What Will People Say: Poems

by Taniya Gupta

I had to fight for my existence before I was even out of my mother’s womb.
If I didn’t stop fighting then, why would I stop now?

What Will People Say follows a South Asian woman’s journey through being a daughter, and later a daughter-in-law, within the strict confines of her patriarchal family. Readers watch as the narrator navigates life, trying to find a safe place for herself, until she finally becomes her own hero. 

Grappling with the subjects of sexual and psychological trauma, as well as mental health, this collection of poetry carves a path beyond the guilt of “What will people say?”
 

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Contemporary

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2024

Reviews

[Mai H.]

National Poetry Month TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing

[Yves V.H. [Slow reading] · Rating 4 out of 5]

The poems in this book were heartbreaking. It was the poet's experience from childhood and how she had to heal from the trauma during her adulthood. She was just a kid who already thought of things that only adults should be concerned with. It seems like the kid had to be mature and grow up at a very early age. The emotions of this poetry book are really heavy and deep.

I was honestly baffled by the style of poetry because it was not what I was used to. The passages were long and almost like a paragraph just separated into stanzas.

Thank you Netgalley, Central Avenue Publishing, and Taniya Gupta for the eARC copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and voluntary.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Central Avenue Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

This collection of poetry has a lot to say; has a lot to tell and has a lot to share.

The collection talks about how typical Indian families welcome a girl child Vs a boy child; gender discrimination and abuse towards girls/women.

Reading this collection breaks my heart as I know most of the things the author has written is true and we all see happening right in front of me.

I just wish authors compile poems in such a way that it doesn’t seem like copied from other popular works by other authors.

No complaints regarding the writing and the compilation though.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of poetry is something so special, obviously to the author and now to me. I can see myself rereading this multiple times. The way the story was organized from “little girl” to “rejoice” shows the authors growth and life experiences, it shows her pain and joy. I love this story because even if we are of different culture and race the beauty of experiences is they are much more shared than you can imagine. I also loved being able to explore another culture through this book and I was taught so much I didn’t previously know. I wanted to point out also that I grew up in a conservative family from the Bible Belt south of the USA. The term “what will people say” is used entirely too much down here. While I am proud of my community a lot of the problems author Taniya Gupta brought up are prevalent in this area as well. I truly feel that teen girls AND boyss (adults as well) need to read this to further understand issues in many communities.

I saved a few quotes that really jumped out at me during my time reading, that I personally relate to.
“through my sessions in my therapist's office i met so many versions of me that had been betrayed
years had passed
i had never even let myself cry”
“i am not sorry that i exist”
“i am focused on me on prioritizing my well-being over pleasing you”.
And so many more, my phone is full of quotes from “what will people say”.

[Wafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't say that I'm a poetry enthusiast, but I found the title of this book so evocative that I wanted to give it a try. Like millions and millions of women, I too have felt the weight of that question : "What people say?"

Through a collection of compelling poems, each representing a pivotal moment of her life, Taniya Gupta bares herself to the readers while addressing important topics like family dynamics, how girls and women are perceived and the expectations that burden them in patriarchal societies. It was deep, powerful, moving and surprisingly approachable. Totally recommend !

Thank you NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing for giving me access to this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

“What I have never had the courage to say is / in our culture / a boy is a blessing from god / while a girl is considered a tragedy / you are congratulated for having a son / and consoled for / a daughter” (10)

I think these poems are raw and feeling, but also a bit clunky, juvenile and heavy-handed. I liked the idea of pairing different parts of the book with certain teas... While this is clearly a compelling life story worth telling, the poetry itself was not for me. I only truly liked one poem in the whole collection—I’m just not sure this poetry collection is saying anything new or speaking to me in any particular way. Hopefully it finds its audience, as I am definitely not it.

[Aneri Buch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! While at times sobering, this collection of poetry painted a vivid picture about the daily struggles immigrant women face between accepting and immersing themselves in their new life in the western world and the struggles related to honouring their (at times, oppressive) familial, social, and cultural obligations back home in the patriarchal society of the eastern world of being a good daughter, wife, daughter-in-law, and mother. It touches on topics like son preference and oldest daughter syndrome within the brown community. The writing itself is very descriptive and immersive, and each poem is told as a story from the author's life, in chronological order. As a special touch, the author, a tea-lover like myself, provides tea recommendations that accompany each section of the book. A worthwhile read, adding to the rightfully growing collection of brown female voices in our society!

[Bea (beansbookshelves) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.

I could relate to this book in so many ways. It sadly reflects our patriarcal society. As children we don't notice certains differences in behaviour between how an adult or society in general treat a boy and a girl, but we do notice them as we start growing up. The author talks about how parents (and everyone else) expect a son to be born, as if having a daughter is a shame; how women are the ones doing all the house chores, while men provide for the family; how even though girls might get the best grades and stay out of trouble, they're always behind boys... It's a heartbreaking but meaningful book and I recommend it to everyone.

[Katharine Gonsalves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear reader,

You’re about to go on a journey.

Brew a cup of tea, grab a blanket, and settle in.

Taniya’s poems are stories of life. Poignant, raw tales…not just about the life of one woman, but the lives of many women with stories previously untold.

What I found so beautiful about this collection is that by reading these poems, we are witnessing truth lovingly and carefully woven together through the power of written word.

This book is so needed in the world right now. It’s a tale of connection, vulnerability, love, and freedom. There’s healing in every word.

So take a sip of tea (don’t worry, Taniya has recommendations included!) and dive in.

[Bilqees (thebellekeys) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Special thanks to Central Avenue Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of “What Will People Say” in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always happy to discover a new South Asian writer, and Taniya Gupta’s debut poetry collection did not disappoint. Her poems – mainly about race, gender, childhood, marriage, mental health, and identity – are embedded in the “brown girl experience”. It was heartbreaking and healing at once to read Gupta navigating harsh themes like abuse, insecurity, and mental illness yet still end the collection on a note of hope. You can finish this poetry collection in a day and it will give you something to think about while comforting you. That being said, please note that many of these poems share details about suicidal ideation and sexual assault, so keep this content warning in mind.

I took out two stars because the general form of these poems didn’t particularly interest me. I’m just not a fan of the “lowercase + return key” formula. I would have liked to see more innovation and creativity in the delivery of the poems. I also wasn’t wowed by the general “you may be broken but you are still strong” thesis of most of these poems. I just feel like I’ve seen and heard and read it all already. That being said, I’d recommend “What Will People Say” for novice poetry readers and anyone looking out for upcoming South Asian voices.

[Viv · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Will People Say: Poems
Taniya Gupta
2023
5 Stars

Trigger Warnings: Domestic violence, violence and abuse


Thank you NetGalley and Publisher Central Avenue Publishing for my copy of What Will People Say: Poems. I have not received any rewards or compensation for this review and therefore all views and opinions are of my own, the reviewer.

In summary: Poems covering disparity due to cultural norms.

What Will People Say: Poems is heartbreaking. Just. Heartbreaking. And extremely Moving. The author Taniya took the reader through the cultural disparity being born a girl and suffering domestic violence throughout her formative years. I found my mouth agape with the poems being able to illicit deep visualisations of injustice and heartbreak.
All the poems contained in this book are worth the read, I never felt bored, only feeling sorrow for the writer as they convey their pain in the form of poetry.
I recommend reading this book to understand the imbalance between females and males in certain cultures and how these imbalances should be addressed.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

What a very poignant selection of poetry from the author and you are able to really connect with them and get a sense of their upbringing.

You can see how raw a lot of this is to do with the authors upbringing and see hat the women in her family have had to deal with time and time again.

I think seeing her mental health and how she goes about it and sees herself towards the end was truly inspiring.

Trigger Warnings: Physical and Emotional Abuse, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Rape

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

These poems are a reflection of the author's journey. It brings about a variety of emotions. The poems are stories from her culture, traumatic experiences from the past, and everything else. Thanks to the publishers at Central Avenue and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read these poems and do a review.

[Gayatri Sethi Desi Book Aunty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The collection is poignant and heartfelt.
Each poem has an honest ring to it.

This is the kind of deeply personal poetry collection you’d gift to a dear friend. Or, invite friends to tea and relish these poems together, discussing the resonance of feelings across hearts.

Highly recommend.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through a giveaway on Tea With Jann's youtube channel.

I was very impressed with the writing. I really enjoyed the way the story was told through poetic verse. The story was easy to follow and the poems were very heartfelt.

Thank you again Taniya Gupta!

[naviya]

- it's prose with line breaks
- i think this would've been interesting and good if it were just essays with thoughts and emotions
- heavy content, hard to critique bc of that
- 2 stars!

[Ruth Werwai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike most poetry collections I’ve read this one felt more like a memoir of sorts - while there were several stand out pieces, I appreciated this more as a whole and less for the individual poems

[Moushmi Radhanpara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple but haunting poems.

[Sydney M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately I really didn’t enjoy this book very much. It was unsubstantial and very “bare bones”. It seemed less like poetry and more like journal short journal entries. I can see how this book might be good for beginners who are just delving into poetry, but to be frank, overall I thought that this book was uninspired and boring.

[zhreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

final rating: 3.5

"how many more generations
will it take before this society
stops burying girls
under the weight
of countless expectations"

thank you to the publisher && netgalley for an e-arc of this!

this book shows the journey a south asian woman goes through from a young age to adulthood and encapsulates the sexism and patriarchy she has to deal with, which i believe many south asian women will relate to.

i liked the poems and felt like i related to the whole "what will people say?" epidemic that effects the south asian community a lot. this phrase and mindset has ruined many lives.

i also felt touched at how the author highlighted that some of the women in our communities have taken their hurt and rage and suffocated it their whole lives. it is heartbreaking && unfair.

i enjoyed how each section started with a tea recommendation - it was a cute edition && a great way to introduce people to different teas and their origins.

overall, i liked this book; however, some of the writing was a little simplistic and felt like it didn't carry deep && heartfelt emotion. i understand for the author these words will mean a lot, but some of them felt a little bland to me && didn't hit in the right way. however, that is only some of the poems - i did feel other poems were quite impactful && touched on some very serious issues.

also, reading the sentence "yun hi chala chal rahi" made me open my spotify && listen to the song from the film swades that i really loved when i was younger - it's a really uplifting song && i feel it really fit the vibe of the end of this book.

[Brown Girl Bookshelf]

"What Will People Say," a collection of poetry by Taniya Gupta, centers around societal judgment within South Asian culture, delving into its impact on identity and relationships. Divided into six sections, each paired with a tea recommendation by the author, a self-proclaimed tea nerd.

In her poems, Taniya Gupta vulnerably shares her experiences of her upbringing, family relationships, homesickness, mental illness, trauma and healing, and the search for community and love. She tackles relatable topics within South Asian culture such as gender double standards, the caste system, weddings and marriage in a brown family, surviving trauma and healing. As the collection progresses, readers delve deeper into Gupta's journey from childhood to womanhood, ultimately finding solace in her healing journey.

I resonated immensely with Gupta’s experiences such as overachieving in school and treatment as a daughter instead of a son. I took comfort in her mentions of achaar and roti. Reading her poetry evoked a range of emotions, from rage to melancholy to euphoria.

Gupta’s writing is raw and authentic and will ring true for anyone who has felt unable to live freely without society’s eyes and expectations. Her writing is potent and emotional, providing catharsis for all the brown girls who spoke up, knowing they deserved better.

[Andreea Demirgian · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a Tea Fair in the neighbouring town, so I went and I dragged Diana with me. Of course I bought some more tea (which is a disaster, but how can you say no to tea) and some teacup earrings (of course) and a book. The author was there and had a beautiful fountain pen with red ink and said magic formulas like inkswap, ooooh the rabbithole was grinning at me, I said no thank you, there is such thing as too many inks, too many pens, too many teas, there, I said it, we're grown women, we can control it. Then she said well I have a meditation class at one and I laughed and said listen... we're Romanians, we don't meditate, we break things. No way, she said, my bff is from Romania, her name is Diana and that's exactly what she would say. No way, I said, this is my Diana! So we laughed at coincidences and then she calligraphed her autograph on my copy of her book, in the most beautiful red ink there can be. This book that talks about being a girl and a woman in a world I know little of. This book I couldn't put down until the very last page was read. This book that made me wanna drive back to the Tea Fair and hug Taniya and say, whenever meditation fails you, come over, we'll break something together, when your Diana is not around, you can borrow my Diana, we should be friends cause we both love books and tea and inks, you're my people!

[tati york · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you for inviting me to review this book! because wow... it was a ride!

just from the description i already knew that the author was about to pour her heart out to us readers, and she reached my exact expectations.

the poems are very modern, they care more about the impact of the experience rather than creating any sort of musicality or aesthetics with the words. i didn't feel like there were a lot of rhymes, but that's kind of what modern poetry is anyways.

now, open up in such a raw and brutally honest way by revealing exactly what you went through and in quite shocking details takes a lot of gut, so i highly respect the author's bravery for pouring out her words and also giving encouragement for women who might have went through similar situations to seek help and become the best version of themselves.

in the 21st century, women are still silenced. we might have rights in its own small and subtle ways, but there is still a long way to do. it's voices like these that we need to encourage other women to free themselves from any shackles that society forces upon them so that they can become their own person.

i really recommend this book for any woman who wants to find consolation or guidance through a healing process against any toxicity in their lives.

