I very rarely read poetry - in fact, this may be the only poetry book I've read for pleasure since ~2011-12. Since I don't often read poetry, bear with me during this review. I am not as familiar with the technicalities of poetry, so this review will be based mostly on how it made me feel.

What drew me to September Love was mostly the author – I've heard good things about Lang Leav, and despite DNFing Sad Girls, I thought I would give her poetry a chance. "Maybe it's an entirely different thing?" – I told myself.

September Love is a poetry collection that seems to focus primarily on, well, love. Whether they are all about Leav's love life, or someone else's, isn't entirely clear. But love is the subject. Some focus more on relationships, others on breakups, others seem to be about the relationship with oneself. Others have a feminist tone.

I'm glad I gave her poetry a chance – many of the poems resonated strongly with me, especially the ones with a feminist focus.

"Do not think twice about the imposition when they tell you, there is nothing worse than a fallen woman. Nothing worse than a woman who doesn't know her place. You will learn otherwise when you trade your truth for an ideal that no amount of good you do will ever be enough anyway."
(from "A Woman", September Love, Lang Leav, pp. 117.)

The love poems were also quite beautiful, and captured the imperfectness that comes with love – how it's not always rainbows and sunshine. The breakup poems were also quite heart-wrenching.

"Tell me there has been someone else like me, for you. That your experience of love has not been defined by the way I spoke your name into the hollow of your neck.
(from "September Love", September Love, Lang Leav)

I did skim some of the poems. Some of them were too vague for my tastes, others had too much of a "Tumblr" feel. (I found out later that Leav got her start on Tumblr – I wasn't at all surprised.)

Of course, as I previously stated, I am not usually a poetry reader. Perhaps my criticisms are unfair – I usually like plots and answers. From a technical standpoint, Leav is a writer of high caliber. I just think poetry is not-for-me. If Leav were to write fiction again, I would give it a try.

Ending on a positive note, from a beginner-poetry-reader standpoint, I will say Leav was very accessible. If you're looking to read poetry, I'd say Leav is a great way to dip your toes in to contemporary poetry. At least, it's a lot more accessible than Gertrude Stein or Shakespeare. ( )

Name: September Love
Author: Lang Leav
Genre: Poetry, Love
Review:
A series of intricate and marvelous poetries and prose that dwells on the topics such as love, heartbreak, betrayal and self empowerment. The poetries are beautiful, and absolutely touching, each filled with an essence of love. The poetries are beautiful and leaves the readers dwelling on these sentiments, each word having a profound impact on the reader's heart.
Lang Leav was one of the poetess, that I wanted to read for a while. And I must say I am not at all disappointed. Her poetries are so amazing, I loved so many of them. Each poetry left me hung on those words. ( )