How to Love the Empty Air - by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (Paperback)

About the Book

Vulnerable, life-affirming poems sparked by the loss of a mother.

Book Synopsis

In the aftermath of her mother's unexpected departure, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz fearlessly confronts the suffocating burden of grief, channeling her emotional journey into a collection of poems that reverberate with poignant intimacy. Within these pages, Aptowicz's words take on a unique luminosity, reflecting the sheen of both loss and the unbreakable spirit of humor. Her verses serve as a delicate portrait, capturing the intricate choreography that accompanies those who find themselves newly initiated into the realm of grief. These individuals navigate the fragile threshold between the routine of everyday existence and the seismic tremors of profound loss, each step a dance of its own. In a display of profound vulnerability, Aptowicz's poems peel back the layers of human emotion and experience, unveiling pain, sorrow, resilience, and even moments of unexpected levity that define the grieving process. This anthology is more than a mere documentation of sorrow; it is a testament to the strength of the human heart and its capacity to mend, adapt, and find renewal even in the midst of the darkest times. Through her unflinchingly honest verses, Aptowicz offers readers a remarkable journey through healing and the indomitable force of hope that can emerge from the ashes of loss.

Review Quotes

"Grief is one of the most impossible things to put words to. In How to Love the Empty Air Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz does the impossible. With humor and honesty, she offers comfort and even the possibility of healing. This book is such a generous offering, such a rare light to hold in the dark."--Sarah Kay, author of No Matter the Wreckage

"As a reader who understands the particular hole the loss of a mother leaves, and as a reader who understands how a particular relationship with geography can breed longing, How to Love the Empty Air sung to me. But it will sing to you too because Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz is so skilled about writing the specific with arms wide enough to welcome all. This is a book that will tattoo itself on all the places you love to look at most."--Hanif Abdurraqib, author of They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us

About the Author

Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz is a New York Times best-selling author and poet whose work has earned fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, the University of Pennsylvania, and Hedgebrook. Her previous collection The Year of No Mistakes was named Poetry Book of the Year by the Writers League of Texas.