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Instructions For Flight
The fear of public speaking, civil rights, and people who smile at strangers are just a few of the topics tackled in this book. With four sections of diverse poems, INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLIGHT is Kate I. Foley’s debut poetry collection.
- GenresPoetry
34 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2017
1 person is currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Kate Isabel Foley
3 books39 followersKate Isabel Foley is a novelist and playwright who writes about women and bisexuals (especially bisexual women) in all their various, wondrous, magical forms. She’s also an actress, daydreamer, shameless neurodivergent, and overuser of tape. She is the author of GHOST LIGHT and INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLIGHT as well as a contributor to the FAUXPOCALYPSE anthology and the book THE AUDACITY TO BE A WRITER. Aside from books, Kate is also a big fan of dogs, the color yellow, and coffee in every variety. You can follow her on Instagram and X at @kateifoley.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 18, 2018
I'm the author, so obviously I'm biased, but I think it's a pretty cool collection of poetry. ;)
February 24, 2019
Kate I. Foley’s debut poetry collection took my breath away. The language was rich in beautiful metaphors and similes, repetition and rhyme were used perfectly. I always find that when I read a good poetry book, I start speaking with line breaks, and this one certainly had that effect.
Instructions For Flight discusses important issues in a unique and stunning way. It explores love, hate and fear using gorgeous imagery and eloquent language.
Kate shows pure love and emotion in a bare and truthful way. She conveys feeling wonderfully with metaphors and similes in a way I’ve never seen before.
Her poetry collection is not extremely long but it is important and powerful. My favourite poem of the collection would have to be the namesake, Instructions for Flight. This poem is all about mental health and stepping out and becoming who you are (spreading your wings, you could say). Again, Kate used metaphor and simile so effectively I could almost taste the poem as I read it. It conveys a message of hope that I think anyone who has ever doubted themselves needs to read. It is inspiring and resonating, poignant and deep. Reading it felt like remaking yourself and becoming something magical and worth it.
Another of my favourite, Stage Fright, made me feel like I was right inside Kate’s head. The variation in sentence length and punctuation reflected the fear and confusion conveyed in the poem. The long sentences that went on without punctuation highlighted the babbling and unsurety of the words, and the frequent caesura gave the effect of the narrator taking a sharp breath. This poem conveyed emotion so well and I could completely relate despite having not really experienced a similar situation before.
I loved Why Do We Write because as someone who loves writing myself every word resonated with me like a piece of my own soul.
In To Beautiful Disasters, Kate used short lines to effectively convey desperation and wanting. This poem was a dark masterpiece of fierce hurt and intense, wild emotion.
If I were to find fault with Kate’s writing (which is hard) I would say that in Dear Doctor King, the rhyme scheme and structure felt very forced and just didn’t flow as well as in her other poems, and the beat just felt a little off.
Overall, I fell in love with what Kate had written. Instructions For Flight is a beautiful collection of poetry that I would recommend to everyone.
February 24, 2017
I am positively blown away by this collection of poetry. Kate's ability to capture emotions and feelings through words and imagery is a sign not only of her talent, but also her hard work and determination. Every one of these poems had something different to offer. From the very first "short and sweet" section, I was invited in and enchanted.
While I enjoyed every single poem for different reasons, my jaw was positively on the floor with "Instructions for Flight." I do not even know where to begin to explain the feelings that came over me as I read it. It was as though she were speaking *right* to me, those words resonating deep, deep, deep within my soul. It was both validating and jarring at once - how could she possibly know all the right things to say to someone who's broken and hurting? She knows my soul! That's how the poem made me feel - like she KNEW my soul. My feelings. My pain. My doubts. My emotions. My sense of self (or lack thereof). And yet it built me up and inspired me from brokenness to a desire to strap on those wings and have the inner courage to take flight.
How does she do that?!? I'm telling you, it's a gift, an inspired gift. I just feel incredibly lucky that I get to be one of the recipients of such a treasure. The good thing is that anyone who buys this book can also join that throng. Do it. Please do it. You will not be disappointed.
