This Is How We Find Each Other

by Fortesa Latifi

In her first collection of poetry, Fortesa explores love, loss, cultural identity, and change. With her gift for compassion and insight, Fortesa's poems are at once both gentle and cutting.

Genres: Poetry, Novels

104 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2014

Reviews

[Trista Mateer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I like poetry. I write poetry. Sometimes I feel like waking up and having orange juice and avocado on toast with a side of poetry for breakfast. I love poetry. But I can acknowledge that poetry is not for everyone. Some people can find it too stiff or pretentious. And you know what? Sometimes it is.

But Fortesa writes in a way that is completely accessible. I would recommend her book to people who don't even like poetry. In here, they will find something to like. Reading her book is like sitting down next to someone on the train and having them lean over and tell you their whole life story. Secrets whispered between strangers.

It's a solid debut from a talented poet.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Books 208 - 2016 **

3,4 of 5 stars!

I DONT WANT TO LOVE YOU ANYMORE

I have to believe that you'r e a monster
There's no other way. It's like in the movies
how they show us why the bad guy became bad
It's to keep us from hating him. It's to make us understand
I don't want to understand anymore because when i understand
I love you and I don't want to love you anymore
I wish i could see you on the street without feeling sick
but I can't look at you without failing half in love with your eyelashes
I can't look at you without wishing you were stretching your hand back for mine
I have to believe that you're a monster
Because if i go back to thinking that you're just lovely and damaged then i'm done for
People will whisper about our love for years to come
How terrifying it was to be in the same room with two people so destined to ruin each other
How completely we ruined each other
People will whisper about our love for years to come
and this is what they will remember
How brave i was
How i understood and understood until i could'nt anymore
How, I'm sorry, but I could'nt anymore

*I'm speechless! >__<

Thank you Bookmate!

[Taliyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me extremely sad. But it was magnificent.

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apparently was not as impactful as I'd thought, since I'd forgotten I read it! That said, there are some really solid, lovely lines/poems in here that you don't want to miss out on.

[Anh Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't have much expectation when I opened this book, eventhough there are so many good reviews. But this book truly and utterly blew me away.
Fortesa wrote in a way that left people who don't even like poetry to fall in love with her words. She depicted the youth so tenderly but none of the details are polished, so the poems did hurt because you just can't help feeling a relation to them and seeing the rough edges of your past between the lines of words. However, eventhough the book is filled with pains and losts we've all been through our adolescent, it also shone with love and hope and shown that we can recover from anything.
Some of the amazing poems that I love wholeheartedly are 'The poet talks to herself. And to you. And you. And you.' or 'Self-portrait at twenty-one' or 'Half-dead kids'.
Amazing debut of a talented poet.

[Cecilie K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now, I have a confession to make before I get to this review.

I dog ear and underline a lot in my poetry books, they get tossed around my bathroom, they all have tea and coffee stains on them.

So when I came back to Fortesa's book a couple of months after putting it down last I wasn't surprised to see poems underlined in pink, as I read on I was however a bit surprised to find just how much I have underlined.
This book is good,
I mean it's really, really good.
The phrases that hit me are the ones I want to cut out of this book and somehow absorb into my soul.
Her poem "Spiders" have become a mantra to me on particularly bad days,

This is such a genuinly solid collection of poetry, it never made it to my bookshelf cause I keep carrying it around with me.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really touching and surprising collection that involves very deeply passionate love, and losing, and breaking, and piecing back together again. Fortesa doesn’t mince her words or experiences, but rather uses language and action to her advantage to describe these powerful, raw emotions that she has felt and battled through.

Most people who struggled through their teenage years are going to see a reflection of themselves in one or more of Fortesa’s deeply personal poems, but if you have ever felt suicidal you might also see solice in them. She talks openly about suicide and in the powerful and continuing love from her family helping her move beyond it.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each poem seems to hit harder than the one before it. I've never before related to poetry so intensely, and never have I read any poetry so inspiring or so touching. Fortesa truly emobdies the phrase "having a way with words," and hers seem to evoke every emotion possible. Definitely a must read for anyone who likes to read, doesn't like to read, likes poetry, doesn't like poetry... really a must read for anyone. Do yourself a favor. I promise you won't regret it.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart swells every time I read a poem of Fortesa's. I stumbled across her on tumblr and fell in love with her writing and have not been able to stop stalking her blog since. I highly recommend reading this collection of poetry and I hope it brings you the kind of comfort it has brought me.
Fortesa, you are a truly magnificent writer and wonderful human.

[Alyssa Vandenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used to not really enjoy reading poetry. Then I discovered Fortesa Latifi's poetry, and that changed completely. I identify with so many of her poems. Each one of them evokes a particular emotion or memory. She manages to write in a way that's simplistic, but beautiful. I can't recommend her poetry enough!

[Matilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so exited when I heard Fortesa Latifi was publishing a book. I'm still exited now, every time I read one of these poems (or the ones on her Tumblr). All of them are honest and well written and relatable. I can't recommend this poetry collection enough.

[Christine Sellers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought 'This Is How We Find Each Other' on iBooks and really enjoyed it! Fortesa writes with such honesty and her imagery is so vivid. She captures youth in a way that's tangible and translates it beautifully on paper. I'd definitely recommend her work! :)

[Lelanie Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreakingly beautiful.

[Mashail Faqeeh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting. It was the perfect companion for days like this one.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her writing weaves images tinged with the most gorgeous soft glow.