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Little Astronaut
A poetry collection about the beautiful and disorienting period of new motherhood, exploring an experience both otherworldly and very, very human.
little astronaut is a fully revised and updated edition of the limited-release poetry collection by critically acclaimed poet J. Hope Stein. Featuring over 50 pages of new poems this book brings to vivid life the deeply personal—and also incredibly relatable—challenging and magical early days of new motherhood.
little astronaut is a fully revised and updated edition of the limited-release poetry collection by critically acclaimed poet J. Hope Stein. Featuring over 50 pages of new poems this book brings to vivid life the deeply personal—and also incredibly relatable—challenging and magical early days of new motherhood.
- GenresPoetry
Paperback
First published September 20, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 6, 2022
is the sound of troublemaker
toilet paper
looping around the furniture
~ a quiet
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review this!
This is a very sweet and funny collection of poems! I can't wait for my friends to have kids so that I can give them a copy after this is published!
toilet paper
looping around the furniture
~ a quiet
Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review this!
This is a very sweet and funny collection of poems! I can't wait for my friends to have kids so that I can give them a copy after this is published!
July 8, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this collection in exchange for an honest review!
This was just not my jam.
I've really become a poetry lover these last few years, and I'm always eager to check out a new author/collection. This one just unfortunately missed the mark for me.
As a mom myself I was excited to potentially see some more relatable issues within the poems, and while there were a few moments I appreciated, a lot of this felt like a long winded rant. Many of the poems were repetitive and about the same things, and a ton were about the struggles the author had with breastfeeding. By the halfway point I knew it wasn't gonna be for me, and that's okay.
This was just not my jam.
I've really become a poetry lover these last few years, and I'm always eager to check out a new author/collection. This one just unfortunately missed the mark for me.
As a mom myself I was excited to potentially see some more relatable issues within the poems, and while there were a few moments I appreciated, a lot of this felt like a long winded rant. Many of the poems were repetitive and about the same things, and a ton were about the struggles the author had with breastfeeding. By the halfway point I knew it wasn't gonna be for me, and that's okay.
November 8, 2025
***I thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book in return for an honest review***
‘little astronaut’ is a very raw collection of poems. It’s theme revolves around the metaphorical depiction of a life of a mother. However, I did not find myself enjoying this book and there were some points where I disagreed with the writer.
Nevertheless, it is a new revelation of idea in poetry, and I hope someone else loves it more than I do.
★ ★/5
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
‘little astronaut’ is a very raw collection of poems. It’s theme revolves around the metaphorical depiction of a life of a mother. However, I did not find myself enjoying this book and there were some points where I disagreed with the writer.
Nevertheless, it is a new revelation of idea in poetry, and I hope someone else loves it more than I do.
★ ★/5
⊹ . ⋆ ☽ ⋆ . ➶
September 13, 2022
I have had this ARC for longer than I care to admit. I’d read a couple disappointing books of poetry and decided to put this one aside a while. Now that I’m reading it, I wish I had dug in sooner.
This is a collection of poetry about the experience of being a new mother. Generally I don’t like to read motherhood themed books because of my own complicated feelings and experiences. In a lot of ways, this is a collection of more of the same old thing. New mom doesn’t get enough sleep. Motherhood becomes identity. Partner has different expectations of parenthood. Strangers bombard you with unsolicited advice. Breastfeeding.
The space theme gives it a fresh feel. There are space metaphors sprinkled throughout that sort of tie the whole thing together. Yes, it’s a new mom venting about the usual new mom experiences. Some of the poems blend together, a result of their sameness. There is some repetition, but it flows from one space metaphor to another on the inertia from the strong prologue and titular poem.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. A more sentimental person would probably rate it higher, but like I said, I have complicated feelings on the subject matter. This was a good read though.
Big thanks to J. Hope Stein, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can pre-order Little Astronaut on Amazon and read it beginning on September 20, 2022. And according to the author’s website, there’s a little something extra in it for you if you pre-order! I love when authors do things like that.
This is a collection of poetry about the experience of being a new mother. Generally I don’t like to read motherhood themed books because of my own complicated feelings and experiences. In a lot of ways, this is a collection of more of the same old thing. New mom doesn’t get enough sleep. Motherhood becomes identity. Partner has different expectations of parenthood. Strangers bombard you with unsolicited advice. Breastfeeding.
The space theme gives it a fresh feel. There are space metaphors sprinkled throughout that sort of tie the whole thing together. Yes, it’s a new mom venting about the usual new mom experiences. Some of the poems blend together, a result of their sameness. There is some repetition, but it flows from one space metaphor to another on the inertia from the strong prologue and titular poem.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. A more sentimental person would probably rate it higher, but like I said, I have complicated feelings on the subject matter. This was a good read though.
Big thanks to J. Hope Stein, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can pre-order Little Astronaut on Amazon and read it beginning on September 20, 2022. And according to the author’s website, there’s a little something extra in it for you if you pre-order! I love when authors do things like that.
June 15, 2022
****Thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review****
If i’m being honest this is the weirdest book that i have read this year. i didn’t even know what was this poemary about. i just looked at the cover and the title and decided that i wanted to read it.
it talks about motherhood and all the difficulties about being a mother, the writing was beautiful and it was kinda sad?
why did i rate this book a 2 stars? because it was not for me, it was not meant for me to read it, or not yet, but it’s not bad, if you don’t have child’s and want to have, this would be perfect for you.
If i’m being honest this is the weirdest book that i have read this year. i didn’t even know what was this poemary about. i just looked at the cover and the title and decided that i wanted to read it.
it talks about motherhood and all the difficulties about being a mother, the writing was beautiful and it was kinda sad?
why did i rate this book a 2 stars? because it was not for me, it was not meant for me to read it, or not yet, but it’s not bad, if you don’t have child’s and want to have, this would be perfect for you.
July 5, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for my gifted eARC.
This is a collection of poetry that meets you in new motherhood. Honestly this was one of the more strange collections of poetry that I have read. I felt a tinkling of relatability but most of the time it felt lost on me. This book felt very strange and sad, which are things that motherhood can be, however I did not personally connect. I would recommend this collection to someone who enjoys quirky writing ( and maybe has a bigger imagination than I )
This is a collection of poetry that meets you in new motherhood. Honestly this was one of the more strange collections of poetry that I have read. I felt a tinkling of relatability but most of the time it felt lost on me. This book felt very strange and sad, which are things that motherhood can be, however I did not personally connect. I would recommend this collection to someone who enjoys quirky writing ( and maybe has a bigger imagination than I )
September 18, 2022
1 star. I hated this poetry collection and I know that is strong to say because this is an intimate poetry collection on motherhood, but I wasn't feeling it. The writing was cringe and I was unimpressed. I would like to scrub this poetry collection from my mind. More thoughts to come later.
June 23, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with a digital arc of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This poetry collection acts as a representative of the raw and emotional part of life which is motherhood. It follows the perspective of a mother who has recently given birth to her baby girl, and she is overwhelmed with emotional disturbances and she attempts to navigate the turbulence of new-found experiences and sentiments that she must adapt to. Maternal love is a recurring theme throughout this poetry collection and its avid descriptions of the mother-daughter relationship are expressed in the deepest of ways that evoke a myriad of emotions in the readers.
I have always been a fan of any piece of literature that expresses the thematic concern on the issues of motherhood, so this beautiful poetry collection immediately piqued my interest. The meaning behind each poem is beautifully written in ways that captivate the reader's attention, but I found myself not as invested as I hoped. I found that some of the poems either dragged on or were too short and when I assumed that I would be emotionally invested and adoring this entire book, I ended up losing interest in the parts that constantly expressed the same thing multiple times and I didn't feel the main tug on my heartstrings that I was initially hoping for. I still thoroughly enjoyed it but not enough to reach the 4 star rating that I was expecting to give.
Overall, this poetry collection is unique and a great representation of the aspects of motherhood. While it didn't resonate with my heart as much as I had hoped, I would still highly recommend that more people check out this book, because it has meanings that everyone could appreciate in their own way. It truly was a sweet collection of poems to experience and I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with the opportunity to read this lovely book.
This poetry collection acts as a representative of the raw and emotional part of life which is motherhood. It follows the perspective of a mother who has recently given birth to her baby girl, and she is overwhelmed with emotional disturbances and she attempts to navigate the turbulence of new-found experiences and sentiments that she must adapt to. Maternal love is a recurring theme throughout this poetry collection and its avid descriptions of the mother-daughter relationship are expressed in the deepest of ways that evoke a myriad of emotions in the readers.
I have always been a fan of any piece of literature that expresses the thematic concern on the issues of motherhood, so this beautiful poetry collection immediately piqued my interest. The meaning behind each poem is beautifully written in ways that captivate the reader's attention, but I found myself not as invested as I hoped. I found that some of the poems either dragged on or were too short and when I assumed that I would be emotionally invested and adoring this entire book, I ended up losing interest in the parts that constantly expressed the same thing multiple times and I didn't feel the main tug on my heartstrings that I was initially hoping for. I still thoroughly enjoyed it but not enough to reach the 4 star rating that I was expecting to give.
Overall, this poetry collection is unique and a great representation of the aspects of motherhood. While it didn't resonate with my heart as much as I had hoped, I would still highly recommend that more people check out this book, because it has meanings that everyone could appreciate in their own way. It truly was a sweet collection of poems to experience and I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with the opportunity to read this lovely book.
July 27, 2022
***Note: I received a free digital review copy of this book from NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. I have not received compensation for the inclusion of any links for purchase found in this review or on any other page of The Voracious Bibliophile which mentions Little Astronaut: Poems, its author, or its publisher.***
A lot of small joys are captured herein: running barefoot on the beach; discovering language for the first time; and all the other triumphs of new life, of becoming a person. The bond between a mother and her child is perhaps the most holy covenant we as humans partake in, and J. Hope Stein restores the hallowed realms of motherhood to their much-deserved apotheosis. In this collection, Stein has given words to what can only be described as a miracle, and we as readers are more the blessed for her contributions. I don’t think I could recommend this collection highly enough, and I’m looking forward to putting it in the hands of my customers.
Little Astronaut: Poems is due to be released on September 20th, 2022 by Andrews McMeel Publishing and is available to preorder wherever books are sold.
***Note: This review appears in slightly different form on my blog The Voracious Bibliophile at https://thevoraciousbibliophile.com/2....***
A lot of small joys are captured herein: running barefoot on the beach; discovering language for the first time; and all the other triumphs of new life, of becoming a person. The bond between a mother and her child is perhaps the most holy covenant we as humans partake in, and J. Hope Stein restores the hallowed realms of motherhood to their much-deserved apotheosis. In this collection, Stein has given words to what can only be described as a miracle, and we as readers are more the blessed for her contributions. I don’t think I could recommend this collection highly enough, and I’m looking forward to putting it in the hands of my customers.
Little Astronaut: Poems is due to be released on September 20th, 2022 by Andrews McMeel Publishing and is available to preorder wherever books are sold.
***Note: This review appears in slightly different form on my blog The Voracious Bibliophile at https://thevoraciousbibliophile.com/2....***
December 20, 2022
i’ve been searching for this book forever and i’m thrilled i was able to finally find it.
what a beautiful retrospective on pregnancy, birth, mothering, and letting go. some really beautiful poems in here that tackle the conflicting feelings of motherhood.
some of my favorites: “little astronaut”, “prank calls from fish”, “when astronauts look at earth from space”, “voyager 2 & voyager 1”, “we learn to dance”, “morning, mommy” (born of them), dancing, before you were born” “body, i never knew i could love you”, “wean”, “the foot”
notable lines:
“when it flows to my uterus, i am a poem” - “maternity pants”
“even this linguini of drool thag noodles it’s way from the interstellar of her mouth to my nose-tip (never been kissed like this) is a connection” - “when astronauts look at earth from space”
“i tell time by counting teeth-marks around the crooked nipple” - “a toast to something beautiful flapping in the wind”
“my body may fail you (sorry) but know this: your life belongs to you & our time together it has already begun” - “before you were born, a magic trick”
what a beautiful retrospective on pregnancy, birth, mothering, and letting go. some really beautiful poems in here that tackle the conflicting feelings of motherhood.
some of my favorites: “little astronaut”, “prank calls from fish”, “when astronauts look at earth from space”, “voyager 2 & voyager 1”, “we learn to dance”, “morning, mommy” (born of them), dancing, before you were born” “body, i never knew i could love you”, “wean”, “the foot”
notable lines:
“when it flows to my uterus, i am a poem” - “maternity pants”
“even this linguini of drool thag noodles it’s way from the interstellar of her mouth to my nose-tip (never been kissed like this) is a connection” - “when astronauts look at earth from space”
“i tell time by counting teeth-marks around the crooked nipple” - “a toast to something beautiful flapping in the wind”
“my body may fail you (sorry) but know this: your life belongs to you & our time together it has already begun” - “before you were born, a magic trick”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2022
little astronaut is a poetry collection by the critically acclaimed poet J. Hope Stein. It’s about being new at motherhood, and when you’re experiencing something that is both human and otherworldly.
