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Small Cures
Small Cures is at once a compelling reminder to anyone struggling with heartbreak, mental health, or trauma, that they are not alone, an inspirational manual on how to survive, and a stirring call to arms for self-love. This unique volume brings together 150 poems into one seamless narrative based on the different stages of an "illness"--diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Through words that are as breathtakingly sparse and raw as they are honest and memorable, Hicks-Wilson's soothing and soulful voice serves as the gentle guide to self-healing we all need. darling,
you feel heavy
because you are
too full of truth. open your mouth more.
let the truth exist
somewhere other than
inside your body.
you feel heavy
because you are
too full of truth. open your mouth more.
let the truth exist
somewhere other than
inside your body.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published May 20, 2020
16 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 5, 2022
Essential mid-2010s Tumblr poetry for the sad white girl in us all.
honey
darling
darling
honey
don’t let
this collection
waste your time
Full review to come
honey
darling
darling
honey
don’t let
this collection
waste your time
Full review to come
June 10, 2021
Do you relish reciting poetry? If your response is yes, have you always thought about how the creation must have appeared while the author had written it? Or what it must be like when the artist reads it? Did you want to hear a poem than just studying it? When I got introduced to them, I yearned to listen to the originator's voice, reciting it at least once. When I understood that I could, joy knew no bounds.
Drafting a review for a poetry audiobook is really a bit hard for me as I have never achieved it earlier, but I am fully savoring the process. I liked that the artist took pains to actually provide a voice to her creations & not done by some different person. For me, it took it to a totally another level. Her voice is super soft-spoken & completely calms the audience.
Even though I savored hearing the poem, I wanted to read simultaneously with the sound (materially) & so felt a tiny bit misplaced. I think it can be fully appreciated if you have both the original text & the audiobook. The overall idea based on self-love, self-acceptance & self-empowerment is something everyone lacks in today's time. The full audiobook needs only an hour & therefore, it can be listened to on any occasion.
Bless you, NetGalley & Author Della Hick-Wilson, for the ARC of this audiobook.
Drafting a review for a poetry audiobook is really a bit hard for me as I have never achieved it earlier, but I am fully savoring the process. I liked that the artist took pains to actually provide a voice to her creations & not done by some different person. For me, it took it to a totally another level. Her voice is super soft-spoken & completely calms the audience.
Even though I savored hearing the poem, I wanted to read simultaneously with the sound (materially) & so felt a tiny bit misplaced. I think it can be fully appreciated if you have both the original text & the audiobook. The overall idea based on self-love, self-acceptance & self-empowerment is something everyone lacks in today's time. The full audiobook needs only an hour & therefore, it can be listened to on any occasion.
Bless you, NetGalley & Author Della Hick-Wilson, for the ARC of this audiobook.
December 21, 2024
This was stunning. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and Della has the most beautiful, soothing voice. I would happily listen to her narrate grocery lists and find it relaxing. The title, Small Cures, is quite fitting because this book is a warm hug in poetry form. I was getting emotional over wounds I didn't even realize were open while listening to this. 💜 HIGHLY recommend this to my fellow poetry lovers!
May 7, 2021
I have to admit it's not easy writing this review. Everyone seems to love this poetry collection, so maybe it's a me problem, but I did not like it at all.
Let's begin with the format: the poems are short, sometimes 2 lines or a few words long, written in that awful Tumblr style. I will never consider those true poetry because they always come across as thoughts and not art.
The only good thing was the message: self love, self acceptance, and empowerment, which let's be honest we all need sometimes.
I'm sorry for giving this book such low rating, but I did not enjoy it at all. If you enjoy the work of Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur, then I am sure you will enjoy this one too tho.
Let's begin with the format: the poems are short, sometimes 2 lines or a few words long, written in that awful Tumblr style. I will never consider those true poetry because they always come across as thoughts and not art.
The only good thing was the message: self love, self acceptance, and empowerment, which let's be honest we all need sometimes.
