In Oh My Rapture, Gemma White draws on her own lived experiences with bipolar, and her attempts to transcend it through the power of her imagination and the creation of art. Entwined throughout the poems in this collection are allusions to themes in The Red Hand Files, by Nick Cave, as every poem is a direct response to a different file. Yet each poem also stands on its own, a testament to fandom but with a self-awareness that imbues each piece of writing with unique insights from the poet herself.
This is the Melbourne-based poet’s second collection with Interactive Press, the first being Furniture is Disappearing.
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
In Oh My Rapture, Gemma White stages the politics of fandom in percussive, edgy and unforgettable poems. White performs intense moments of intimacy and yearning against a backdrop of grief, so that lines such as ‘you dumped me in the psych ward’, ‘you kissed me in Dixons Recycled Music’, and ‘my madness is a burnt orange fox’ become deep entanglements of desire.
– Cassandra Atherton, Professor of Writing and Literature, Deakin University
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
Gemma White writes with radical honesty and wit about mental and spiritual health, love, creativity and exultation in Oh My Rapture. The direct voice and casual tone of these poems make the insights that suddenly sneak up on the reader all the more effectively disarming.
– Claire Gaskin, Ismene’s Survivable Resistance
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
Gemma White’s poems are maskless. There is a streak of non-conformity running through each of these poems; a tender transparency and an unapologetic poetic ‘I’. You will find bold snapshots of “inflamed” connection and modern human disconnection conveyed in direct language.
– Amanda Anastasi, The Inheritors
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
Poetry that lives by its own rules, nothing you can find in a textbook. Full of life experiences you can’t make up. A total joy.
– Matt Ryan, The Munster Times
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
Oh My Rapture is a poetically immersive experience; a cool, edgy ride; an intimate collection done different; a rich journey through TWO hearts that makes poetry feel THREE dimensional. Reading each poem alongside the corresponding Red Hand File is like holding a tumbler to your ear and pressing it against your neighbour’s wall. These poems contain secrets. They are made for reading under the doona with a flashlight. They are deliciously voyeuristic.
– ali whitelock, the lactic acid in the calves of your despair
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
5 stars out of 5! A fantastic poetry collection by gemma white. her prowess as a poet truly shines through this wonderful work. a mixture of delicately constructed diction and fun, silly repetitions that show the struggles of modern life, love, and music. as a bipolar person, i really connected with her poems. the poems count down from 50 to 1, which i found to be absolutely lovely rather than counting upwards. a sense of urgency follows you as you get closer to the final poem, wishing it would never end. white’s range is incredible, and i truly adored each and every one of her poems. she portrays the human condition in such a way that is quite honestly both relatable and deeply meaningful. love, sex, music, death, dachshunds — it’s all here. i am eager to read more from this author, and i am captivated by her use of form and lyric.
– Nastya Sidorova, NetGalley
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
In Oh My Rapture, Gemma White takes readers on a deeply personal journey through her own lived experiences with bipolar disorder. Through her beautiful and evocative poetry, White explores her attempts to transcend her illness through the power of her imagination and the creation of art.
What sets this poetry collection apart is the way it is entwined throughout with allusions to themes in The Red Hand Files. Every poem is a direct response to a different file, yet each poem also stands on its own, a testament to fandom but with a self-awareness that imbues each piece of writing with unique insights from the poet herself.
White’s writing is raw and honest, and her use of language is both lyrical and evocative. Her poems are filled with vivid imagery and powerful emotions, making them a deeply moving and immersive experience for readers. Her exploration of the intersection between mental illness and creativity is particularly compelling, and she does an excellent job of capturing the complexity of this relationship.
Overall, Oh My Rapture is a stunning collection of poetry that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. It’s a book that will resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with mental illness or who has found solace and inspiration in the power of creativity. White’s writing is a testament to the transformative power of art, and her poetry is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
– Jande Barrera (Librarian), NetGalley
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
I remember feeling emotional after reading this poetry collection, and therefore, I recommend it. I think that based on the cover, the title, and the description, you know what you’re getting when you read this.”
– Marissa Cottrell, NetGalley ***
IP (Interactive Publications Pty Ltd) –
Gemma White dedicates this collection of poems to ‘the man with the Red Hand Files Tattoo.’ I too subscribe to the Red Hand Files, a series of personal letters written by the singer/songwriter Nick Cave, whose personal responses to fans’ questions about life and suffering are thus rendered public and poetic. Like clearly calls to like.
Like Nick Cave, Gemma White writes with honesty and eloquence which hits home. These poems operate in media res, where the writer addresses the reader and engages us in the midst of a flow of ideas and feelings which have begun prior to our arrival, a continuous discourse with that world.
— Devika Brendon, Rochford Street Review [Read the complete review on our blog]