Photograph by thought catalog
At oh there’s little we cherish more than a good read. Reading a book remains one of the most intrinsically mindful pastimes – the head, simultaneously lost in words, yet wholly pinned to the page. Before bed, in the bath, on the commute, for the span of a rainy afternoon (let’s be honest, any spare moment we have) – a book is the place to be. That’s why we’ve partnered with Molly Masters, founder of Books That Matter, a book subscription service that brings brilliant books by brilliant women to a global audience.
Each issue, we’ll be selecting a cracking read for us all to sink our selves in to. We’ll also be hosting a regular oh x Books That Matter meet up at London wellbeing destination, Gazelli House – think talks on everything from feminist lit crit, creative writing evenings, poetry appreciation workshops & amazing author talks. We’ll publish info for these here on the blog, and in the mag, so keep your eyes peeled!
This month’s oh book club choice: She is Fierce
She is Fierce (Pan Macmillan)
Molly has chosen She is Fierce, a poetry anthology, curated by Ana Sampson (Pan Macmillan). “I love the way the collection has been split into themed sections, ranging from love and friendship, to freedom and nature. Anthologies such as these are so needed to honour and celebrate the contributions of women to the publishing world, and give them a space that is uniquely theirs in a world that has put so many barriers in their way,” says Molly. Brimming with 150 pieces of brave, bold and beautiful verse – from Sylvia Plath and Imtiaz Dharker to Maya Angelou and Carol Ann Duffy – it’s a fantastic curation that provides the perfect opportunity to dip into another world, for a few minutes at a time. That’s the uniquely lovely thing about poetry – it provides a neat invitation to step out of the busyness of our minds for just a moment or few, and got lost in another’s. Unlike the ongoing commitment to a novel, poetry has a dip in, dip out quality... but the experience is – intriguingly – even more memorable for it; a flash of feeling that gets under the skin, and often stays there.
To share your thoughts on She is Fierce, email us at ohmag@icebergpress.co.uk or comment on the blog, below. We’d love to know which poems resonate, and how they make you feel.