The Women Widowed to Themselves

by Lora Mathis

Lora Mathis' first full-length book of poetry, exploring femininity, mental illness, and regaining autonomy over the body.

Genres: Poetry, Feminism, LGBT

Unknown Binding

First published July 15, 2015

Reviews

[Neil Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bold, raw, intimate.

This book speaks to me with urgency and loaded with heavy emotions I can't carry. It's honesty and choice of words bring me to a frantic state itching to translate what's in my mind but couldn't.

[Meggie Royer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lora Mathis debuts her first collection of poetry with a kind of ferocity and brutal honesty that is all too often difficult to come by in a world built to raise the voices of men and silence those of women. These poems, like their author, have been wounded and touched in all the wrong ways, but still shine through with the softness and snarl of something brave and true. Mathis will take you through the failed parties and the bad beers, the self-loathing and the desperate texts that all come with being a young woman who struggled to survive the growing pains and aches of adolescence, and leave you full of awe and clarity.

In “Send This to Your Valentine,” Mathis writes, “I want you to love me, hard./Whatever that means.” And that is exactly what you will do with her debut collection.

[Hattie Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

I followed the author on tumblr for a while before she published this book. I asked for it for Christmas as my first poetry book out of school and boy did it change my life. My mouth was left hanging open after certain poems and the book was perfect to introduce me into poetry.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5.
Fifty-fifty.
Tiene un estilo interesante y poemas que se destacan, pero por momentos sentís que estás leyendo un blog de Tumblr en lugar de un poemario.
Algunos poemas bastante flojitos y el 90% de ellos relacionados al desamor, así que deja mucho que desear.
No es lo que me esperaba.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few poems that I particularly connected with:
Look
An Offering
Trained Silence
An Apology to My Body
When Your Heart Breaks Get Up and Stomp It

[Shevaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW. The best poetry book I have ever read.

[Dagger · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Loren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would’ve liked this more in my early 20s. It feels like a lot of college girls lived experiences of just giving shitty dudes too much time at the expense of themselves. Maybe that was the whole point of it, but an entire book filled with just that was underwhelming to me.

[Caitlin Conlon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read some of Lora's work on tumblr but this is the first collection of hers I've ever bought & read. I was not disappointed.

[Elena ( The Queen Reads ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

But no matter how hard I try, I am not the sea. I am
a sunken ship that has drowned in everyone who touched  
me

[Just Stef · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remembered Lora Mathis from my Tumblr days and how her poetry resonated powerfully with me. I’m thrilled to see her work published (again) and the rediscovery that I get to experience.

[Liz Lauretic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read that cuts deep. RIP.

[annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book of poetry! It's so raw and real. You really feel their emotions through these poems. I think most young people can relate to at least one poem in this book. I loved it so much that when I finished it I turned right back to the beginning and started again. Lora really has a way with words.

[liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 raw & intimate