Many Small Hungerings: Poetry

by William Bortz

An explosive and elevated exploration on love, longing, and loss, Many Small Hungerings is a timely and necessary collection of poetry from writer William Bortz.

Many Small Hungerings is the newest collection of poignant poetry from writer and poet William Bortz. In his follow-up to 2021’s The Grief We Are Given, Bortz dives even deeper into the complexities of grief and loss, as well as the ever-elusive grip of nostalgia and memory. A warm embrace in a cold world, Many Small Hungerings is a must-have for every lover of poetry.

Genres: Poetry

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

About the author

William Bortz (he/him) is a husband, poet, and editor from Des Moines, IA. His poems appear in Okay Donkey, Oxidant Engine, Empty Mirror, honey & lime, Turnpike Magazine, Back Patio Press, the Lyrical Iowa Anthology, and others. He is the author of Many Small Hungerings (Andrews McMeel, 2023) and The Grief We're Given (Central Avenue, 2021). Growing up, William spent time in foster care, in homelessness, and in shelters. His aim in writing is to explore how joy lives in uncertainty and mourning.

Reviews

[Kamilė | cobwebshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

"<...> I wrinkle myself into something small—
a marble, a tooth, a pinprick of light, I must become a beginning or
anything without a sour memory."

I wasn't familiar with William Bortz's poetry before picking up this arc and clearly that's something I must rectify. Whether the poem was two lines or two pages long, he weaves the words beautifully, eliciting longing for what you cannot go back to. The collection is an exploration of love and grief, and it certainly hits the mark. I ended up bookmarking every other poem, but "ALL WE KNOW OF DEATH IS ITS MUSIC" and "AGAIN" are the standouts for me.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.

[Nicole Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

"how do we grieve for something we never had but longed for to the point of suffering"

Many Small Hungerings by William Bortz is a collection of poetry about grief, loss, longing, the beauty in the every day, memories, and a lot more. I have read countless poetry collections by this point, and I’ve found ones that I absolutely adored, but it’s rare for them to make me feel the level of emotions this one did. Almost every single poem made me speechless and hit me exactly in the most sensitive parts of my heart. It was almost too intense in some moments that I didn’t know how to handle the overwhelming reality of it.

It forced me to face feelings hidden in the depths of my soul, it gave me new perspectives on a lot of human experiences, and it overall just touched me so hard that I feel vulnerable and raw but I’m happy I read it.

I absolutely recommend it if you’d like to read a collection of poetry that might hit sore spots of your heart while still holding it gently and giving you hope and comfort in the process. I will definitely be picking up other collections by William Bortz.

[Momo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed this a fair amount, I probably would've liked it even better if I wasn't reading this at 1am. There were a few things I noted down while reading this collection. Firstly, I love this author's writing style and I really connected with that even in the poems where I didn't connect with the words. However, the structure of a good chunk of these poems isn't my favorite and did mess me up a bit when reading. The last thing I noted was that there were quite a few repetitive phrases and I am not a big fan of that unless it's to tie in everything but it just felt a bit odd here. Still a good read and I really appreciated the chance to get to read this and definitely would read more from this author in the future.

Disclaimer: I received an arc digital copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once in a while you come across a book that gets you excited about the present, about those little moments you experience and this collection by Mr. William Bortz does that. Well, it did just that for me.
For example, in CARRY, you experience and relate to what it means to move on, and also to hold onto a moment. In PRAYER, 3AM- you experience what we speak of or have in mind when we talk about trauma and healing, and MINERAL WATER, had me crying my heart out because it is on the memory of a loved one lost and MANY speaks of war.
Some poems have a line or two, some more than ten yet each tells a story, speaks of a feeling, of memory, of love, life and what it is to live.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Kelly (miss_kellysbookishcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Many Small Hungerings
Author: William Bortz
Genre: Poetry
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: May 9, 2023

I received a complimentary eARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Lyrical • Genuine • Complex

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Many Small Hungerings is the newest collection of poignant poetry from writer and poet William Bortz. In his follow-up to 2021’s The Grief We Are Given, Bortz dives even deeper into the complexities of grief and loss, as well as the ever-elusive grip of nostalgia and memory.

💭 T H O U G H T S

This is my second collection of poetry from William Bortz, and I must say I felt as though his writing style has evolved. Another possibility is that my own personal grief has evolved to a point where I am better able to appreciate, grasp and hold understanding better.

Poetry is a highly personal writing form, yet I managed to connect deeply with many of these poems. Written in a variety of lengths, Bortz explores the small intimate life moments with sincere emotion. Each of the poems has its place, and some of them made me stop for long moments of pause to reflective. The depth of feeling varies from one poem to the next, and in some way he has managed to dig even deeper into the complexities of life and grief.

