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Like Waves
A collection of poetry by Amanda Linsmeier, Like Waves dives into the author’s complex relationship with her body, told in three sections: Before, During, and After/Still. The first part centers around her struggle with low self-esteem and depression, the second throws the reader deep into the years of recurrent miscarriage, and the third, with the acceptance of her own imperfections.
These poems evoke emotion and offer a deeper understanding of not only the author’s experience within her own skin, but her connection to the bodies and minds of others. This book is a labor of love, blood, and tears, the story of one writer’s journey from girlhood to motherhood, from resentment to gratitude.
These poems evoke emotion and offer a deeper understanding of not only the author’s experience within her own skin, but her connection to the bodies and minds of others. This book is a labor of love, blood, and tears, the story of one writer’s journey from girlhood to motherhood, from resentment to gratitude.
140 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2017
284 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Linsmeier
20 books194 followersAmanda Linsmeier has been a book nerd as long as she can remember, and it was that great love of reading—especially R.L. Stine novels and fairytales—that eventually brought her to writing her own stories. In high school, she won the senior class vote for “Most Romantic Girl”, a title she’s still ridiculously pleased with. She feels most joyful when writing, scream-singing her favorite songs, playing in the water, and laughing with her beloved family. She lives in a magical place with a man who smells like maple syrup and woodsmoke, their wonderfully wild children, a dog, and an assortment of half-feral cats.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 8, 2017
Amanda Linsmeier always manages to take life's events and expose them for their brutal truth, eliciting an emotional response from her readers. The topics she covers in this poetry are diverse and relatable. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and appreciated the author's honesty in the joys and pitfalls of a woman's relationship with herself.
August 17, 2017
Powerfully Personal
In anyone else's hands, this collection of poems could have felt like an open wound; but instead, Amanda Linsmeier presents us with a sensitive, beautiful exploration into what it means to be human, and what it takes to face the tragedies of life without letting it harden you.
Each poem stands on it’s own, some of them more successfully than others, but as a whole they give the reader a unique look into a woman's private pain and her eventual attainment of happiness.
It is a poetic long dark journey into light, a celebration of life and motherhood over despair. By the time you read the last poem, you feel like you have made a new friend.
Highly recommended.
In anyone else's hands, this collection of poems could have felt like an open wound; but instead, Amanda Linsmeier presents us with a sensitive, beautiful exploration into what it means to be human, and what it takes to face the tragedies of life without letting it harden you.
Each poem stands on it’s own, some of them more successfully than others, but as a whole they give the reader a unique look into a woman's private pain and her eventual attainment of happiness.
It is a poetic long dark journey into light, a celebration of life and motherhood over despair. By the time you read the last poem, you feel like you have made a new friend.
Highly recommended.
August 30, 2017
A good poet shares emotions in a way that allows you to feel to your core. Amanda proves she is a good poet, and so much more. I loved every word.
A good poet shares emotions in a way that allows you to feel to your core. Amanda proves she is a good poet, and so much more. I loved every word
A good poet shares emotions in a way that allows you to feel to your core. Amanda proves she is a good poet, and so much more. I loved every word
August 16, 2017
This collection is beautiful. I have not gone through some of the struggles the writer talks about in this book, yet I felt like I was experiencing them with her. Linsmeier's writing is elegant and powerful. Highly recommend!
October 23, 2017
Amanda Linsmeier bares her soul with the sort of courage to which I aspire. I had to take breaks in between some of these poems--in the best way! These stories are told with such gusto and honesty. You'll be glad you read it.
March 4, 2018
Breathtaking
Amanda writes beautifully about seeing her motherhood status and scars as stunning for what they are and what they have created.
My heart broke for her when she lay her heart on the line after the loss of babies she desperately wanted to meet. There are no words for that kind of loss and yet Amanda gives a voice to all the women who have ever experienced such awful pain.
I think the beauty industry has a lot to answer for if it ever prevents strong and intelligent women like Amanda from feeling desirable.
My favourite imagery was the final poem which sums up the title of the anthology perfectly: our loves and lives are like waves. Everything will come and go and that is natural.
Amanda writes beautifully about seeing her motherhood status and scars as stunning for what they are and what they have created.
My heart broke for her when she lay her heart on the line after the loss of babies she desperately wanted to meet. There are no words for that kind of loss and yet Amanda gives a voice to all the women who have ever experienced such awful pain.
I think the beauty industry has a lot to answer for if it ever prevents strong and intelligent women like Amanda from feeling desirable.
My favourite imagery was the final poem which sums up the title of the anthology perfectly: our loves and lives are like waves. Everything will come and go and that is natural.
September 13, 2017
"I come from a time, when nothing flew but birds." I was so eager to write a review for Like Waves because of lines just like that one. Like Waves is a four part collection of palpable poetry. Amanda Linsmeier writes about topics that are difficult to poetically articulate, let alone live through—and yet, she does, and she did. Moreover, she does so in a way that is playful, confessional, and candid.
Since page one, she writes unapologetically about something too commonly apologized for—reality. Amanda carries the voice of every mother, child, and young woman; their hardship and their triumph seep through her words. Because she writes about her life experiences with such refreshing honesty, it made me feel as though her struggles and her healing were my own.
The reader will undoubtedly grow while reading through these pages, even if he or she cannot specifically relate to the experiences Amanda so bravely writes about. If you have ever felt pain, if you have ever felt joy, if you have felt despair, if you have ever felt hope, this book is for you.
Like Waves is a paper companion I will always keep on my nightstand. I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
Since page one, she writes unapologetically about something too commonly apologized for—reality. Amanda carries the voice of every mother, child, and young woman; their hardship and their triumph seep through her words. Because she writes about her life experiences with such refreshing honesty, it made me feel as though her struggles and her healing were my own.
The reader will undoubtedly grow while reading through these pages, even if he or she cannot specifically relate to the experiences Amanda so bravely writes about. If you have ever felt pain, if you have ever felt joy, if you have felt despair, if you have ever felt hope, this book is for you.
Like Waves is a paper companion I will always keep on my nightstand. I highly recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading more from her.
February 11, 2020
Amazing book of poetry related to our relationships with our bodies as women. The author tells a story from teen-aged years through post-birth including self-worth, body composition, opposition and retaliation by one's body, and finally acceptance and celebration.
The book contains a vast amount of poems that are varied in length - some shorter, some longer - but all lovely and thought-provoking. If you love poetry, you'll love this collection.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book contains a vast amount of poems that are varied in length - some shorter, some longer - but all lovely and thought-provoking. If you love poetry, you'll love this collection.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2018
I'm not a poetry expert. I avoided it throughout high school and college when I could get away with it. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the works that Amanda Linsmeier created in Like Waves. Her perspectives during her journey and her thoughts are things I remember thinking during my life and it's moving to have these thoughts sounded back to me.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews