I Thought We’d Be Famous

by Dominic Hoey

Genres: Poetry

120 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2019

About the author

Dominic Hoey is a poet, author and playwright based in Auckland, New Zealand.

His debut novel Iceland was a New Zealand bestseller, long-listed for the 2018 Ockham Book Award and his short story 1986 won the 2021 Sunday Star Times Short Story Award. His latest poetry collection I Thought We’d Be Famous was released in October 2019.

Dominic has written and performed two one-person hit shows about his bone disease and his inability to get arts funding. In a former life, Dominic was an MC battle and slam-poetry champion.

Through his Learn To Write Good creative writing course, Dominic has taught hundreds of students around the world how to think dyslexic.

He also works with young people through the Atawhai program, teaching art, yoga and meditation to help them with their mental health and self-esteem.

Currently he lives with a small, vicious dog and dreams of one day owning an animal rescue farm.Zealand International Film Festival and Show Me Shorts.

Dominic is currently working on a new novel and a book of poetry.

Reviews

[Dorothy Dentata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck, what a talented little shit. This is everything I want poetry to be, every second sentence hits you in the gut. Funny and heartbreaking and raw and dirty and wonderful.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only is the poetry relatable, it’s funny and truthful to life and touches on subjects such as the working class, health care system, welfare and of course many more. It feels like a tribute to anyone who has any shitty situation occur to them, to be a lower-middle class person in society and to be human with flaws and anger and all the complex emotions that occur in everyday mundane shittiness.

It’s worth the read, it’s worth the recommendation and it’s worth re reading as it’s sits on your bookshelf

[Devon Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, the manifesto one & gay dog are my favs <3

[Simon Sweetman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great poems here. Well worth reading.

[Morvling Bookink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite weird, some significantly over sharing material in there. Felt like he was trying to show off how many drugs he's taken and how much generally f-ed up shit he's done, which is not the cool business all the time. But there were some good lines to be sure.

Plus, kudos because he's Kiwi and I really do need to actually read some NZ books. Plus, its a poetry book.

Quo-oh-oats:

"Lost among the synthetic night."

"Those watercolour years."

"The personal is universal,
your point of view is the only thing you own of any value,
live a life and take notes."

[Ashley Lamont · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raw, honest, beautiful line followed by not so beautiful, heartfelt.

Do enjoy.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flippin' loved this just as much as I knew I would. Now to buy my own copy to transfer all the page tags out of the library copy :')

[Larissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting. Never thought I would have enjoyed a book of poems. Written in a light hearted, humourous way.

[Rosie Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lent to me by my dear friend B. It made me laugh in a cynical kind of way and reminded me how much I love relatable/raw poetry that’s not steeped in academic wankery. My favourites were the gay dog poem and the one about superhero friend learning to fly.

[Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good

[Daniella NZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lapped up this book. First poetry book I’ve read that’s set in New Zealand. These poems strike a cord and deal with gritty and raw topics. Looking forward to reading more from Dominic Hoey.

[Steve Wheadon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The closest you'll find to a millennial Roger McGough. Superbly observed and sardonicaly delivered.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent cutting novel from Dominic.

[Joanna Laing · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved ‘Poor people with money’ and cried at his other book of poetry. I didn’t feel the ‘story’ behind each chapter…just felt his anger and bitterness. Wanted to like it much more than I did.