I'm sorry for giving this book such low rating, but I did not enjoy it at all. If you enjoy the work of Amanda Lovelace and Rupi Kaur, then I am sure you will enjoy this one too tho.
August 23, 2022
I love this book of poetry. I revisit these poems at least weekly.
May 11, 2021
I read nayyirah waheed's 'salt' a few years ago and would have liked this collection a lot more if I hadn't. Honestly, it's pretty much the same book. Hicks-Wilson even uses full stops mid-sentence the exact same way that waheed does, and has done for years, and as beautiful as some of the poems are here, they're all so derivative that it felt like reading a book I'd already read before (McKayla Robbin's 'We Carry the Sky' is another book which reads almost identically to this one.) There's no unique voice here at all, as poetic and lovely as the voice often is, and it lets the book down; untitled, inspirational short form poetry about self-love, with a lot of sun, moon and ocean imagery and 'darling' thrown around a lot, is practically a genre in and of itself, and one collection of them is pretty much identical to the next. There's room for variation, even in this oddly specific genre, but this book doesn't deliver it.
I really did like some of the poems here a lot, particularly the longer ones, where Hicks-Wilson allows herself to develop an idea beyond a line or two. These are the ones which feel most like her own words:
'all words,
like us,
are ninety percent water
you can choose
to drown
in the ones that hurt
or,
you can choose
to let them
cleanse you.'
And even some of the shorter ones were evocative and lovely, and I re-read them a few times just to enjoy them over and over:
'it's not just ghosts
that come back.
the living do
too.'
but others are literally just Pinterest quotes (I even googled them to check):
'you should have been your first love.'
Yep, seen that one before.
This whole book reads a lot like a poet mimicking the voice of other poets, which is fine and a perfectly valid way for a poet to experiment and ultimately craft their own unique way of writing, but it means that it's really hard to view it as a work of art in and of itself, rather than just an addition to an identical canon. It'll appeal to anyone who enjoys that generic Rupi Kaur / Amanda Lovelace style of poetry, where it's all about getting over heartbreak and loving yourself in a series of three-line poems, and I genuinely think that Hicks-Wilson is incredibly talented. In particular, she has an impressive way of crafting gentle imagery that invokes warmth and comfort. She's also clearly impressively prolific, just going by the sheer amount of poems she's already written, and I think there are many better volumes to come from her. This is just a starting point, and it's not bad - it's even great in parts! - but it's just not as original as I think she's capable of.
I really did like some of the poems here a lot, particularly the longer ones, where Hicks-Wilson allows herself to develop an idea beyond a line or two. These are the ones which feel most like her own words:
'all words,
like us,
are ninety percent water
you can choose
to drown
in the ones that hurt
or,
you can choose
to let them
cleanse you.'
And even some of the shorter ones were evocative and lovely, and I re-read them a few times just to enjoy them over and over:
'it's not just ghosts
that come back.
the living do
too.'
but others are literally just Pinterest quotes (I even googled them to check):
'you should have been your first love.'
Yep, seen that one before.
This whole book reads a lot like a poet mimicking the voice of other poets, which is fine and a perfectly valid way for a poet to experiment and ultimately craft their own unique way of writing, but it means that it's really hard to view it as a work of art in and of itself, rather than just an addition to an identical canon. It'll appeal to anyone who enjoys that generic Rupi Kaur / Amanda Lovelace style of poetry, where it's all about getting over heartbreak and loving yourself in a series of three-line poems, and I genuinely think that Hicks-Wilson is incredibly talented. In particular, she has an impressive way of crafting gentle imagery that invokes warmth and comfort. She's also clearly impressively prolific, just going by the sheer amount of poems she's already written, and I think there are many better volumes to come from her. This is just a starting point, and it's not bad - it's even great in parts! - but it's just not as original as I think she's capable of.
