The Bottle Shop Poetry Book Club

▪️ June book selection:
I Shimmer Sometimes, Too by Porsha Olayiwola (former Boston Poet Laureate)

▪️ Publisher’s summary:
These poems dip their hands into the fabric of black womanhood and revel in it. Shimmer establishes Olayiwola firmly in the lineage of black queer poetics, celebrating the work done by generations of poets from Audre Lorde to Danez Smith. This is a book of gentle breaking and inventive reconstruction. A book of self and community-care―the pursuit of building a world that will not only keep you alive but keep you joyful.

▪️ More about our poetry book club:
Talking about poetry is a lot like talking about wine. They both demand only one thing: that you trust your senses. They’re subjective, personal, and despite what the experts say, there’s no way to be wrong. We’re not here to solve these poems, were here to enjoy and admire the expansiveness they create. You like what you like; there doesn’t have to be an ornate reason. Our goal isn’t to interrogate the text, but to read, discuss, and enjoy contemporary poetry in a living room setting.

So, whether you’re a lifelong reader or haven’t touched a poem since your “Beat Generation” phase in college; if you read the book cover to cover, twice, or just a couple lines; if you think you understand every poem, or don’t “get” any of it; well, that’s a great place to start the conversation and there’s a seat at The Bottle Shop Poetry Book Club for you.

“If you can enjoy a song without knowing music theory, you can enjoy this book club.” – Someone, eventually, probably.