Book Review: Waking up to Thrutopia by Conny Borgelioen
I am delighted to share a book review of Waking up to Thrutopia by Conny Borgelioen, a beautiful poetry and essay collection that, divided into three connected parts, chronicles the author’s struggle with a chronic illness and puts to words what it feels like to “elucidate the healing process and “ask hard questions as [the author’s] tender rebellion against the status quo begins to take shape.”
In the book’s Foreword, Conny states that “Thrutopia is a word coined by British philosopher Rupert Read . . . and what Thrutopia means can’t be explained by a simple definition, but it’s a contraction of the words “through” and “utopia” . . . Read realised that to strive for a utopia can only ever be that. Utopia cannot exist; all we can do is to try to get there and that is actually where utopia resides. In other words, we need to get through the difficult and hard times to get to some place that’s better.”
This book serves as a means to work through the difficult times in search of some place that is better. Waking up to Thrutopia is not afraid to explore feelings related to mistakes, loneliness, and pain. It places dark moments within the context of their place in the world and offers an evocative read that invites the reader to become part of the poetic landscape raised in the book, to become part of the story, learning and loving and waiting with the author as smaller moments unfold into bigger ones throughout the narrative at large.
The poems and essays in this book are soulful and reflect thoughts and realizations as brought to life through imagery and memory and reflection. Simple moments like taking a walk or pondering past relationships become doorways to waking moments, as in “Capitalism is confinement. /Capital / Con. /Sharing is harmony. /Share / harm.”
After reading this book a couple times and sitting with my thoughts, I began to see that I always came back to the poems and prose that encapsulated important moments in the author’s life. Specifically, three pieces of writing remained especially vivid in my mind: Gifts that make and end me, Submerged, and Water burial.
I love the life narrative of finding love and love lost in Submerged, which tells beautifully of how “we drifted towards each other through the smokey pub air” and begins to end with “living with someone who’s hiding that they’ve fallen out of love with you is like holding hands with a ghoul in the dark.”
Water burial blends the beginnings and endings of previous relationships in the author’s life with hope and tells of how “there’s no solid evidence that Vikings placed their deceased in a boat, launched them into the wide sea, and set them ablaze with a flaming arrow. This idea comes from the world of myth, a visual fable that appealed to Hollywood producers, a meme that burrowed into minds, much like the stories they made up about female friendship—because they wish it could be like that.”
But the piece that resonated the most with me was Gifts that make and end me; hence I am compelled to share the second part of this resounding poem that reveals a further peek at the style and taste of this book below.
Excerpt from Gifts that make and end me, published in Waking up to Thrutopia by Connie Borgelioen
This three-part poem is very nearly the opening of the book and is an impactful piece of writing alive with the imagery and emotion that makes Waking up to Thrutopia such a moving read.
“in my developing years, my mother taught me to dress in clothes too large for my size. to choose loose lines, swaths of fabric to uphold the delicate sway of my body, should my frame collapse under the weight of the world’s eye. i was no longer growing. there was no growing into. there was only swaths of plaid and jeans that tapered at the bottom, my feet sticking out like those of a duck . i plodded, not danced, my clothes billowing, not from grace but from bulk. the weight of my mother’s gift dressed my face, and no one ever liked me back. she slept alone by then, and i after years slowly shed the contorting fabric. my arms and legs— free—went on for days. my neck, my shoulders, a ballerina’s, but i slept alone, and when someone i liked liked me back, i slept alone. there is a weight i carry i cannot shed. i sleep alone”
I recommend Waking up to Thrutopia to readers who wish to better understand their own pain and struggles and to readers who wish to learn how to empathize with those going through dark moments. This is also a beautiful book to add to any collection of poetry books, as well as an evocative read for all lovers of artful and emotional poetry.
Waking up to Thrutopia is available on Amazon. Be sure to follow the author on Instagram to enjoy more of her writing and for further news regarding the book.
Explore my review section for further book reviews.
Sara
Amazing book review, and fun to read the article!
Marylou
Wow Great book review! please post more book reviews like this.
Resa
Wow! This sounds amazing. You did a fabulous review, Layla!
Thank you!
SelmaMartin
This is just so beautiful. I also loved Connie’s book. Have reviewed.
You are such a giving soul and your kindness shows in everything and review you write. So beautiful, Layla. Thanks for sharing your lovely words. xoxo
Layla Todd
Thank you so much for reading, Selma! I love that you have read this collection too.
SelmaMartin
💗 💕
michnavs
Thank you for this review Layla .. another book on my list now.
Cindy Georgakas
What a beautiful review of Connie’s book thoughtfully expressed and shared Layla. Her labor of love in honest poetry is inspiring and heartfelt. ❤️
Layla Todd
Thank you for stopping by, Cindy! I hope you’re starting to feel better too. ❤️
Pooja G
Wow, sounds like such a fascinating book. Wonderful review and will definitely be checking the book out.
Karen
A captivating review! “Waking up to Thrutopia” seems to be an eye-opening journey, as you’ve beautifully described. The fusion of personal experience and philosophical insights promises a thought-provoking read. Your thoughtful analysis makes me eager to dive into this book and explore its messages of mindfulness and transformation. 📚✨
Layla Todd
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this book and review! ❤️
Annika Perry
Layla, thank you for sharing this thoughtful and soulful book in your beautiful and comprehensive review! Congratulations to Conny Borgelioen!
Layla Todd
Thank you for reading and sharing your thoughts, Annika! ❤️
Ingrid
Thank you for this review, Layla: I love Conny’s poetry, but didn’t realise her book was out yet. It’s on my list!
Layla Todd
Glad to hear it, Ingrid! I certainly hope you enjoy the collection. ❤️
Jennifer Pentland
Such a beautiful, heartfelt review, Layla! Understanding ones emotions is paramount to having a healthy and positive well-being.
Layla Todd
Thank you for this insightful comment, Jennifer! ❤️
Belladonna
This sounds so good!!! Thanks for the review💖
Ka
This sounds like an evocative book; the awareness of pain for those going through dark times and the lessons for getting through it to better times is an important one. The oversized clothes had me feeling that sense of burden in the author.
Layla Todd
Love that you connected with the excerpts from the book I share, Ka! Thank you for reading. ❤️
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
I love the title.
I love the cover.
I love the way you wrote the review.
And off course I love the pic coffee and daisies! My favorite flowers.
Layla Todd
Thank you so much, Claudia! Daisies truly are a sweet flower. ❤️
Lucia’s Fiction
This sounds really good ✨
Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet
A heart-touching review, Layla! <3 I felt the author's pain in the description of wearing oversized clothes. Adolescence is hard enough without chronic illness and awkward clothing. I was the only one I knew who was not allowed to wear shorts. I still remember how that felt!
Sounds interesting and meaningful, Connie! Congratulations on your new book! <3
Layla Todd
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Cheryl! I love that you connected with the excerpts too. ❤️
Jacqui Murray
This sounds interesting. I absolutely do NOT want to “better understand their own pain and struggles” (just as soon forget them!) but I’d like to “learn how to empathize with those going through dark moments”.
Layla Todd
Thanks for sharing how this book connected with you, Jacqui! ❤️