[aishareadsnrambles · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK: WHAT WILL PEOPLS SAY
AUTHOR: TANYA GUPTA
PUB DATE: 09 JAN 2023
🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏽‍♀️
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏽‍♀️
This is the first poetry I'll be reading and it was a beautiful beginning. I've never been interested in poetry because I thought they would be boring. But, this wonderful has changed my mind and I might be trying other books in the genre.
🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏽‍♀️
The story of this poetry is one as old as time, it talked about how it's being a woman is like and society expectations foisted on us. It's something so many women can relate with, I definitely related with some things. This poetry was heartbreaking to read, but it was also a balm to my soul. It was heartbreaking to read the ordeals of the narrator, but a balm when she started to learn to love herself. This is the type of book that you can always go back to, it will comfort and soothe you when you're feeling pressured from society.
🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏽‍♀️
Reading this poetry was amazing and you should definitely add this to your TBR list
🧍🏽‍♀️🧍🏽‍♀️

[Amna Waqar · Rating 5 out of 5]

"when I realized that I had let others craft
the book of my life
defining my role in every chapter writing my character as the villain time and again..."

What a remarkable book of poetry! Being from a South Asian background, the notion of, "what will people say?" always seems to dictate the way of life. Letting go of this thought is liberating.

The poems in this book really packed a punch. The subject matter throughout was raw and hard-hitting; an inner monologue pertaining to what it is like for a female trying to navigate her way through life and adhering to cultural norms, in a patriarchal society.

"I am a kite
meant to soar high
but the string to my dreams
got tangled with the expectations of the ones it was handed to..."

I thought that the tea pairing with each chapter was unique and gave an almost comforting touch to the heavy subject matter.

My thanks to NetGalley and Central Avenue Publishing

[Isa aka the "anintrovertrambles" · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy mother of God! This collection of poetry was telling me that "see, it's not just you" and my god, wasn't this such a brilliant yet heartbreaking collection of words weaved gorgeously. I loved how Taniya gave us some tea suggestions in the middle as well.

As a woman who was bought up in a South Asian country, let me tell you fellas. The boxes we try to fit ourselves into just keep on increasing with our ages. It's been a journey unlearning most of the shit our mother's had to endure and I hope our generation and the next to come would just be there for women, instead of being against them because all in all, fuck what the people would say. That's a sentence I would like to never hear in my life time.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC and congrats Taniya on a brilliant piece of work. Wish you nothing but the best

[gladness · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a raw rollercoaster, y’all. some real feels, but let's be real – it's got its clunky moments, kinda like it's in a rush to spill all the stories.

she's sippin' tea through the chapters, tying it to her culture. it's like she's spillin' the tea with you, and that's cool. the poems hit hard, but sometimes they're a bit heavy-handed and, let's say, juvenile.

her writing style's like a smooth ride – easy but packs a punch. patriarchal trauma? i felt that. it's this clash of tradition and modern life, especially for women. gupta bares it all, showing how those expectations can feel like a never-ending drowning session.

for a south asian woman, this hit home on a more deeper level, but honestly, it's worth a read for everyone. even my west african self felt it. powerful stuff.

cheers to gupta for opening up her chest with this one.

[mystery girl 🌷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank You NetGalley for this arc!

I picked this arc for its title [and the fact that it had a hijabi on the cover]; the title hit a little too close to home. i usually dont enjoy “self help-ish” poetry, but this one was good. it dove deep into how women are treated in society and how it affects us for the rest of our lives. a lot of this book had me in my feels because of its gloomy tone, but i was filled with hope at the end. this author hit a lot of important points and it made her heart breaking book enjoyable. i connected with this poem, not because ive been through what she has, but because the author has a good way of making you really understand her feelings. her words are impactful and beautiful.

[Alyssa DC · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Will People Say is a poetry book by Taniya Gupta.
I loved this book. The beginning of each part has a tea recommendation, and I thought that was nice to make it part of the experience of appreciating the words. Each section of the book focuses on a different theme of the authors life and experiences, and the last section has a hopeful ending.

“we are born with the desire
to nurture everything
but somehow we forget that
we wildflowers need rain too”

The female energy makes this book so relatable and comforting, and I would recommend it to friends, mothers, sisters, and aunts. I think women of all ages can find something that speaks to them and makes them feel seen. I look forward to purchasing this book and sharing it with others.

[analice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Taniya Gupta's beautiful words and smart formatting create a melancholic atmosphere that exactly represents what it feels like to a be a woman. Even though she and I don't experience the same culture or similar upbringings, I could still relate a lot to her through the neverending feeling of forever being a little girl, not feeling in control of your body and decisions and being always molded and expected to act pleasingly.
It's powerful. It's honest. It's heartbreaking. It's real.
If you're wondering what will people say about this book, I can assure you it will be good.

Thank you to the publishers at Central Avenue and NetGalley for the chance of reading this.