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Twenty in 2020
Locating Strongwoman
Locating Strong Woman is a portrait of unperformed femininity. Eschewing the stereotypical portrayal of the “Strong Woman” and the even more loaded “Strong Black Woman”, these poems invite the reader to interrogate the protagonists and find in their stories a quiet strength.
57 pages, Paperback
Published September 9, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 12, 2023
I wish I had read the whole thing in one sitting, as it’s such a short book, but life got in the way. And I’m such a mood reader, so if I’m no longer feeling the poetry vibes, I move on to another book just to keep my mind busy. So, this book gets 3 stars as I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
But yes, I enjoyed Tolu Agbelusi’s collection. I didn’t enjoy it as much as other poetry forms as I like words to flow more, and hers didn’t flow for me as much. But I know that’s the style of writing that was needed to portray the emotions and particularly hard subject matters that were being tackled. I might be better to read this again in a few years when I’m older and a bit more experienced with life… generally, the poetry had my attention when I read it, but I wasn’t necessarily thinking about it after I’d put the book down.
Do with that information what you will🤷🏽♀️
But yes, I enjoyed Tolu Agbelusi’s collection. I didn’t enjoy it as much as other poetry forms as I like words to flow more, and hers didn’t flow for me as much. But I know that’s the style of writing that was needed to portray the emotions and particularly hard subject matters that were being tackled. I might be better to read this again in a few years when I’m older and a bit more experienced with life… generally, the poetry had my attention when I read it, but I wasn’t necessarily thinking about it after I’d put the book down.
Do with that information what you will🤷🏽♀️
August 7, 2022
Another book of poetry that I know I will be revisiting time and time again. It is also included with an Audible subscription in the In Her Voice: The 2020 Poetry Anthology. I highly recommend a read for anyone who enjoys the writing of bell hooks and/or Toni Morrison.
February 5, 2022
How is it possible to feel both the pain and the hope of being seen all in one breath? An endlessly beautiful mirror to the world of womanhood.
August 8, 2022
Quite brilliant. I do want to re-listen and/or read some of these poems on the page. (Also the first of my Sealey Challenge books by a poet I'd never read before.)
March 27, 2021
Tolu Agbelusi is a Nigerian British poet, playwright, producer, educator and lawyer and her poetry book will have you stunned. I needed time to absorb what I had read before I could even think about reviewing this one.
Locating Strongwoman is not what I expected. It deliberately goes against what I expected from the title, to show a different viewpoint of what is meant by a strong woman. It has me questioning what strength is and thinking of women who have a quiet strength which is not always recognised.
Poetry is very subjective and everyone takes something different form a piece of poetry depending on their mood and understanding at the time.. I love reading all kinds of poems and although I confess that I don’t always understand what I’m reading, there will be certain poems that just make sense and hit a chord which is difficult to explain to anyone else who may read the same passage and just see a jumble of words or interpret those words in their own way.
With this short book, I started off thinking I would read one or two poems each day or browse through, but instead I ended up reading it all in one sitting.
The poetry in this book is not heartwarming or pretty or cute... it will shock you with its honesty and depth. Amongst other things the poet explores femininity, sensuality, family, culture, and what it actually means to be a strong woman in an emotive and visceral way.
This is definitely one to read and read again because as women we have strength which is much deeper than we give ourselves credit for.
Locating Strongwoman is not what I expected. It deliberately goes against what I expected from the title, to show a different viewpoint of what is meant by a strong woman. It has me questioning what strength is and thinking of women who have a quiet strength which is not always recognised.
Poetry is very subjective and everyone takes something different form a piece of poetry depending on their mood and understanding at the time.. I love reading all kinds of poems and although I confess that I don’t always understand what I’m reading, there will be certain poems that just make sense and hit a chord which is difficult to explain to anyone else who may read the same passage and just see a jumble of words or interpret those words in their own way.
With this short book, I started off thinking I would read one or two poems each day or browse through, but instead I ended up reading it all in one sitting.