July 11, 2021
This had powerful words, I enjoyed it quite a lot, maybe more so because it was narrated by the author herself.
It focused on self love, acceptance and empowerment, which isn't very represented usually (e.g: main characters who don't think they are beautiful, or lacking self confidence, or needing another character to verify them), and that aspect really entertained me.
I think I will read this again myself, it was special to hear the audiobook by the author, and gave me a perspective on how the author wrote it and why.
In general, I would totally recommend this!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.
It focused on self love, acceptance and empowerment, which isn't very represented usually (e.g: main characters who don't think they are beautiful, or lacking self confidence, or needing another character to verify them), and that aspect really entertained me.
I think I will read this again myself, it was special to hear the audiobook by the author, and gave me a perspective on how the author wrote it and why.
In general, I would totally recommend this!
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.
May 29, 2021
this was fine, but nothing special and not really enough to compel me to finish the whole collection.
the good: they were short so it was easy to get a feel for the style
the not-so-good: i just didn't get engaged enough to really care about the subject so i didn't bother finishing the entire thing
the good: they were short so it was easy to get a feel for the style
the not-so-good: i just didn't get engaged enough to really care about the subject so i didn't bother finishing the entire thing
June 16, 2020
This poetry collection is beautiful. I love how it is separated literally and figuratively by the treatment process. I highly recommend reading this collection through and through. You will find parts of yourself on each page <3 Congrats to Della Hicks-Wilson on her first poetry collection.
July 3, 2020
Adored this poetry. Shared it with my 15 year old daughter so the fierce female words will sink into her being.
June 3, 2020
Della Hicks-Wilson’s debut book-length poem is a remarkable and beautifully written body of work. I loved her clever concept, starting off with the speaker's retelling of a cardiology consultation followed by a memorable and continuous dialogue between doctor and patient.
One of my favourite poems is on page 134
‘remember, you are sacred land. choose your travellers, wisely.' Hicks-Wilson wonderful use of imaginative and lyrical language will have you immersed, nourished and feeling tranquil. I very much look forward to reading her future books.
One of my favourite poems is on page 134
‘remember, you are sacred land. choose your travellers, wisely.' Hicks-Wilson wonderful use of imaginative and lyrical language will have you immersed, nourished and feeling tranquil. I very much look forward to reading her future books.
May 22, 2021
This book was a nice read, full of self-love and healing.
June 27, 2020
This book is like a hug and a kiss from a higher power. An allowance to love yourself wholly. It’s peace and anger and love and joy and grief and it’s validation. I love it. Della Hicks-Wilson is a force to find worth and value within.
June 25, 2020
This book of poems really spoke to me, I read it in one seating, as I believe is the intent. The 3-part story telling technique was a unique mechanism for taking the reader on a journey. I haven’t come across this particular way of storytelling in poetry much; it’s a very powerful way to present the poetry. Highly recommend this book, there’s so much gentleness and wisdom that we all could use. Congratulations to Della on her first poetry book!
November 9, 2021
Absolutely beautiful ❤️
July 28, 2020
Have you ever read a book and felt the author knew you? This is the feeling I have when reading this gorgeous, book-long poem. I love the treatment of the poem, the transition of the components of it.
It soothes me to hold it in my hands. Whenever I read from this book I feel like someone has taken care to bring me a cup of tea and a nice shawl to wrap around my shoulders: ‘remember, you are sacred land. choose your travellers, wisely.' She writes of love, heartbreak, and redemption so beautifully. It truly touched my soul.
It soothes me to hold it in my hands. Whenever I read from this book I feel like someone has taken care to bring me a cup of tea and a nice shawl to wrap around my shoulders: ‘remember, you are sacred land. choose your travellers, wisely.' She writes of love, heartbreak, and redemption so beautifully. It truly touched my soul.
June 22, 2020
This collection of poems is stunning. I loved every word, and I know that this a work that I will return to time and time again. Poetry lover or not, I think everyone should buy this book. It’s that good.
June 19, 2020
Della says we bathe to cleanse our bodies, and asks what we do to cleanse our souls? We read her poetry, that's what.
June 12, 2020
Della Hicks-Wilson’s words will heal all that ails you. You will discover yourself in the pages and words of this beautiful book and it will feel so restorative. Read this book and find soothing and peace for your soul.
June 12, 2020
This book will FOREVER remain one of my favorite books, it's EVERYTHING I knew it would be. I've read it once, twice and am currently reading it again. DELLA HICKS-WILSON, I tip my hat to you. This book is a MASTERPIECE. I encourage EVERYONE to get a copy, so you can experience the pleasure of heartfelt moments.
June 8, 2020
This book will crack open your heart. It is beautifully written with something for everyone!
June 2, 2020
A voice like Della Hicks-Wilson is what we need as a world, to cope, to grow and to heal. Her pieces tend to be short but heavy with power and magic. Each page is a new level. Thank you for writing, Della!
July 9, 2020
It was so good, I took my time and savored it. It’s become a go- to book for me, and a great gift for friends. These poems are a balm for my heart. So glad I ran across her work on social media.
June 1, 2020
Small Cures - a collection of poems that have been seamlessly threaded into one long overture of self-love - is a masterpiece. It is full of moments that will make you stop, moments that will take your breath away, moments that will help you see a part of yourself you'd never acknowledged before.
There is no praise too high for Small Cures. I can already tell it is a collection I will return to time and time again when I need to slow down and reflect. Do yourself a favour and buy the book, follow the author in Instagram, and incorporate her poetry into your daily self-care routine. I know I will, and I will be better for it.
There is no praise too high for Small Cures. I can already tell it is a collection I will return to time and time again when I need to slow down and reflect. Do yourself a favour and buy the book, follow the author in Instagram, and incorporate her poetry into your daily self-care routine. I know I will, and I will be better for it.
August 17, 2020
An exquisite journey in healing. Reading this book of poems, I felt Della’s words guide as I floated in a canoe down a river yet traveled. The pages I earmarked resonate in the healing from a variety of relationships, most importantly the one with myself. Small Cures is a book you will go back and pick up to be reminded how far you have grown. My favorite book purchased this summer to the self compassion kit I’ve been building!
June 18, 2020
Absolutely beautiful. I feel this book is a must for every woman.
I devoured this quick read in a sitting. It’s a book of poems strung into one long love story to the author. The story as a whole is deeply touching and the individual poems are beautiful without being overdone. It’s a book I will reach for again and again and share with my daughters.
I devoured this quick read in a sitting. It’s a book of poems strung into one long love story to the author. The story as a whole is deeply touching and the individual poems are beautiful without being overdone. It’s a book I will reach for again and again and share with my daughters.
July 26, 2020
I found Della Hicks-Wilson through Instagram and bought her book after reading some snippets of her writing. This was a well-written, soulful piece of work about self-love and inevitable hurt and recovery. Loved her style and will be rereading it again soon.
August 12, 2020
Every word is stellar and nourishing.
August 20, 2020
Such beauty in these words. Relatable, lovely and touching. I just want to share this book with everyone. Amazing poetry touches something deep inside of us, this does this ×100.
April 30, 2024
The book Small Curse by Della Hicks-Wilson is an overarching story of self love and how to love. The book is made up of stand alone poems that fit perfectly into the next. I liked the different times the author used small connector words to make a series of poems into a sentence. The author split the book into three parts that helped tell a story of loving: Diginosis, Treatment, and Recovery. My favourite part of the story was the Diagnosis and Treatment as they both held very unique poems and had interesting insights to tell. The last section felt more a repetition of the last Treatment but also had different and interesting points. The book was easy to read and flowed very well and made me reflect a little on my life and how I love. I would recommend this book to others to read if they feel sad or lost on who they are and need reassurance or comfort.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews