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Losing Languages
A collection of poetry discussing one's journey through grief, young love, and self-discovery after returning to a life rendered unrecognizable by a heartbreaking series of events. The eighth book from author Paige Pierce, "Losing Languages" explores the ways that loss changes the very foundations of one's existence and offers a hopeful plunge into what comes after devastation.
158 pages, Paperback
Published June 25, 2024
8 people want to read
About the author
Paige Pierce
8 books146 followersPaige Pierce is the author of eight poetry books including “Losing Languages”, “Stomach Aches”, and “Things We Can’t Say Over Coffee”. Her writing highlights topics such as love, loss, growing up, body image, feminism, and friendship, and is sold internationally through all major retailers. In December of 2023, Paige was named the City of Nanaimo’s Youth Poet Laureate.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 5, 2024
for reasons only known to some greater entity in the universe, my proof copy arrived today and I had a very emotional read-through of this book! I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it <3
August 24, 2024
It's interesting for me, because I have never felt so conflicted with a book I so thoroughly enjoyed.
I realize the word 'conflicted' has a negative connotation, which is not my intention. I feel conflicted because while I think this book is another phenomenal collection from author Paige Pierce, the beginning poems threw me off.
While I usually easily relate to Ms. Pierce's work, I struggled with Losing Languages. I also found the first few poems difficult to understand (though re-reading somewhat alleviates this). I chalk it up to a clash in personal experience and perspectives, though looking back at my time with this book, I still find it noteworthy.
Despite this, about a fifth of the way through there came a poem with an ending that struck a cord with me. And I enjoyed the rest of my time after that point. I found myself very easily relating to Ms. Pierce's feelings and woes, and even on the rare occasion that this was not the case, I could feel the feelings splashed across the page, whether it be hope for things to work out with someone, the affection of listing all the little things about a partner, or the despair of seeing someone you so dearly love slip away from you.
Loss and grief (sometimes intertwined, sometimes separately) encompass this book's themes. They are abundant throughout, and Ms. Pierce does not hold back. At times there is resignation, others fury, and at others still the familiar aspect of love (requited and not) that is so relentlessly portrayed within Ms. Pierce's work, and I daresay a signature trademark of hers.
The sheer raw intimacy found in previous works returns, just as intense as ever. This extends to vicious imagery that is desperate, powerful, and ultimately help etch the author's feelings into the reader's very soul.
If you loved Ms. Pierce's previous pieces of work, you will love this too. It may not be my first choice for those unfamiliar with her poetry (I personally think 'Things We Can't Say Over Coffee' is a better introduction to her work), but at the same time, you won't go wrong with picking this off the shelf.
Thank you.
I realize the word 'conflicted' has a negative connotation, which is not my intention. I feel conflicted because while I think this book is another phenomenal collection from author Paige Pierce, the beginning poems threw me off.
While I usually easily relate to Ms. Pierce's work, I struggled with Losing Languages. I also found the first few poems difficult to understand (though re-reading somewhat alleviates this). I chalk it up to a clash in personal experience and perspectives, though looking back at my time with this book, I still find it noteworthy.
Despite this, about a fifth of the way through there came a poem with an ending that struck a cord with me. And I enjoyed the rest of my time after that point. I found myself very easily relating to Ms. Pierce's feelings and woes, and even on the rare occasion that this was not the case, I could feel the feelings splashed across the page, whether it be hope for things to work out with someone, the affection of listing all the little things about a partner, or the despair of seeing someone you so dearly love slip away from you.
Loss and grief (sometimes intertwined, sometimes separately) encompass this book's themes. They are abundant throughout, and Ms. Pierce does not hold back. At times there is resignation, others fury, and at others still the familiar aspect of love (requited and not) that is so relentlessly portrayed within Ms. Pierce's work, and I daresay a signature trademark of hers.
The sheer raw intimacy found in previous works returns, just as intense as ever. This extends to vicious imagery that is desperate, powerful, and ultimately help etch the author's feelings into the reader's very soul.
If you loved Ms. Pierce's previous pieces of work, you will love this too. It may not be my first choice for those unfamiliar with her poetry (I personally think 'Things We Can't Say Over Coffee' is a better introduction to her work), but at the same time, you won't go wrong with picking this off the shelf.
Thank you.
July 12, 2024
again, my amazing porigl has poured her heart and soul into another fantastic collection of poems and once again I’m in awe of her natural talent and her tenacity to create such beautiful poems at such a difficult time in her life.
you are a wonder, my friend. to have a fraction of your talent and I would be overjoyed, but you just keep raising the bar higher and higher with every book you put out. everyone better read this. NOW!!!!! or else….🙃
you are a wonder, my friend. to have a fraction of your talent and I would be overjoyed, but you just keep raising the bar higher and higher with every book you put out. everyone better read this. NOW!!!!! or else….🙃
August 26, 2024
Losing Languages was a quick read but a great one. Each poem held a sense of grief, longing, or even sometimes hope. Again, the way Paige Pierce is able to write in a way that allows her readers to truly feel how she felt creates an incredibly immersive experience. I found myself about a quarter way through and unable to stop turning the page.
This book speaks to me in many ways.
The title, “losing languages,” reminds me of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of hours I’ve spent learning a language I love and getting to a point where I was getting comfortable with it to in turn, end up heart broken and losing my drive for continuing my studying. Thus resulting in a year of no practice, and me losing a language that I so desperately sought out to gain.
Losing Languages also helped me take a look into my grief as well. All that I have lost. The way Pierce bleeds her emotions onto a page is something I wish I thought to do in the times it mattered most. Now I’m left with figments of unprocessed memories and buried sorrow that I fear to touch. Closing the back cover of this book has opened my mind to these memories and unprocessed grief, now I want to work on walking through the path of sewing up my own heart.
As this is a very personal review, I write like so with intention. I think that everyone who reads this will come out with something different. Which in my opinion, makes it a must read.
I am looking forward to reading Pierce’s other books and seeing how she’s grown as a writer since I’ll be going back in time down her book line.
Get this book. Sit with it and reflect. I will be coming back to it for another read in the future.
This book speaks to me in many ways.
The title, “losing languages,” reminds me of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of hours I’ve spent learning a language I love and getting to a point where I was getting comfortable with it to in turn, end up heart broken and losing my drive for continuing my studying. Thus resulting in a year of no practice, and me losing a language that I so desperately sought out to gain.
Losing Languages also helped me take a look into my grief as well. All that I have lost. The way Pierce bleeds her emotions onto a page is something I wish I thought to do in the times it mattered most. Now I’m left with figments of unprocessed memories and buried sorrow that I fear to touch. Closing the back cover of this book has opened my mind to these memories and unprocessed grief, now I want to work on walking through the path of sewing up my own heart.
As this is a very personal review, I write like so with intention. I think that everyone who reads this will come out with something different. Which in my opinion, makes it a must read.
I am looking forward to reading Pierce’s other books and seeing how she’s grown as a writer since I’ll be going back in time down her book line.
Get this book. Sit with it and reflect. I will be coming back to it for another read in the future.
September 25, 2024
This book is SO good. A beautiful collection that makes me feel like I am not alone in this world.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews