surprising bit of yourself in a story may not be yours, but in which you're invited to grapple with your own vulnerabilities and strengths. Walk away with a more intricate understanding of your own humanity.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Queer

100 pages, Paperback

First published June 24, 2011

Reviews

[Sabina · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Faced with choosing
between rape and mouth,
I choose strawberry."

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up as part of a reading challenge to read a collection of poetry. I'm not very "good" at reading poetry and am very new to it. A handful of the poems resonated with me, but I'm not sure I understood all of them. This was a good challenging, stretch read for me.

[Verity · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything to me.

Life Saving and affirming.

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I even...?

Okay, imagine if a book could punch you in the jaw.

Hard.

And imagine if immediately after being punched, you fell deeply, irrevocably, painfully, sincerely, fabulously in love with that very same book.

You with me?

I hereby present Bring Down the Chandeliers by Tara Hardy.

Shocking, vivid, gorgeous poetry, fearless and raw and-

I'm going to stop here, because I could go on forever.

But just read it, okay?

(note: MAJOR TRIGGER WARNING for abuse and eating disorders)

[Emma Newport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Hardy is one of the rawest poets I've ever read. Her poems almost hurt every time I read one. But I cherish that about her writing. Her work inspires me to write my own, and her subject matter relates to me on a very deep and personal level. Her words may be harsh, but there's a softness and a vulnerability to them as well. She's becoming one of my favorite poets, and I can't wait to read more of her work.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a quote on the cover of this book which says "I want to read this book out loud to those I love." This quote perfectly sums up my feelings about Bring Down the Chandeliers. Tara Hardy is beyond gifted with words and beyond cursed with experience. She is among the greatest living poets and should be shared with everyone who feels too much and who copes with words. I cannot give this book enough praise.

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once, Tara Hardy saved me. Read this book. Give it to the people you love.

[CK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Hardy is my new favorite poet.

[Amy Drennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original Name and Uncommon Woman would have been worth the price of admission... wonderful collection.

[Acacia Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate this up! Oh my this beautiful touching, strong touches thing not often touched amazing so it read it find it do it now! I will give this a chat on my channel! I'm just blown always!!!!