Hm, I don’t know where to start, other than this book was confusing for me to understand. In other words, this poetry collection was not for me. I love simple, and strange books, but I felt like I didn’t understand half of what I read in this collection. So unfortunately, I skimmed most of the pages, and marked it as ‘dnf’ (did not finish).
At the same time, don’t let my low rating make you not pick up this book! That’s the beauty of reading: we all have different taste. For me, this was not it sadly.
Happy reading!♥️
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Hm, I don’t know where to start, other than this book was confusing for me to understand. In other words, this poetry collection was not for me. I love simple, and strange books, but I felt like I didn’t understand half of what I read in this collection. So unfortunately, I skimmed most of the pages, and marked it as ‘dnf’ (did not finish).
At the same time, don’t let my low rating make you not pick up this book! That’s the beauty of reading: we all have different taste. For me, this was not it sadly.
Happy reading!♥️
I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2022
2/5 stars!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The concept is unique for me because this is the first time I have encountered a collection of poems about pregnancy and having a baby comparing it to outer space, galaxies, and extraterrestrial activities. However, the execution with the way the words and metaphors are used, are not really hitting the mark on me. Some of the word choice and metaphors are confusing and a bit surface-level for me, and some sounded like word vomits on page. I understand that the art of poetry is subjective and other readers might find this really fun and relating to them, but it is just not for me.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The concept is unique for me because this is the first time I have encountered a collection of poems about pregnancy and having a baby comparing it to outer space, galaxies, and extraterrestrial activities. However, the execution with the way the words and metaphors are used, are not really hitting the mark on me. Some of the word choice and metaphors are confusing and a bit surface-level for me, and some sounded like word vomits on page. I understand that the art of poetry is subjective and other readers might find this really fun and relating to them, but it is just not for me.
September 18, 2022
Even this linguini
of drool
that noodles
its way from the interstellar of her mouth
to my nose-tip
(never been kissed like this)
is a connection.
Running barefoot on the beach, learning a new language, and all the other achievements of a new life, of becoming a person, are all depicted in this book. J. Hope Stein elevates the sacred regions of motherhood to their well-deserving ultimate form because the tie between a mother and her child is arguably the most holy covenant we as humans participate in. We readers are more fortunate for Stein’s contributions since they put words to what can only be referred to as a miracle in this book.
This wasn’t a perfect collection but I feel like it’s relatable to mothers. Me having a 7 month old can relate to many of these experiences.
of drool
that noodles
its way from the interstellar of her mouth
to my nose-tip
(never been kissed like this)
is a connection.
Running barefoot on the beach, learning a new language, and all the other achievements of a new life, of becoming a person, are all depicted in this book. J. Hope Stein elevates the sacred regions of motherhood to their well-deserving ultimate form because the tie between a mother and her child is arguably the most holy covenant we as humans participate in. We readers are more fortunate for Stein’s contributions since they put words to what can only be referred to as a miracle in this book.
This wasn’t a perfect collection but I feel like it’s relatable to mothers. Me having a 7 month old can relate to many of these experiences.
August 20, 2022
Not all the poems resonated with me, but that is because motherhood looks differently to everyone and her experience was not my experience. Yet I feel a kinship to the poet after reading this collection. I remember vividly what those early days of motherhood were like and how my life changed so completely to now centre around a piece of my heart and soul that was suddenly outside of my body.
.
I would also like to say, that you don’t need to have given birth to relate to these poems. Anyone who has ever found their life shifting so profoundly from any cause will find seeds of connection in these poems, and it is for that reason that I highly recommend it to anyone who loves poetry, and everyone who is looking for something new to read.
.
I would also like to say, that you don’t need to have given birth to relate to these poems. Anyone who has ever found their life shifting so profoundly from any cause will find seeds of connection in these poems, and it is for that reason that I highly recommend it to anyone who loves poetry, and everyone who is looking for something new to read.
March 15, 2022
****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
This little book of poetry navigates what it is like to be a new mom and the steep learning curve that comes with it. It made me remember my struggles as a new mom when everything is really confusing and hard.
It captures motherhood in a very real way but I don’t think I was particularly moved by any of the poems. There were definitely opportunities to pack a punch and it never quite got there to me. I think a lot of people who had a similar experience to the author will relate more.
This little book of poetry navigates what it is like to be a new mom and the steep learning curve that comes with it. It made me remember my struggles as a new mom when everything is really confusing and hard.
It captures motherhood in a very real way but I don’t think I was particularly moved by any of the poems. There were definitely opportunities to pack a punch and it never quite got there to me. I think a lot of people who had a similar experience to the author will relate more.
