And Yet: Poems

Kate Baer's poems repeat themes common to the life of suburban moms: parenting angst, marriage ups and downs, feelings about aging, reflections on technology. But in my opinion, they didn't say anything that hasn't already been said on Twitter. I'm glad they make poetry accessible to people who might not otherwise be interested. As someone who has studied poetry academically, my tastes might be different from many others who are into Kate Baer. I really wanted to like this book, but I found it tried a little too hard to say something a little too vague.

It feels almost superfluous to review this, but here it is: I love Kate Baer, she is a genius, this is an amazing collection of beautiful, moving poems. I’m in the same stage of life and I feel that her work crystallizes so many of the feelings that I can’t put into words or don’t even know that I have. Beach Body and There are Days are both poems that Kate has shared on Insta so I know them better, but they are both my favorites here so far. I’m looking forward to continuing to absorb this to develop more favorites. Thank you for the opportunity to review it.

This was for a family member who requested this book for Christmas. I know that she loves these poems

I love her poetry for it’s realism and universality such that the reader can see themselves in the lines she writes.

The book arrived with a torn cover and crumpled.

These poems are relatable across all walks of life. “Late Summer in a Global pandemic” made me laugh because I have two kids and the bad strawberries bit had me chuckling.A lot of these poems are mother based and the struggles about conforming to society and needing to do everything “just right” which I felt being a mom. Parenting duties, marital duties, friend duties and just life in general during the pandemic and now—this book of poems is extremely relatable.

4 stars!Kate Baer is one of my favorite poets. She is such a terrific, visceral author. I loved "What Kind of Woman," and I really really liked "And Yet."Some of my favorite poems in this book include the following:*Themes of Body Positivity and what it means to be a woman in 2022*-There Are Days: a poem about how sexism starts young and continues to permeate every single facet of women's lives as men climb ladders to happiness and success and restrict what women want.-Bad Woman: "is she wicked or good? Women must wrestle with this ever-present question, whether pregnant or single, at work and home, in public or in private. UGH, KATE IS SO GOOD.-Headstone Suggestions-Beach Body: preaches body acceptance and positivity in all body types. I absolutely love this message, hot, soft, loud, lover, mother, loose, strong, etc, all bodies are beautiful and necessary. Refreshing, honest, vital.-Reasons to Log Off: how f**ked up is the internet where looking for a recipe for cauliflower can lead you to remember an old acquaintance who starved herself of what she wanted in an effort to stay thin? Or how mentioning a Pride walk to support the right to marry can lead another faceless, nameless human to tell you to die because you support everyone's right to love? This poem perfectly portrays what it's like to be online as a woman. Being a woman online is scary, especially when Greg wants your number.-Written Affair: there's nothing worse than a woman written by a man in a novel.-Grounds for Divorce: how simple it must be to be a man who cannot give birth. Think of the gall it must take to say "it's not that bad."-Idea: so visceral, so raw. I just love Kate's writing!!*Motherhood*-On a Thursday Afternoon: a simple prayer asking the children to listen and usher in a better, more accepting, and loving world from where we are now. The children are our future. Is that a good thing?-On Mars - how would it feel to be truly free?*The COVID-19 Pandemic*-Late Summer in a Global Pandemic: what do you do when you're stuck inside with kids amid a global pandemic? I don't have kids, so I can't imagine how hard that must have been, where every little thing sets them off and all you want to do is protect them from this scary new threat in our world. Because even when businesses close and we put on masks to protect each other, people can't just stop being parents.-Daily Planet: I have to imagine this poem consists of reading headlines that came about during the pandemic because it's giving me MAJOR PTSD, especially as someone immunocompromised who has had to be careful during the pandemic. There was so much unrest and stress and turmoil that it takes me right back... "what we know to be true."-At the Covid Testing Clinic: so many sad thoughts, all painfully true in the wake of the pandemic.-Awake, And Yet, When Someone Askes If I Ever Think of You, Baby Good, Can the Universe Be Poetic Without a God... they are ALL incredible! All of these stolen or public or private moments we all seemingly collectively share, Kate knows how to make them feel real and exquisite and painful and perfect. Read this book of poetry!!Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Baer, and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, Harper Perennial for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

Loved this collection of poems. Beautiful and moving.

I was on social media when I came across the poem 'Idea' from this collection. I immediately knew I wanted to read the rest of the poems so I ordered this book and it arrived the same day. I am about a quarter of the way through. I have to say Kate is a real wordsmith and so many ideas and emotions are articulated beautifully. Some of the poems touch on motherhood, and although I am not a mother I find her expression of this experience so raw and realistic. I appreciate it. The poem 'Ideal Heaven' was an unexpected surprise and made me laugh a lot, I got a real kick out of it. I am not the biggest fan of the paper inside the book, I prefer thicker pages, but it doesn't deter me from this purchase. Overall a great variety of unique poems and well worth it.

Kate Baer is my favorite poet. This collection of poems is absolutely gorgeous.