The poetry in this book is not heartwarming or pretty or cute... it will shock you with its honesty and depth. Amongst other things the poet explores femininity, sensuality, family, culture, and what it actually means to be a strong woman in an emotive and visceral way.
This is definitely one to read and read again because as women we have strength which is much deeper than we give ourselves credit for.
March 10, 2023
This poetry book is a truly emotive and moving piece of work that captures the struggles and triumphs of a strong, resilient woman. From the very first page, Agbelusi’s powerful prose pulled me in, and immersed me in the world of this woman’s self-discovery.
What really stands out in this book is how Agbelusi portrays the complexity of Strongwoman’s character, showing her vulnerability alongside and as part of her strength. Through her experiences, it depicts how society often seeks to diminish and oppress women, but also shows the power of resilience and self-love in overcoming these obstacles (but for once not in a corny way, in a deeply truthful and honest way).
Overall, it’s a poignant and thought-provoking read that left me feeling both hollowed and empowered. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a powerful & moving exploration of womanhood and the human spirit.
What really stands out in this book is how Agbelusi portrays the complexity of Strongwoman’s character, showing her vulnerability alongside and as part of her strength. Through her experiences, it depicts how society often seeks to diminish and oppress women, but also shows the power of resilience and self-love in overcoming these obstacles (but for once not in a corny way, in a deeply truthful and honest way).
Overall, it’s a poignant and thought-provoking read that left me feeling both hollowed and empowered. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a powerful & moving exploration of womanhood and the human spirit.
December 21, 2024
"When a shiver threatens
my delicate balance,
I will return
to the affirmation of waking moments,
random voice notes from praying sisters
who, sensing what I haven't uttered, urge:
𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩,
𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭
𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵
𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦."
The epicentres of these poems glow, molten and alive with Black women's survival on our earth. Each of them, home. Each of them, windows thrown open and lights blazing with love.
my delicate balance,
I will return
to the affirmation of waking moments,
random voice notes from praying sisters
who, sensing what I haven't uttered, urge:
𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩,
𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭
𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵
𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦."
The epicentres of these poems glow, molten and alive with Black women's survival on our earth. Each of them, home. Each of them, windows thrown open and lights blazing with love.
June 25, 2021
“Wholeness will find its way back to your breath, whatever is broken in you will heal, you will remember who you are, until then, you will not carry your bones alone”
Short collection of poems but deeply moving. Takeaways include reflections on finding one’s self, the hurts that people inflict, and what it means to be a strong woman.
Powerful. Deserves multiple reads to really sit with some of these.
Short collection of poems but deeply moving. Takeaways include reflections on finding one’s self, the hurts that people inflict, and what it means to be a strong woman.
Powerful. Deserves multiple reads to really sit with some of these.
December 1, 2021
Women loving women, showing up for themselves and other women, women celebrating themselves and thir ancestors plus lay a concrete blueprint for the future women. Women crying on shoulders of women, holding spaces for women.
If you have not already experienced this beautifully wrote poetry you must.
If you have not already experienced this beautifully wrote poetry you must.
March 7, 2021
Concise and powerful. It reads in one sitting and makes sense to read as a whole. I preferred the 3rd and last part of the collection, probably because I got more and more comfortable with Agbelusi’s voice.
My favourites were Recipe Book (p. 13), Strongwoman (p. 45) and Museum of Women (p. 49)
My favourites were Recipe Book (p. 13), Strongwoman (p. 45) and Museum of Women (p. 49)
February 5, 2023
Short deliciousness.
I cried reading most of this collecting - I continue to meditate on these special words/moments
“Wholeness will find its way back to your breath, whatever is broken in you will heal, you will remember who you are, until then, you will not carry your bones alone.”
I cried reading most of this collecting - I continue to meditate on these special words/moments
“Wholeness will find its way back to your breath, whatever is broken in you will heal, you will remember who you are, until then, you will not carry your bones alone.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2021
Brilliant
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews