Luxe is a magnificent spree in a bric-a-brac shop. A haul of pre-loved and glittering objets - pralines in a crystal bowl, a handful of tame ladybirds, a portrait in vinyl and cola-cubes - are artfully displayed on the poems' shelves to represent the conflicts and connections of a fabulous circle of friends and lovers, those real, remembered and imagined.
Second collection by popular London poet previously published by Salt. `One of my favourite poets writing today. Her delicate, dexterous writing belies the raw truths she tells...I love Amy Key' - Lauren Laverne.
Is it possible life without romantic love isn't so bad? An essential memoir about building life on your own terms 'Marks an important shift in ideas about intimacy' OBSERVER 'The harbinger of real talent' SUNDAY TIMES 'A tender, subversive study of love' NEW STATESMAN When poet Amy Key was growing up, she looked forward to a life shaped by romance, fuelled by desire, longing and the conventional markers of success that come when you share a life with another person. But that didn't happen for her. Now in her forties, she sets out to explore the realities of a life lived in the absence of romantic love. Using Joni Mitchell's seminal album Blue - which shaped Key's expectations of love - as an anchor, Arrangements in Blue elegantly honours a life lived completely by, and for, oneself. Building a home, travelling alone, choosing whether to be a mother, recognising her own milestones, learning the limits of self-care and the expansive potential of self-friendship, Key uncovers the many forms of connection and care that often go unnoticed. With profound candour and intimacy, Arrangements in Blue explores the painful feelings we are usually too ashamed to discuss: loneliness, envy, grief and failure. The result is a book which inspires us to live and love more honestly. 5* READER REVIEWS: 'It broke and mended my heart simultaneously' 'Stunning, honest, touching' 'An astonishing work, brilliantly written'
Exploring themes of pain and societal conformity, this collection of poetry delves into the hidden struggles beneath the surface of everyday life. The verses reveal the anguish and emotional turmoil experienced by the author, offering a candid glimpse into the darker aspects of human existence often masked by societal expectations. Each poem serves as a reflection of the complexities of identity and the emotional battles faced in a world that demands a facade of happiness.
The story follows Ethel as she navigates a challenging new life after her grandmother's death, moving in with her estranged father, stepmother, and half-siblings. Confronting the harsh realities of her new household, she faces the hostility of Aunt Sophie, whose oppressive demeanor casts a shadow over their lives. Ethel's journey explores themes of family dynamics, resilience, and the struggle for acceptance in an unfamiliar environment.
This anthology reflects the scale of intensity within female friendships and captures the defining characteristics of this frequently-overlooked relationship: the intimate and the casual, the life sustaining and the life changing, as well as the tensions and the joys.