While I enjoyed every single poem for different reasons, my jaw was positively on the floor with "Instructions for Flight." I do not even know where to begin to explain the feelings that came over me as I read it. It was as though she were speaking *right* to me, those words resonating deep, deep, deep within my soul. It was both validating and jarring at once - how could she possibly know all the right things to say to someone who's broken and hurting? She knows my soul! That's how the poem made me feel - like she KNEW my soul. My feelings. My pain. My doubts. My emotions. My sense of self (or lack thereof). And yet it built me up and inspired me from brokenness to a desire to strap on those wings and have the inner courage to take flight.
How does she do that?!? I'm telling you, it's a gift, an inspired gift. I just feel incredibly lucky that I get to be one of the recipients of such a treasure. The good thing is that anyone who buys this book can also join that throng. Do it. Please do it. You will not be disappointed.
February 24, 2017
I loved this short, but powerful read.
Kate Foley has put together an interesting and insightful collection of poems that will speak to readers of all kinds. I especially enjoyed her works regarding civil rights and equality. Kate's writing shows a maturity about her place in the world and what it means to crave equal rights for all.
But the title work, "Instructions for Flight," is easily her best entry in the entire collection. Written in several sections, it is poignant and deep. It took a second (and now a third) pass to really let the words sink in, and I have a feeling that a fourth pass may be in the near future.
I highly recommend taking in all that "Instructions for Flight" has to offer.
Kate Foley has put together an interesting and insightful collection of poems that will speak to readers of all kinds. I especially enjoyed her works regarding civil rights and equality. Kate's writing shows a maturity about her place in the world and what it means to crave equal rights for all.
But the title work, "Instructions for Flight," is easily her best entry in the entire collection. Written in several sections, it is poignant and deep. It took a second (and now a third) pass to really let the words sink in, and I have a feeling that a fourth pass may be in the near future.
I highly recommend taking in all that "Instructions for Flight" has to offer.
January 27, 2018
(Full disclosure: I recieved a free copy of Instructions for Flight. This has in no way affected my review.)
There's a bit of everything in here. Poems that are less than five lines long. Poems that tackle complex social issues. Poems that deal with self-confidence. To cover all of it in this review would be to write the equivilant of a novella, so instead I'm just going to focus on a couple of my favourites.
I enjoyed To Beautiful Disasters because of the pacing. The short, snappy lines are peppered with commas, forcing you to pause.
I liked the way that Stage Fright recreated that feeling of trepidation. The line length varies, and enjambment is used to allow the narrator to babble on for three lines at a time at points as they attempt to calm their shredded nerves. At other points, there are frequent full stops. Commas. Question marks. As they. Control. Their breathing.
The eponymous poem, Instructions For Flight, is the longest in the anthology. It seems to be about stepping into the future. There's a lot of beautiful imagery in here, the 'milky way ice cream' in stanza one, that perfectly captures a child's wonder. I loved the fear in stanza four, but I also enjoyed the success in stanza six. Like flying, this poem soars between the highs and lows of life.
Overall, I really enjoyed the poetry in this anthology. I like dramatic metaphors, beautiful imagery, and good pacing, and there was plenty of all three.
There's a bit of everything in here. Poems that are less than five lines long. Poems that tackle complex social issues. Poems that deal with self-confidence. To cover all of it in this review would be to write the equivilant of a novella, so instead I'm just going to focus on a couple of my favourites.
I enjoyed To Beautiful Disasters because of the pacing. The short, snappy lines are peppered with commas, forcing you to pause.
I liked the way that Stage Fright recreated that feeling of trepidation. The line length varies, and enjambment is used to allow the narrator to babble on for three lines at a time at points as they attempt to calm their shredded nerves. At other points, there are frequent full stops. Commas. Question marks. As they. Control. Their breathing.
The eponymous poem, Instructions For Flight, is the longest in the anthology. It seems to be about stepping into the future. There's a lot of beautiful imagery in here, the 'milky way ice cream' in stanza one, that perfectly captures a child's wonder. I loved the fear in stanza four, but I also enjoyed the success in stanza six. Like flying, this poem soars between the highs and lows of life.
Overall, I really enjoyed the poetry in this anthology. I like dramatic metaphors, beautiful imagery, and good pacing, and there was plenty of all three.
