I’m never certain how I feel about this kind of confessional writing, when an author lays themselves bare in an upfront and clear fashion. It would be a lie to say I’ve never drawn on personal experience in writing my own books, but the memory or emotion that I use is hidden beneath layers of worldbuilding and plotline so that it is almost unrecognisable (often, even to myself). Lovelace says in the author’s note of Break Your Glass Slippers—a series of poems that form a story of self-acceptance and self-love—that the drew on her own experiences in crafting this work. And as one traverses the delicate phrasing of each poem, it feels increasingly like trespassing into a private diary.
With that in mind, there is something incredibly brave about being so honest in putting to paper the thoughts that traverse the mind and the, at-times, very ugly relationship one can have with oneself. In recent years, this has become increasingly common, especially for writers of so-called ‘instapoetry’. I would argue that Lovelace’s work is a cut above the strings of words that can be found under the one of the many relevant hashtags on Instagram (I’m won’t list any here because I don’t want to subject you to them). For one, Lovelace takes her personal experience and broadens it into a universalised narrative about women undervaluing themselves and navigating a fraught path to remedying this. Additionally, Break Your Glass Slippers does indeed follow a narrative thread, with each poem offering a piece of this story. That alone made it an enjoyable, easy read, as the poems built upon what came before, interplaying in theme and idea, making this more than a mere collection but a genuine story.
Perhaps one of the things which remains a sticking point for me is the claim that this is a Cinderella retelling. While there are elements that draw upon the essential story elements of the Perrault/Brothers Grimm Cinderella that we know (largely thanks to the Disney adaptations), because I knew this was a derivation, I kept making mental comparisons to the original. This drew me out of the experience of reading through the poems as though they were a piece of work in their own right. While Lovelace’s schtick is retelling and reinterpreting classic fairytales, this one seems to deviate quite far from the very established events of the Cinderella story which was a bit jarring. Nevertheless, there were some pleasing engagements and inversions of aspects which are present in the original fairytale. For one, the idea of a toxic family relationship is interestingly portrayed. Further, the portrayal of ‘Prince Charming’ intersects with relatively recent discussion and critique of the idea that the magic solution to a woman’s disempowerment is the attention of a man. This was one of the fresher depictions I’ve seen thanks in large part to the form and the delicate word choices of Lovelace. The thoughtful deconstruction of the sense of being ‘saved’ from being unnoticed, alone, and unloved by a man seemingly sensitive enough to see what others don’t is done masterfully, pulling tropes that are uncomfortably familiar to too many people in servicing a broader point – that the only person who really needs to see your value is you.
Complimenting the poem-story is a series of beautiful illustrations that force pause and allow the reader to contemplate the words. They’re a lovely touch, and the full page pictures complete the experience of the story.
Ultimately, Break Your Glass Slippers is a thought provoking collection of poems that cohesively tell a story asking us to see our own value and beauty beneath whatever dirt others may have put there. Having read a lot of mediocre poetry within the course of my work, this is definitely not it, and it is a fitting addition to the other work for which Lovelace has been so rightfully praised.
Break Your Glass Slippers is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of March 17th 2020.
Will you be picking up Break Your Glass Slippers? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
“more forgetting time.
more midnight dances with yourself.”
amanda lovelace, the bestselling & award-winning author of the “women are some kind of magic” poetry series, presents a new companion series, “you are your own fairy tale” the first installment, break your glass slippers, is about overcoming those who don’t see your worth, even if that person is sometimes yourself. in the epic tale of your life, you are the most important character while everyone is but a forgotten footnote. even the prince.
