I love poetry in all its forms. It’s a play on words that somehow, when strung together resonates to the deepest parts of your soul. Which is why I love Rupi Kaur and her well-known collections. She has a way with words, talking to our darkest deepest haunts and fears. It’s also why I was so excited to receive Home Body as a Christmas gift from a dear friend in December last year.
On one of the recent wintery cold weekends up here in Hillcrest I started reading home body, because let’s face it – there’s no better way to enjoy a chilly weekend than by cuddling up under fluffy covers and enjoying a good book.
Book Review: home body
The home body collection of poetry is divided into 4 segments: Mind, Heart, Rest and Awake. Each offers a deep and honest look at some of the key moments in Rupi Kaur’s life, both past and present. These include moments which have shaped the woman she has become today. I guess there are so many of us out there who can resonate with the words she’s shares, that its almost as if these captured moments are the moments that shaped our lives too.
I’ve read a few poetry books, in fact one of my all time favourites is Mind Platter by Najwa Zebian which resonated so deeply with me. If I compare the two, it seems this collection of Kaur’s poetry has a somewhat young adult, Instagram-like feel. It’s almost like screenshots of short lines strung together for an online audience. That said, perhaps the millennial audience was who she was aiming for.
Kaur covers some difficult topics in this volume like depression, sexual assault, immigration, love, sex, racism and capitalism. I must be honest though; some of these poems will make you feel a little (no, maybe even a lot) uncomfortable. But that in itself is a reminder of difficulties so many of us are carrying today. It’s also an eye opener that despite our so-called progressive society, the fact that we get so uncomfortable reading such words must mean we aren’t really that progressive after all.
Kaur talks of love in a way that is different to what I expected. There is an awareness of the transitions thereafter. A knowledge that more must exist and that a healthy love is possible.
home body is a quick read. In fact you could finish it in less than a day. Though be prepared for difficult topics, unexpected words and the uneasiness that comes with reading things you normally would not encounter on a day to day basis.
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Who Is Rupi Kaur?
Rupi Kaur is an Indian born, Canadian poet, artist and performer. She is best known for her visual poetry on Instagram and Tumblr. At age 21, she wrote and self published her first poetry collection: milk and honey, followed by the sun and her flowers. She has sold over 8 million copies and her works have been translated into over 42 languages.