Love is Not Enough

by Frances Gregory

Love is Not Enough was written over the course of the year after the suicide of Frances Gregory's mother. The poems are an investigation into the circumstantial and relational dynamics of grief as well as the bloody spectres of patriarchy and generational trauma.

Genres: Poetry

77 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Jared Levine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This tiny beautiful book berated me, welted me with it's language, it's grief. There's certainly an immediacy to these poems, in that they seem to be written shortly after their mothers suicide. I'm impressed with it's scope, exploring grief through family narratives, parallel thought patterns, as well as GRIEF AS GENDERQUEER! Not enough books like this.

It's the first book I've read from Left Bank books as well as the first thing I've read by Francis Gregory. I'm excited to see more from both in the future. Hoping many copies of this book fall into the hands of those who need it.

—Jared, bookseller City Lights

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this poetry collection. The poet reflects on their mother's suicide and many of the circumstances before and after that shaped their understanding of the incident. Some readers, including myself, can probably relate to the sense of having to take on the adult role with a parent or parental figure.

The book was at once a lyrical expression of the "what could I have done?" feeling that often arises after a suicide, as well as a forgiveness of self and of their mother for ending her life. I would recommend, but know that it's heavy.

[Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

devastating and beautiful.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book engages with the deep complexity of grieving from every conceivable angle. That is how it accomplishes its heartfelt honesty. While the particular circumstances of a mother's suicide are not a lived experience of mine, the feelings expressed and stories told remain incredibly relatable, human, and provoking. I would recommend a cup of coffee, a morning of sun and fog, a porch, and this book to anyone.

[Marvin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lonely, sad, loving, beautiful book predominantly dealing with a loss of a mother. Great collect of poetry.

I’m not much good at articulating what I like about the books I have book but this is no slouch is all I can say.

[Jonah Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gregory’s poetry starts off with this powerful, vicious bite, gradually easing as they take the reader along as they traverse this traumatic experience, and nothing is sugarcoated. Their writing is a hybridization of blunt and beautiful, and I kept having to pull back and just breathe for a moment.

[Koryli · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a self-reflective healing journey from losing a loved one to SA. I'm broken now in million pieces.