January 9, 2017
I was nervous going into reading this because, for reasons that have to do with Shel Silverstein, poetry to me means it has to rhyme. Nevertheless, I enjoyed myself thoroughly with this poetry collection.
Specifically, my favorites were: Why We Write, Stage Freight, Life Today, What Can't Be Seen, The Simplest Thing, and, the title of the collection, Instructions for Flight. Each one was unique in its own way and carried the author's beautiful turn of phrase throughout.
One of the things I loved most about this collection of poetry was how relatable everything was. The themes she uses can be identified in us all, from love to acceptance to nervousness to breathing. With the use of terrific imagery, it's not hard to imagine the author is talking about me. It's easy to tell that a lot of work went into composing this collection.
At the start of reading this collection, I wanted to start highlighting phrases I enjoyed or specific pieces that I liked. Before the end of the first stanza of "Instructions for Flight," I wanted to highlight E V E R Y T H I N G and had to force myself not to do so.
Katie's poetry asks the important questions, not only sparking inspiration, but motivation and, in some cases, positivity as well. I look forward to seeing what else she will write!
Specifically, my favorites were: Why We Write, Stage Freight, Life Today, What Can't Be Seen, The Simplest Thing, and, the title of the collection, Instructions for Flight. Each one was unique in its own way and carried the author's beautiful turn of phrase throughout.
One of the things I loved most about this collection of poetry was how relatable everything was. The themes she uses can be identified in us all, from love to acceptance to nervousness to breathing. With the use of terrific imagery, it's not hard to imagine the author is talking about me. It's easy to tell that a lot of work went into composing this collection.
At the start of reading this collection, I wanted to start highlighting phrases I enjoyed or specific pieces that I liked. Before the end of the first stanza of "Instructions for Flight," I wanted to highlight E V E R Y T H I N G and had to force myself not to do so.
Katie's poetry asks the important questions, not only sparking inspiration, but motivation and, in some cases, positivity as well. I look forward to seeing what else she will write!
February 6, 2017
FULL DISCLOSURE - I received a free pdf copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I think
I'm going to review
Instructions for Flight in verse.
Free verse.
'Cos it sounds like fun.
Won't be as good as Kate's poetry,
That's for sure.
But I can try -
right?
I'll be honest.
I didn't like every single poem.
(There were a lot; we all have different tastes)
One
In
Particular
Dear Dr King
Struck me as a little ... forced?
I think it was the rhyming?
But the others.
Wow.
Kate has this skill.
This ability to inject magic into the
Smallest
Most everyday of moments.
It made me smile;
It made me sad.
It definitely made me think.
Instructions for Flight itself was
A masterpiece.
Full of beautiful metaphor,
And hope,
And lines that rang so true I read them
Over and over again.
There were haiku
About coffee
And love.
That painted pictures
In my head.
An ode to breathing as raw as the thing itself.
But mostly, there was joy.
And
Magic.
(Release day is tomorrow, my humans. Do your bookworm thing and buy it.)
I think
I'm going to review
Instructions for Flight in verse.
Free verse.
'Cos it sounds like fun.
Won't be as good as Kate's poetry,
That's for sure.
But I can try -
right?
I'll be honest.
I didn't like every single poem.
(There were a lot; we all have different tastes)
One
In
Particular
Dear Dr King
Struck me as a little ... forced?
I think it was the rhyming?
But the others.
Wow.
Kate has this skill.
This ability to inject magic into the
Smallest
Most everyday of moments.
It made me smile;
It made me sad.
It definitely made me think.
Instructions for Flight itself was
A masterpiece.
Full of beautiful metaphor,
And hope,
And lines that rang so true I read them
Over and over again.
There were haiku
About coffee
And love.
That painted pictures
In my head.
An ode to breathing as raw as the thing itself.
But mostly, there was joy.
And
Magic.
(Release day is tomorrow, my humans. Do your bookworm thing and buy it.)
February 2, 2017
Hovering between 3.5 and 4 stars. (heh I'll try to be more specific in the review to come)
March 14, 2017
3.5 stars! Am writing a review to post on my blog later this week! :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews