Review of Michaela Godding’s The Year Our Grandmothers Died
Every poem in Michaela Godding’s The Year Our Grandmothers Died is vivid with emotion, history, and the complications of family. More than that, this book is a showcase of Godding’s deep, inescapable intimacy with the blurred lines between life and death, love and resentment, joy and longing. Some poems are short and stark, not bothering to try and hide the pain they were written about; others make the reader forget that the book is about death and loss, letting them sneak up and deliver an unexpected and devastating gut punch in a masterful imitation of grief.
The force of family history is felt throughout, even in pieces where neither grandmother or any other family member is referenced directly. Pieces like the opening “playing god” and manic “relapse” lead one to wonder about the background of both the poems and Godding herself, the years of remarks and comments (direct or overheard) that encourage certain mindsets and behavior patterns. Others, like “Ode to Hot Dogs” and “the truth,” are more upfront about the family dynamics at play, leading the reader into distinct moments and letting them live the experience themselves.
On the technical side of things, Godding’s deft use of structure, word choice, and space in each piece does an incredible job of taking the reader on a journey through the tumult of emotions, images, and recollections that are carefully folded into each one. In particular, “my greatest fear” uses a version of the contrapuntal form to great effect, surprising the reader even when they already have some clues as to how the poem will go.
Overall, every page of this book feels like a carefully crafted taste of Godding’s experience - sometimes an intricate meal, sometimes merely a single bite, but each one thoughtful, intentional, and delivering exactly what it is meant to.
Learn More: https://www.aospublishing.com/michaela-godding
Rowan Crosthwaite
Rowan Crosthwaite (aka Ruthenium) is a nonbinary artist and writer currently living in the state of metamorphosis (also, the city of Los Angeles). They are obsessed with texture and context, and believe creativity is magic. They have been published in Transfix Magazine and Snowflake Magazine, among other amazing places, and also edit for Fruitslice Quarterly. Their various presences and publications can be found at https://linktr.ee/Ruthenium and they are Ruthenium_Art on Instagram
