Things I Learned in the Night

by Emily Byrnes

Things I Learned in the Night is a beautifully illustrated tribute to young love in a society that so often tries to invalidate it. Many of the poems in this book are exquisitely woven with nature imagery; a subtle reminder that through our struggles and joys we must all remember to take deep breaths and run in the rain every now and then.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

153 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 28, 2018

Reviews

[Kiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s very simple poetry but it’s calming to the soul to read. Lots of good words and themes in it!

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short collection of growth, life and learning poetry that I enjoyed. Short, sweet but get to the point kind of poems that can easily be read in a lunch break or while travelling.

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please don't blame me for running;
the universe
has lit so many fires
under my feet
I've been conditioned
to flee at the sign of a spark.

- Pablo’s dog

🖤

[michaela g 🤎 · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was achingly beautiful

[Jamie (Books and Ladders) · Rating 4 out of 5]

See this review and more on Books and Ladders!

Actual Rating: 3.5*

I have a few of these poems saved but it felt all over the place with age and timing that I had a hard time following the flow. I feel like Byrnes has a lot of good poems that would be that much better with a better structure to the collections she produces.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So viel Wahrheit in diesen unglaublich schönen, berührenden Worten.

" ... and I finally understand
that karma isn't magic,
it's the action of reaping what you sow. "

[Gedankenlabor · Rating 4 out of 5]

>>To the first kiss, the first break, and young love,
which is too often invalidated by those
to old to remember.<<
„Things I learned in the Night“ von Emily Byrnes ist eine wirklich optisch schon sehr sehr schöne illustrierte kleine poetische Sammlung, die schnell Lust auf mehr macht und mich in längst vergangene Zeiten katapultierte! Die einzelnen Gedichte sind eher einfach gehalten, lassen sich gut zwischendurch lesen und haben doch immer einen Kern, den es zu ergründen gilt. Mir hat diese kleine Poetry-Sammlung gut gefallen, allerdings glaube ich, dass sich die Gedichte thematisch doch eher an jüngere Leser richten. Mich konnte das Buch leider nicht gänzlich abholen, da ich mich mit einigen Dingen einfach nicht mehr so identifizieren kann.
Für jüngere Leser aber ein schönes kleines Werk, das sich zu lesen lohnt❤

[BAM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book!

I just finished this book & I must say I am impressed. The words are beautifully written, the layout is fantastic, and i found 6-7 poems that deeply resonated with me and will linger in the depths of my soul for years to come 🖤 great read, so beautiful.

[Sasha Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a poetic exploration of youth and innocence that I enjoyed immensely, especially the Romeo and Juliet part and the story of Johnny.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite poem was My Love, My Dreams, My Everything and the illustrations added to each poem wonderfully!

[DeAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this poetry collection as it was in the same vein as some that I have recently liked, but a lot of it felt too similar to other poets that I read from. There were a few poems that definitely felt poignant and new, but many were very similar to those using the same subjects. The language used is definitely beautiful and there is a good development of imagery in the poems themselves. For a poetry collection it was good and enjoyable, but again was too similar to other collections I have read to be a stand out for me personally.

[Honey · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is, felt. I felt every stanza and line of this. I'm not sure what words will persuade some of you to read it, but all I knew was that my heart felt it. Things I realized in the night. Growing always includes letting go.~

[Shelby Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm a sucker for love poems so i think this collection is beautiful. it also contains one of my favorite poems ever called "ripe." i recommend this collection for those who enjoy love poetry!

[Caitlin Conlon]

A lovely collection about heartache & growth & the importance of connecting to nature! Emily clearly tries to put so much good into the world, it shines through her work.

[Hannah Cao · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely collection!

[Novaturient · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was soooo beautiful

[caminie · Rating 3 out of 5]

love it
the ending part was so beautiful

[Buba · Rating 4 out of 5]

wow.

[kamryn ౨ৎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was okay 🤷‍♀️

[Jules.Bookverse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe most of these pieces are even better for someone younger, but it is also nice to read through such topics of our youth again and remind ourselves to never lose our joyful selves over the multiple pieces thrown onto our paths.

[Colleen Cesar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ew, why did I do that to me

[Katrine Solvaag · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I guess this is what the end feels like; like pretending we’re enjoying the rain, when really we’re just hoping it fills the silence so we don’t have to.”

[Courtney Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get to Know the Name Emily Byrnes

She is one of my favorite modern poets, and I think her work is comparable to Rupi Kapur's (an honor not given out easily.)

[Anjitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We watched the horizon
as the evening sun spun the clouds
into sugar pink and baby blue.
It was then
that your thigh grazed mine
for the first time,
just one day in mid-July
but it felt infinite
like we were as never ending
as the cotton candy sky."

"I watched her drop a mug,
pick up each piece
and glue it back together
like it was the holy grail.
I fell in love that day,
not because she was clumsy or cute,
but because she still saw value
in something so broken."

"We dig for answers
for meaning
for truth
like little voles
scrabbling underground to safety
not knowing the foxes
have already dug out
the other end of the tunnel.
By the time we find the answer,
it’s usually too late."

"See the tree roots,
how they’ve been scabbed and scarred
by clumsy feet
and lawn mowers that rode too close?
See how we pound and batter them
but still they grow and fuel the air
so that we may breathe
and shelter us from the hot, red sun.
Their love is unconditional
and we are children of the Earth
who’ve not yet learned
to appreciate our mother.
Earth Day"

This poetry collection was good and reflective. About Nature, love, adolscence and life. The poems were heart touching as well as understanding.

[Gurpreet Dhariwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have become fond of poetry as I am myself a poet. Reading poetry books this year has changed my view on poetry. It's important to read and appreciate what other poets got to say.

Likewise, when I picked Emily's book I knew I was diving into the pool of self-growth and self-love poetry that made me realize I am not the only one who believes in herself like nobody else does.

Some of the poems that I loved the most from her book are:

1. We held hands
With our fingers laced like corsets
That fit so perfectly
So snugly
I could hardly breathe.

2. But I learned a trick, see.
If I walk by without a net
Uninterestedly,
I can trap you with bare hands.

3. Now, she fills my yard with sweet songs
That quell my sadness
And I finally understand
That karma isn't magic,
It's the action of reaping what you sow.

4. How to kiss with my tongue
And lie with crossed fingers
When my friend ask where I am
He's no good for you
They'd say again and again,
But I learned how to hear without listening.

5. How to crawl into my bed like an injured dog
And lick my wounds;
My pride, my innocence, my heart.

Read her book and get yourself lost in the spell of her emotions and words.

[taylor c milnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

i don’t know if this book deserves 3 stars but that’s where it’s at. maybe 2.5 would be better but goodreads refuses to give us half stars.

anyway, this is definitely better than most instapoetry collections that have come out in the past few years. there’s a lot more clear ideas and unique imagery. it doesn’t feel like i’m reading the exact same poem as i read in the last poetry book and the one before that.
the originality definitely makes it better, although a lot of it does still fall flat for me. a lot of poems felt underdeveloped and cut short; some were a little cliche. this author definitely has potential. if they continue on their craft and develop their unique voice and really lean in to what sets them apart from other poets, they could be really good.
the best poem (and really the only memorable one) in this collection is definitely “johnny.” i’d like to see this author write more like that.

[Ares · Rating 1 out of 5]

Amazon needs to stop recommending me poetry if it turns out like this.

Is it relatable? No.
Is it evoking emotions? No.

Syntax? God no.
Sound, Rhyme, Rhythm, and Meter left as soon as I opened the book. I tried so hard to make them sound good while reading them aloud but it’s impossible for 99%. Again, this is the type of Instagram poetry anyone can come up in a few seconds which just signals me low effort.

Now I will write my review with shitty rhymes.

Shivers ran down my spine as I saw the Instagram @ at end of the book, it was clear from the start but still, I was shook. I am aware of free form structured poetry, but this was more a tragedy. The drawings were good, but it is still no justification for the cut down wood. This book didn’t make me feel motivated or sad, so I don’t see the point in this book, I may add. It was a time waste just like writing this review, but that is nothing new.

[Eve beinguniquebeingme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailing the joys of childhood with no ties in life, first love, the feeling and impact it has, joy and questioning, the brutal realities of aging and self love as we judge ourselves all the way through growing through life.

More Unhelpful Help was an absolutely gutting poem about friendship, love and betrayal which was heartbreaking to read but shows strength in the beautiful writing detailing openly and honestly how hard it can effect you.

Poems including references to Bon Iver and Steinbeck to me were so relatable especially feeling like Lennie after losing love in any way, it can be hard to feel understood in trying and ultimately this collection made me feel like the depths of my mind had been explored, living up to the collections title, it definitely made me feel reflective at night.

[Larysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must say I really loved this book. The poems were so beautiful and I loved every single one of them. I truly can’t say more than it‘s worth reading, and it is my absolute comfort book. It‘s okay if it‘s not your thing, but I personally really enjoyed it, even if not all the poems were relatable for me. It was about many things a person might experience in their teenage years, some of the poems were also about the author‘s mother if I recall correctly..? It‘s been a while since I’ve finished reading this book, but I really wanted to write a review on it because of how much i loved it! Some poems were sad, some comforting, and some very nostalgic. I will always recommend it.
Side note, it‘s best reading it at night when everyone‘s asleep. It‘s just the perfect vibe in my opinion.

[Danielle Bentley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little book, what a beautiful collection of poems.
I loved the layout and simplicity of this book, it was a lovely little read which I will definitely be reading over again in the future. I enjoyed the illustrations throughout and, as always, absolutely loved the flow of Emily's poetry. I found that I could relate to a lot of the poems and I enjoyed the appearence of 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Of Mice and Men' which are two of my favourite stories.
I fell in love with the poems 'Earth Day Thoughts' and 'Ripe'.