efg

by Valerie Hsiung

Poetry. Valerie Hsiung's powerful, fugue-like procession of words continues in her third full-length collection, EFG (EXCHANGE FLOWING AND GENE FLOW). Her words seem to prick you as pins amidst her nostalgia and floral lines that ribbon the reader into being immersed in the enthrall of her deep and varying worlds. Her dynamic switches of register and the punch of her refrains express a full range of the bizarre textures of lived experience. In this trilogy of self-examinations, explorations of poetic space, and declarative concoctions, Hsiung opens an uncommon reality. EFG's terse, erratic portrait snowballs through this and lineates and recombines into new forms in a way that wakes itself again and again.

Genres: Poetry

107 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2016

About the author

Poet, vocalist and performer Valerie Hsiung is the author of three full-length poetry collections: efg (exchange following and gene flow): a trilogy (Action Books, forthcoming 2016), incantation inarticulate (O Balthazar Press, 2013) and under your face (O Balthazar Press, 2013). Her writing can be found or is forthcoming in places such as American Letters & Commentary, Denver Quarterly, New Delta Review, PEN Poetry Series, Prelude, RealPoetik and VOLT, among others. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hsiung spent significant portions of her childhood in Las Vegas, received a BA from Brown University and is now based out of Brooklyn, New York, where she works as a love detective and matchmaker. She is also an editor for Poor Claudia.

Reviews

[Rhb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection reminded me of the powers of poetry. It moves from the familiar to the cosmic and back at a breakneck speed and reaches a tremendous depth and range of emotion--grief and anger, but also humor and lightness that, together, reveals the strangeness of humans and our world. Many of the titles themselves are small gorgeous poems: i was friends with the rain when the floods came to be. And too many stunning lines to choose just one here.

[Dreamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie Hsiung is a captivating poet and performer. She rinses the readers's minds with palpable sadness. Each line closes you closer to her human core of existing. It's important to read this beautiful book, but also to experience it through her performance of it. You will weep and then you will surrender.

[Audrey Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valerie Hsiung has such an edgy, strong, and unique voice that is a breath of fresh air to read. Her poems are sometimes bizarre, sometimes gut-wrenching, and always have an original perspective. I love the way she mixes first, second, and third person. Efg is a must read!

[Erin.Schikowskigmail.Com · Rating 5 out of 5]

These poems take you into the darkest of places and then teach you to find beauty there. A truly phenomenal collection.

[Sam Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

efg is such an amazing book - I've always been a fan of poetry, but I'm still pretty hesitant to venture into the avant-garde poetry scene. This book definitely changed that - reading efg really helped me reimagine the power and beauty of words. I highly recommend to anyone looking for an intense reading experience. All poetry fans would love this book!

[Momo · Rating 5 out of 5]

efg encapsulates the struggling narrative of what it means to flow within this universe and the next. Simply put, there is nothing I have read that is quite like this book of poetry. If you're looking for something to challenge your ideas on syntax, prose, and life, I highly recommend checking out this piece of literature.