March 31, 2022
**Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy of this incredible collection.**
It is quite unlike any collection of poetry that I have ever read. It is not only beautiful and heartfelt, but the poems are smart, often witty, and incredibly well written. Though I am not yet a mother myself, this collection beautifully captures the reality of motherhood, and the often other worldly aspects of it, too.
I am so lucky to have read this collection and cannot wait for it to be released in September. Put this at the top of your preorder list!!
It is quite unlike any collection of poetry that I have ever read. It is not only beautiful and heartfelt, but the poems are smart, often witty, and incredibly well written. Though I am not yet a mother myself, this collection beautifully captures the reality of motherhood, and the often other worldly aspects of it, too.
I am so lucky to have read this collection and cannot wait for it to be released in September. Put this at the top of your preorder list!!
April 9, 2022
3.5⭐️
This poetry collection actually starts off pretty hilarious, with the author being self-deprecating and brutally honest. Things do get bleak though, as she opens up about the fears and anxiety that come with being a mother.
I'm not a mother myself but I feel like those who are might be able to relate to this heartfelt collection. Not only is it a very raw account on the highs and lows of motherhood, it also feels partly like a love letter to her child.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
This poetry collection actually starts off pretty hilarious, with the author being self-deprecating and brutally honest. Things do get bleak though, as she opens up about the fears and anxiety that come with being a mother.
I'm not a mother myself but I feel like those who are might be able to relate to this heartfelt collection. Not only is it a very raw account on the highs and lows of motherhood, it also feels partly like a love letter to her child.
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
September 18, 2022
I enjoyed this book of poetry. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea and that’s ok. Poetry (like all art) is meant to be thought provoking and enjoyed.
A lot of these poems are meant to conjure sleep deprived thinking. When you haven’t slept more than a few hours for days (if not months) your thinking isn’t a straight line or equation (a+b=C) it’s more abstract (a+b= purple) & that’s the way you should enjoy this book. Go into this book with an open mind & analyze the poetry. Feel the poets emotions through their words.
A lot of these poems are meant to conjure sleep deprived thinking. When you haven’t slept more than a few hours for days (if not months) your thinking isn’t a straight line or equation (a+b=C) it’s more abstract (a+b= purple) & that’s the way you should enjoy this book. Go into this book with an open mind & analyze the poetry. Feel the poets emotions through their words.
March 19, 2022
First off thank you to NetGalley and Andrew McMeel Publishing for granting me an early access to this revised/updated book coming out in September 2022.
“Little Astronaut” is a beautiful and emotive collection of poetry expressing the feelings of a first time mother and the journey parenthood. You felt the emotion and heart behind each poem and even if you are not a parent, you will be encouraged and uplifted by these poems. Overall a great collection of poetry!
“Little Astronaut” is a beautiful and emotive collection of poetry expressing the feelings of a first time mother and the journey parenthood. You felt the emotion and heart behind each poem and even if you are not a parent, you will be encouraged and uplifted by these poems. Overall a great collection of poetry!
Read
October 6, 2022I have the 2018 edition, and I know it was just recently more broadly published, so I’m not sure if there were any major changes made between then and now. I decided against giving this a star rating because I feel like my thoughts on this may not have to do with the quality of the writing, but just that this wasn’t for me.
I really liked some of them, though, and reading some of these poems in her husband’s book two years ago totally enriched both works.
I really liked some of them, though, and reading some of these poems in her husband’s book two years ago totally enriched both works.
April 5, 2022
I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley.
This book talks about what it feels like to be a new mum and the struggles of it. Although it captures this theme well, I didn't feel particularly moved by the poems, I simply couldn't relate to them. This book simply didn't speak to me. Rating: 2/5 stars.
This book talks about what it feels like to be a new mum and the struggles of it. Although it captures this theme well, I didn't feel particularly moved by the poems, I simply couldn't relate to them. This book simply didn't speak to me. Rating: 2/5 stars.
March 9, 2022
This was a sweet, raw poetry collection all about navigating being a new mother. It was both sad and funny. I was definitely the target audience and I’m really glad I read this! It didn’t glamourise the hard parts of having a newborn and it was a very loving account.
January 13, 2020
A beautiful exploration (and often a funny one too) of what it means to be a mother, to give life, to be food...and then to not. Lovely.
June 3, 2022
This book serves as more than a love letter to mothers, but a deep acknowledgment, and a mirror. This book says, you are seen, and I am you.