Exploring themes of love, life, loss, grief and healing, Many Small Hungerings invites the reader to live in the present. It emphasizes the all encompassing depths of grief, yet the possibility of living with it. A nostalgia of the past to allow space for the now. I'm sure I'll come back to these poems from time to time.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• poetry lovers looking for something unfiltered
• readers craving deep thought
• grievers

⚠️ CW: grief, death

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

(poem)
GRASPING
when a name becomes past tense
only the wind can carry it
and we spend an entire lifetime
grasping onto that wind

[Afrodite Kyhn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“when a name becomes past tense only the wind can carry it and we spend an entire lifetime grasping onto that wind”

*Thank you NetGalley for this advanced eARC, in exchange for an honest review*

These poems were spot on most of the time, they were wonderfully written and have nice symbolism.
I loved in general these poems and the way they were written, one thing that made me a little tired, was the lack of comma especially in the longer poems, they made my eyes hurt and my head spin.
I also really loved the layout and it was easy for the eyes to read.

[Seher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since I really loved a poetry collection, but this is a good one. While there are some insta poetry moments, overall the collection was a good one and I would read more from him in the future! And by good one, I would say that this writer gets a 4 out of 5 stars and I wouldn't feel embarrassed recommending this collection to someone.

Thank you Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this collection!

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful collection of poems. The descriptive imagery drew me in and made it difficult to leave once finishing the book. I wanted to keep reading more and more. I don’t read poetry as often as I should, but this collection I want to keep close to me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah High]

Met this lovely author in Iowa!

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

|| MANY SMALL HUNGERINGS ||
#gifted/@andrewsmcmeel
✍🏻
Lovely, deep and meaningful poems fueled by nostalgia, loss and longing. Enjoyed!

For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong

[Sam Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

agh, I am so thankful to have gotten a gorgeous finished copy of Many Small Hungerings from William Bortz and Andrews McMeel Publishing. Bortz writes of the many feelings and hungers that come from memories of nostalgia and youth, and appreciating the present moments in front of us. I felt a movement of depth after every line and page in this book and encourage you to take a breath, and a moment by picking up this gorgeous copy on April 11, 2023.

[hana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poetry found me at the right time :') in these poems Bortz discusses nostalgia and sentimentality and the passing of time and healing from the past and reconciling with the uglier sides of yourself. I thought that he handled these topics so gently and tenderly and in a way that was so comforting to read. The snippets of nature imagery were also beautiful and tied in perfectly with the themes.

As in all poetry collections there were some hits and some misses, and I do feel like the formatting of lines could be made to flow better at some parts, but overall this was a lovely read that filled me with hope.

My favourites: CARRY, GHOST(S), PASSING, ALL WE KNOW OF DEATH IS ITS MUSIC, YESTERDAY'S ACHE, "MAPLE LEAF, ON A WALK, MID-SPRING

"I press into my sadness
like a door, believing
there is light on the other side"

"there could never be stillness
we simply continue quietly opening doors
making sure no one can see our hands trembling
searching for our way out"

"spring rests its head on the cold chest of winter"

"when it is too quiet I think about tiny things
the stem keeping the fruit from fainting
pockets of light where dust morphs into gold
a stray strand of your hair caught in the neck of my shirt"

"the only thing between us is memory"

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the arc!

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I delved into William Bortz's Many Small Hungerings, I was struck by the raw emotion and depth of feeling in each poem. Bortz explores themes of love, longing, and loss with such skill that I found myself deeply moved by his words. This collection is a follow-up to his previous work, The Grief We Are Given, and it takes the reader even deeper into the complexities of grief and memory.

I appreciated the variety of styles and forms in the poems, which kept the reading experience fresh and engaging. Though this is not a lighthearted collection, I found it to be a necessary exploration of difficult emotions that are often hard to express. The poems have stayed with me long after I finished reading, and I highly recommend Many Small Hungerings to anyone who craves poetry with profound, expressive meaning.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for a review.

This poetry collection was fine.
There were several poems that were quite beautifully written, but none of them really spoke to me in a meaningful way.

This is nitpicky, but I'm not a fan of the titles in this poetry collection. Many of them are quite literal and fine, but some of them gave an expectation for what the following poem would be and then the poem wouldn't seem to fit the title at all. I understand this is purely personal interpretation, but I found myself rereading poems thinking that I missed something.

