“Dirty Pretty Things” by Michael Faudet is full of love and the heartache of longing for someone – this much is written in its introduction. But it also holds moments of something as special – those small, everyday joys and words that you say when you’re with that loved one.

The poem “The Lighthouse” begins with lovely imagery, and ends with the sort of nonsensical statement my husband or I might say in a conversation, going from light and birdsong to marshmallows. These are the real moments that occur outside of such sweeping terms of love and loss, grounding it in relatable familiarity that recalls the reader’s own memories.

Some poems are one line, a simple statement of a heartfelt thought. Those often made me smile, whether for the sweetness of them or for the deeper image those words provoked.

Most are an ode to a lover. Rough language balanced by vivid descriptions are lovingly detailed. They’re intimate looks into someone’s memories and relationships, and all of the common beauty that includes.

The passages alternate between images of love and memories, and those of loss and the empty space left behind, and what could have been.

I enjoyed the sections of prose more than many of the more traditionally formatted poems. They seemed better crafted and more meaningful, usually detailing a memory.

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, though its content wouldn’t be for everyone. Many of the works are erotic, snippets of lovemaking that are described in blunt terms rather than florid innuendo.  Its title is well chosen – this book was absolutely filled with dirty pretty things.

 

Disclaimer: I was given a digital advanced copy of this book from publishers registered with NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.