November 5, 2025
it was one star but it said tits and i think this should be two stars
April 18, 2022
Little Astronauts
J. Hope Stein
I guess the only way I can review this is just to say exactly what I thought. This was supposed to be a book of poems focusing on motherhood and all that comes with being a new mother.
The poems read more as rants. Yea motherhood is glamorous, but this really just seemed like the ramblings of a mother who is up at a 3am feeding.
It was shard no for me. The structure wasn’t there. There was much of anything actually. Which really saddened me because I thought I’d have some feelings, relations some kind of an emotional connection. But nothing more then just words on pages.
Book 28 of 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
J. Hope Stein
I guess the only way I can review this is just to say exactly what I thought. This was supposed to be a book of poems focusing on motherhood and all that comes with being a new mother.
The poems read more as rants. Yea motherhood is glamorous, but this really just seemed like the ramblings of a mother who is up at a 3am feeding.
It was shard no for me. The structure wasn’t there. There was much of anything actually. Which really saddened me because I thought I’d have some feelings, relations some kind of an emotional connection. But nothing more then just words on pages.
Book 28 of 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
April 23, 2022
***I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.***
I feel like this book is written in a long form that I'm not sure the author intended. The poems in this collection grow in creativity and depth more and more as the book matures.
I hated the beginning of this. It was exactly the mundane crap about babies that every person who has ever had a baby has thought of writing down. And many of them have. The poems were short, unimaginative blobs of uninspiring nothing. The introductory poem ended with the line "I am a poem".
That line is a terrible idea if you're a seven year old entering your class poetry competition, it's more embarrassing than showing up to a date with shit on your face if you're an adult capable of producing life. I almost stopped reading the book right there.
It didn't immediately get better, but it also didn't get worse. There weren't any lines that stuck out as awful, but there weren't any lines or images that stuck out as original, clever, emotionally engaging, or well-constructed. It wasn't dreaded mommy-blog fodder, there wasn't any unnecessary fawning, precious words, or unrealistic descriptions of babies, which are at best twitching potato sacks that scream and poop on you, there just wan't anything.
While these poems didn't get better or more engaging in hindsight, they did, from a long-form perspective, make sense. What new parent has a gift for words, imagery, or craft? Their sleep schedule is a mess, they are really working to see joy and beauty in something that's mostly terror and stress.
The fifth poem is a probably justified rant that new mothers can probably identify with more than I can, even though I also don't enjoy accepting help from people, even if it seems like it would be in my best interest. It didn't feel like it was created by someone I wanted to spend time with, but there was, at least, personality starting to come through the poems instead of vague, whimsical poems about how great parenthood is.
The fifth poem, "Lullaby" was the turning point for me. Word play. Sleep deprived language that is easily understood by the reader, even though the grammar is mangled. It's cutesy, but it's crafted with purpose, and I imagined hearing this on an open mic and thinking "I'd buy that person's book."
There are a few more poems that didn't delight me, but which had specific images and narratives more comples than "baby". Then I reached "Dear Oona, If in a conversation with your significant other about the future--", an adagio counterpart to the earlier rant, "A Toast To The Third Arm". It's a hushed acceptance of pain and coming to terms with a lack of control. While this book may not have me as a targeted audience member, I was now getting a better feel for who the writer is apart from Someone Who Had A Baby.
It's followed by the delightfully silly and brief "Prank Calls From Fish".
From there, the book turns audometric for me. There are poems that fall well outside my interest, and some whose playfullness or honesty I enjoy.
I think, if you are either a newish mother, or have fond (probably distant) memories of being a new mother you will either adore or despise this collection. It does vacillate between simple, cutesy poems that will make every googley eyed auntie loudly mmmmmmmm at the book, and honest poems about raising her daughter that will connect with a broader audience but may offend those who own clutching pearls.
While I disliked more poems in this book than I enjoyed, I appreciated the book as a whole, and will definitely take a look at Occasionally, I Remove Your Brain Through your Nose, looking for more wordplay and creative imagery than I maybe should have expected from a book focused on new motherhood. (Although I'm sure there is at least one book about new motherhood that's mostly to completely constructed with enchanting wordplay out in the world somewhere.)
I feel like this book is written in a long form that I'm not sure the author intended. The poems in this collection grow in creativity and depth more and more as the book matures.
I hated the beginning of this. It was exactly the mundane crap about babies that every person who has ever had a baby has thought of writing down. And many of them have. The poems were short, unimaginative blobs of uninspiring nothing. The introductory poem ended with the line "I am a poem".
