Gut

Gut is a poetry collection that explores how a young woman maintains agency in the wake of trauma, violence, and desire. It employs a variety of different forms to reflect the speaker's obsession with control and her growing willingness to let it go, and it won the Omnidawn 1st/2nd Book Contest.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 104 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2022
Publisher: Omnidawn Publishing

These poems delve into the aftermath of trauma and the process of recovery, exploring the complex dynamics of a young woman's journey towards agency and empowerment. The book opens with an epigraph from Frank OHara, which emphasizes the detrimental effects of pain on one's logic and overall well-being. From this point onward, author Amanda Larson embarks on an unrelenting examination of how a young woman navigates the aftermath of trauma, violence, and desire while retaining her sense of agency. Larson weaves a captivating conversation between various works of feminist theory, drawing upon the insights of Cathy Caruth, Susan Bordo, Patricia Hill Collins, Anne Carson, Hélène Cixous, and bell hooks. The book progresses through Larson's personal journey of recovery, simultaneously questioning the boundaries of the very term "gut" and the broader realm of language. Through a diverse range of poetic forms, including prose, Q&A poems, and a timeline, Larson reflects her obsession with control and her gradual willingness to relinquish it. With a measured and thoughtful voice, Larson offers a profound exploration of how to transcend logic during the challenging processes of trauma and recovery.

Gut  achieves remarkable acclaim, securing the top prize in the Omnidawn 1st/2nd Book Contest, an honor selected by renowned poet Jericho Brown. This recognition further highlights the significance and impact of Larson's poetic exploration of trauma and recovery.

Weight: 156g
Dimension: 230 x 157 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781632430977