It Shouldn't Have Been Beautiful

by Lia Purpura

A powerful new collection from poet, essayist, and frequent New Yorker contributor Lia Purpura   Lia Purpura has won national acclaim as both a poet and an essayist. The exquisitely rendered poems in this, her fourth collection, reach back to an early affinity for proverbs and riddles and the proto-poetry found in those forms. Taking on epic subjects—time and memory, metamorphosis and indeterminacy, the complicated nature of beauty, wordless states of being—each poem explores a bright, crisp, singular moment of awareness or shock or revelation.  Purpura reminds us that short poems, never merely brief nor fragmentary, can transcend their size, like small dogs, espresso, a drop of mercury.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

89 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 29, 2015

About the author

Lia Purpura (born February 22, 1964, Mineola, New York) is an American poet, writer and educator.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Miranda Kelly Macbeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw Lia Purpura give a presentation on one of essays titled "Shits Beautiful" and then I decided to try out her poetry. She is a beautiful writer and has the ability to write about the most simple things in the most beautiful ways. In her essay she talked about the bowel movement and how it actually is a beautiful and amazing process that our bodies accomplish. I picked up this book hoping there wold be similar themes and I wasn't disappointed. Purpura write about everything, from small weeds ("its precondition / is uselessness - / wrong in its place") to the bigger things like trying to prayer ("a more formal / attitude might work, / the way / a smaller suitcase / makes packing / less puzzling"). Her poems are worth reading over and over again. I would highly recommend reading her poetry and getting this collection on your shelf (and in your hands). It's simply beautiful poetry.

[Mehnaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Minimalist and disciplined poems that grapple with the profoundly philosophical without getting lost in narrative. The poetry of elegance and restraint. A goldmine for the analytical brain. At the same time, many of the pieces here express a simple wisdom. A stunningly spare collection, one that I'll likely re-read.

[Garni Assadourian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of these read more like riddles, some of these lack context which seems to be the author's entire life and private thoughts. I don't always really know what she means when she says things and I don't think she really cares about that. but i don't think that's the point anyway so that's fine

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection was exactly what I needed today. Sitting outside in the new spring weather, with its impression of rebirth, Purpura's poems read like a reflection of my surroundings. Her poems are "spare," as they say, pared down to the essentials. Many of them reflect on nature and beauty, and the gratitude we feel for witnessing it, but also the necessity of mindfulness. There's a vein of spirituality running through this collection that felt honest and unassuming; she doesn't impose a certain viewpoint on the reader, but rather invites us to speculate with her, whilst grounding that exploration in the concrete imagery of the mundane. She handles the topic of mental health similarly, by using metaphor to gently lead us to self-reflection ("Red Bird in Snow"). There is a sense of disbelieving but appreciative wonder throughout the collection. It's as if Purpura is on the cusp of exploring the absurdity of existence, but draws back and chooses to dwell in the tangible instead ("Early Spring"). This was such a grounding collection for me. It speaks with the voice of a dreamer, but one who holds tight to the little things in life. It urges us to be present, and above all, grateful.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solitude

No one home.
Snow packing
the morning in.
Much white
nothing filling up.
A V of birds
pulling
the silence
until some dog
across the street
barks, and breaks
what I call my peace.
What a luxury
annoyance is.
It bites off
and keeps
just enough of
what I think
I want to be endless.

[Letty Lovechild · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this while shelving in Poetry at work. The name struck me and the poem it comes from is incredible. Her language is fresh, clear and pervasive. What a treasure!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this little volume of poetry while camping this weekend. I loved it so much that, although I had another book with me, I started reading through it again as soon as I hit the last page.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some gems throughout this collection, but overall I just couldn't find the rhythm of Purpura's writing.

[adelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original Rating: 3*
Reread Jan. 2020: 2.5*

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and spare.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems are short, both in length and in line, but they're packed full of astute observations. Many feel more like koans, something to savor and ponder for weeks before you move on to the next. (I didn't do this, and instead read the entire book in a day -- probably unwise on my part.) Read these for sure, but take. your. time!

[Dan Gobble · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dense, yet compact. Purpura reminds me of Kay Ryan, short, sweet and more than just "to the point". I found myself reading and re-reading, and each time seeing another facet on these diamonds. I'll be checking out more of Lia Purpura's poems!

[SLT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whimsical, philosophical, existential. Just what I needed!

[The Earls List · Rating 4 out of 5]

First poetry book I’ve read in a long time that didn’t really ok Saddness or tragedy to connect to the reader and evoke an inspiring response.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. She has got a way with words. The tabs, the notes, the highlights! I’ll have to come back to these again and again.

[V ❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

But it is, in fact, beautiful. Nature based with a side of, “is this life truly everything?” Thought provoking and best read on a sunny back porch.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

What rupi kaur wishes her poems could be.
This feels like what people think of as a poem - concise with deep meaning or unique takes on universal thoughts and experiences.

[Dustin Ragland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential contemporary, short form poems. Clear and often prosaic, but just enough slant to keep the ideas churning. Lovely.

[Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collection of brief un-rhyming poems perhaps best read aloud to enjoy the flow. Engaging, insightful.

[Jampa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of poetry. Profoundly subblime. Poems I will visit and become intimate with again and again.

"A thing fills with exactly the radiance you accord it." — Red Bird in Snow

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful poetry from Lia Purpura - though, how could I expect any less?

My must-love poems from this collection:
"First Leaf"
"Regret"
"Proximities"
"Line"
"Old World"

[Mills College Library]

811.54 P9859i 2015

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 - very shallow and boring, not a fan

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There weren't so many ways to counter the distance everywhere. It was just fine being human and lonely."

A book I picked up and fell in love with on a snowy afternoon.