That line is a terrible idea if you're a seven year old entering your class poetry competition, it's more embarrassing than showing up to a date with shit on your face if you're an adult capable of producing life. I almost stopped reading the book right there.
It didn't immediately get better, but it also didn't get worse. There weren't any lines that stuck out as awful, but there weren't any lines or images that stuck out as original, clever, emotionally engaging, or well-constructed. It wasn't dreaded mommy-blog fodder, there wasn't any unnecessary fawning, precious words, or unrealistic descriptions of babies, which are at best twitching potato sacks that scream and poop on you, there just wan't anything.
While these poems didn't get better or more engaging in hindsight, they did, from a long-form perspective, make sense. What new parent has a gift for words, imagery, or craft? Their sleep schedule is a mess, they are really working to see joy and beauty in something that's mostly terror and stress.
The fifth poem is a probably justified rant that new mothers can probably identify with more than I can, even though I also don't enjoy accepting help from people, even if it seems like it would be in my best interest. It didn't feel like it was created by someone I wanted to spend time with, but there was, at least, personality starting to come through the poems instead of vague, whimsical poems about how great parenthood is.
The fifth poem, "Lullaby" was the turning point for me. Word play. Sleep deprived language that is easily understood by the reader, even though the grammar is mangled. It's cutesy, but it's crafted with purpose, and I imagined hearing this on an open mic and thinking "I'd buy that person's book."
There are a few more poems that didn't delight me, but which had specific images and narratives more comples than "baby". Then I reached "Dear Oona, If in a conversation with your significant other about the future--", an adagio counterpart to the earlier rant, "A Toast To The Third Arm". It's a hushed acceptance of pain and coming to terms with a lack of control. While this book may not have me as a targeted audience member, I was now getting a better feel for who the writer is apart from Someone Who Had A Baby.
It's followed by the delightfully silly and brief "Prank Calls From Fish".
From there, the book turns audometric for me. There are poems that fall well outside my interest, and some whose playfullness or honesty I enjoy.
I think, if you are either a newish mother, or have fond (probably distant) memories of being a new mother you will either adore or despise this collection. It does vacillate between simple, cutesy poems that will make every googley eyed auntie loudly mmmmmmmm at the book, and honest poems about raising her daughter that will connect with a broader audience but may offend those who own clutching pearls.
While I disliked more poems in this book than I enjoyed, I appreciated the book as a whole, and will definitely take a look at Occasionally, I Remove Your Brain Through your Nose, looking for more wordplay and creative imagery than I maybe should have expected from a book focused on new motherhood. (Although I'm sure there is at least one book about new motherhood that's mostly to completely constructed with enchanting wordplay out in the world somewhere.)
April 20, 2022
Little Astronaut by J. Hope Stein was a raw and deep poetry book that explored the many nuances of being a new mom. From love and sex to pregnancy and then all of the things that come with birth and a newborn, this poetry collection is a beautiful expression of one woman's journey.
December 9, 2022
I feel like this book is written in a long form that I'm not sure the author intended. The poems in this collection grow in creativity and depth more and more as the book matures.
I hated the beginning of this. It was exactly the mundane crap about babies that every person who has ever had a baby has thought of writing down. And many of them have. The poems were short, unimaginative blobs of uninspiring nothing. The introductory poem ended with the line "I am a poem".
That line is a terrible idea if you're a seven year old entering your class poetry competition, it's more embarrassing than showing up to a date with shit on your face if you're an adult capable of producing life. I almost stopped reading the book right there.
It didn't immediately get better, but it also didn't get worse. There weren't any lines that stuck out as awful, but there weren't any lines or images that stuck out as original, clever, emotionally engaging, or well-constructed. It wasn't dreaded mommy-blog fodder, there wasn't any unnecessary fawning, precious words, or unrealistic descriptions of babies, which are at best twitching potato sacks that scream and poop on you, there just wan't anything that drew me into the book.
While these poems didn't get better or more engaging in hindsight, they did, from a long-form perspective, make sense. What new parent has a gift for words, imagery, or craft? Their sleep schedule is a mess, they are really working to see joy and beauty in something that's mostly terror and stress.
The fifth poem is a probably justified rant that new mothers can probably identify with more than I can, even though I also don't enjoy accepting help from people, even if it seems like it would be in my best interest. It didn't feel like it was created by someone I wanted to spend time with, but there was, at least, personality starting to come through the poems instead of vague, whimsical poems about how great parenthood is.
The fifth poem, "Lullaby" was the turning point for me. Word play. Sleep deprived language that is easily understood by the reader, even though the grammar is mangled. It's cutesy, but it's crafted with purpose, and I imagined hearing this on an open mic and thinking "I'd buy that person's book."
There are a few more poems that didn't delight me, but which had specific images and narratives more comples than "baby". Then I reached "Dear Oona, If in a conversation with your significant other about the future--", an adagio counterpart to the earlier rant, "A Toast To The Third Arm". It's a hushed acceptance of pain and coming to terms with a lack of control. While this book may not have me as a targeted audience member, I was now getting a better feel for who the writer is apart from Someone Who Had A Baby.
It's followed by the delightfully silly and brief "Prank Calls From Fish".
From there, the book turns audometric for me. There are poems that fall well outside my interest, and some whose playfullness or honesty I enjoy.
I think, if you are either a newish mother, or have fond (probably distant) memories of being a new mother you will either adore or despise this collection. It does vacillate between simple, cutesy poems that will make every googley eyed auntie loudly mmmmmmmm at the book, and honest poems about raising her daughter that will connect with a broader audience but may offend those who own clutching pearls.
While I disliked more poems in this book than I enjoyed, I appreciated the book as a whole, and will definitely take a look at her previous collection, "Occasionally, I Remove Your Brain Through Your Nose" looking for more wordplay and creative imagery than I maybe should have expected from a book focused on new motherhood.
I hated the beginning of this. It was exactly the mundane crap about babies that every person who has ever had a baby has thought of writing down. And many of them have. The poems were short, unimaginative blobs of uninspiring nothing. The introductory poem ended with the line "I am a poem".
That line is a terrible idea if you're a seven year old entering your class poetry competition, it's more embarrassing than showing up to a date with shit on your face if you're an adult capable of producing life. I almost stopped reading the book right there.
It didn't immediately get better, but it also didn't get worse. There weren't any lines that stuck out as awful, but there weren't any lines or images that stuck out as original, clever, emotionally engaging, or well-constructed. It wasn't dreaded mommy-blog fodder, there wasn't any unnecessary fawning, precious words, or unrealistic descriptions of babies, which are at best twitching potato sacks that scream and poop on you, there just wan't anything that drew me into the book.
While these poems didn't get better or more engaging in hindsight, they did, from a long-form perspective, make sense. What new parent has a gift for words, imagery, or craft? Their sleep schedule is a mess, they are really working to see joy and beauty in something that's mostly terror and stress.
The fifth poem is a probably justified rant that new mothers can probably identify with more than I can, even though I also don't enjoy accepting help from people, even if it seems like it would be in my best interest. It didn't feel like it was created by someone I wanted to spend time with, but there was, at least, personality starting to come through the poems instead of vague, whimsical poems about how great parenthood is.
The fifth poem, "Lullaby" was the turning point for me. Word play. Sleep deprived language that is easily understood by the reader, even though the grammar is mangled. It's cutesy, but it's crafted with purpose, and I imagined hearing this on an open mic and thinking "I'd buy that person's book."
There are a few more poems that didn't delight me, but which had specific images and narratives more comples than "baby". Then I reached "Dear Oona, If in a conversation with your significant other about the future--", an adagio counterpart to the earlier rant, "A Toast To The Third Arm". It's a hushed acceptance of pain and coming to terms with a lack of control. While this book may not have me as a targeted audience member, I was now getting a better feel for who the writer is apart from Someone Who Had A Baby.
It's followed by the delightfully silly and brief "Prank Calls From Fish".
From there, the book turns audometric for me. There are poems that fall well outside my interest, and some whose playfullness or honesty I enjoy.
I think, if you are either a newish mother, or have fond (probably distant) memories of being a new mother you will either adore or despise this collection. It does vacillate between simple, cutesy poems that will make every googley eyed auntie loudly mmmmmmmm at the book, and honest poems about raising her daughter that will connect with a broader audience but may offend those who own clutching pearls.
While I disliked more poems in this book than I enjoyed, I appreciated the book as a whole, and will definitely take a look at her previous collection, "Occasionally, I Remove Your Brain Through Your Nose" looking for more wordplay and creative imagery than I maybe should have expected from a book focused on new motherhood.
April 11, 2022
I thought this was really cute. I've never been pregnant or had any children of my own, but I thought this was an interesting collection of poetry about someone who has been pregnant and given birth and cared for their child. I couldn't really relate to it in any way other than possibly the love aspect of loving and caring for another person. But I think this would be a really good read for someone who has experienced having children.
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