[Xinyan Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

i appreciated the theme of short and pithy poems, but sometimes i felt like i was scrolling through an endless list of regurgitated tropes in poetry that you find on instagram, y'know? like i didn't feel like i found a new perspective from reading this collection, and it didn't give me goosebumps, which is how i really mark whether or not a collection is going to be one of my favorites. pretty nice if you're looking for tamer, quiet, and caring poetry; i personally prefer something with a little more bite.

thank you to andrews mcmeel publishing and netgalley for the arc, in exchange for an honest review!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I delved into William Bortz's Many Small Hungerings, I was struck by the raw emotion and depth of feeling in each poem. Bortz explores themes of love, longing, and loss with such skill that I found myself deeply moved by his words. This collection is a follow-up to his previous work, The Grief We Are Given, and it takes the reader even deeper into the complexities of grief and memory.

I appreciated the variety of styles and forms in the poems, which kept the reading experience fresh and engaging. Though this is not a lighthearted collection, I found it to be a necessary exploration of difficult emotions that are often hard to express. The poems have stayed with me long after I finished reading, and I highly recommend Many Small Hungerings to anyone who craves poetry with profound, expressive meaning.

[Joy- Jayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Many Small Hungering" by William Bortz is a poetry collection rich with metaphorical lines, captivating readers with its depth and beauty. Each poem invites you to pause, reflect, and ponder its meaning. One standout poem, "birds build nests in my teeth because I speak only of a house that exists far away," evokes a sense of yearning for something distant and possibly unattainable, yet we show up daily with hope. This collection beautifully captures several universal experiences, and Bortz's evocative language leaves a lasting impression. I eagerly anticipate reading more of his work in the future.

[Tiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poems reflects so many deep feelings that are hard to express. I enjoyed reading this collection immensely. It was a quick read for sure. However, some of these poems have stuck with me. This is a great read for those who enjoy poetry with deep meanings. There is not any funny poems in this one.

Read if you enjoy:
Poetry
Deep thoughts
Simplicity

Thank you Andrew McMeel Publishing for the ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own!

[Orianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up shoutout to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review, which remains unbiased.

I'm not usually a poetry person, and I think I would say I'm still not, but this definitely had the potential to turn me into one.

A discussion of loss, longing, grief, and love - all of which are very difficult and relevant feelings for me at the moment - some of Bortz poems spoke to a part of me that craved being understood.

[Elliana Jenness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Left refreshed and somehow a little hurt. But it’s all beautiful. It’s all good. Excuse me while I break quietly like an eggshell into a bowl of this marvelous light. This rainstorm has healed over and now all the flowers and bending in honor of this gloriously written book.

***I always write weirdly descriptive reviews for poetry books that utterly alter my brain chemistry. This isn’t my weirdest one.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of poetry explores themes of depression and loss, and I liked Bortz's discussion of grief and his representation in the description in each poem. I also like that the poems weren't all the same style. It broke up any potential monotony before it could begin, and I was able to get a sense of the loss the narrator was swimming in. I really enjoyed this collection!

[Genevieve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the theme of longing in this book of poetry. My favorite poems were How, Lament, 2AM, And I Open, Reappear (oof!), Ode to the Smoke I Am Becoming, and Pining. Anything about loss and desire were poems I lingered on! Love the questions asked, the details named and highlighted, and the themes of vibrancy and appreciation.

[Abbey McDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review is made possible through accessing an advanced copy of "Many Small Hungerings" through Net Galley.

3.5 stars- I related to a few poems in this collection which I really enjoyed. But other times I didn't understand them which bothered me.
I found some poetry is hard to read because it's cliche but i did not get that with this poetry!

I would love to see other work by this author

[Donnelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley

A very well written collection of poems that speak of love and loss, grief and healing, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to my fellow poetry readers.

[asma · Rating 3 out of 5]

WANT

sometimes I forget how badly I longed
for all that I have
sometimes I forget that this body is a machine--
faulty and untrustworthy
I give all I have for something
and forget its name before the season ends
the wanting part of me always shows its teeth

[Leslie N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before receiving this arc, I was not familiar with Bortz. This collection of poetry might be similar in some ways to what you see posted on various Instagram accounts as poetry seems to be a bit trendy right now, but Bortz’s work has a more depth and feeling than the average post. Most of the poems in this collection are short, but I found I liked being able to read a few while waiting for the coffee to brew in the morning. CARRY and WRAP were two of my favorite poems in this collection.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for providing access to a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brittney Holley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few of these poems that resonated. Unfortunately though, I didn't understand or relate to most of them.

I do like the style of writing and would potentially pick up another collection from this author.

[Sura Shealey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved reading this, and it was a good read! The writing style is great, and I liked the varying lengths. I didn’t connect to most of the poems, but they were still good.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher!

[Linda Crookham-Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the writing style and reading this collection. Many of the poems connected with me.

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this twice today and may need to go for a third time. I have no words for how beautiful this poetry is