The Multitude

by Hannah Faith Notess

We move through life haunted by a multitude of people and places that exist only in memory, by ancestors we never knew, and by myths we’re not sure we can believe. Even our video game avatars are chased by ghosts. These poems explore spaces of everyday life that intersect with both sacred places and fantastical realms. The Multitude invites us to dwell in uncertain spaces between worlds, between the possible and impossible.

Genres: Poetry

76 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2015

About the author

Hannah Faith Notess is a poet, editor, web developer, and the author of The Multitude, winner of the Michael Waters Poetry Prize from Southern Indiana Review Press. She earned an MFA in creative writing from Indiana University. Her writing has appeared in The Christian Century, Crab Orchard Review, and Slate, among other journals.

Reviews

[Heather Utley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a marvelous review of this book once, and then my phone deleted it. So now I sing "doo lang doo lang" softly to myself as I consider how the rain falls on all the places I have been and not been. This just goes to show that I am a deeper and more interesting person as a result of having these poems in my life.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had to write a review for class, so here's an excerpt:

Notess’s sorrowful, smart, witty, weird, and abundantly honest collection presents faith as valuable while gritty and uncomfortable. She makes no decisions for readers, but uses vivid and troubling scenes to ensure they cannot walk away believing they have chosen the easy path, for no such path exists. In the landscape of contemporary books authored by celebrity Christians and celebrity atheists alike seeking to reaffirm their followers, The Multitude emerges as an honest unwrapping of pain and belief. Wandering into this labyrinth is a challenging and rewarding experience, and one that readers will not soon forget.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many apologies to Hannah for getting this review up three years late. (I won a copy of this book through a goodreads giveaway.)

Coming at this collection from the completely subjective desire for tight (focused) poems and ordering, this book did not meet those expectations. However, the individual poems had moments of beauty and moments for contemplation that I greatly appreciated. Section I was by far my favorite.

[annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yoshi (A Pastoral) is an all-time Good Poem and I haven't stopped thinking about it for years

[Andrew Shutes-David · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY: Poems of Mother Mary, Mario Brothers, witches, and travel to India.

(4.5*s. I really liked the way these themes returned again and again throughout her poetry, especially the video games and the witches.)

WARNINGS FOR CHILDREN: G-rated!

[Linda Gaines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely poetry by Notess. I got to hear her speak recently and she is a very good poet. Her spirituality comes through in each poem with contemporary language which appeals to many.