Abigail Parry’s thought-provoking poetry collection, I Think We’re Alone Now, shortlisted for the prestigious T.S. Eliot Prize 2023 and the Wales Book of the Year Award 2024, delves into the complexities of intimacy in a world grappling with solitude and connection. Initially conceived as an exploration of intimacy in its various forms – from personal solitude to partnership and collective responsibility – the book unexpectedly navigates a diverse landscape of themes, echoing the famous 80s song “I Think We’re Alone Now,” yet venturing far beyond its pop origins.
Instead of straightforward definitions of intimacy, Parry’s poems venture into unexpected territories. As the book’s description reveals, readers will encounter pop music references alongside etymology, surveillance equipment juxtaposed with cervical examinations, and church architecture alongside beetles. This eclectic mix underscores the book’s central theme: the multifaceted and often elusive nature of genuine connection in contemporary life.
This deviation from the initial concept of intimacy is not seen as a weakness, but rather as a strength. I Think We’re Alone Now embraces failure as a core element, reflecting the inherent limitations of language to fully express our desires and the frequent disconnects in human interaction. The poems explore failures of communication, the struggle for meaningful and reciprocal relationships, and the inadequacy of analytical approaches to capture the essence of human connection. Through abrupt estrangements, translational missteps, frustrations, and lingering silences, Parry paints a realistic, and at times unsettling, picture of modern relationships. And yes, beetles make an appearance too, adding to the book’s wonderfully strange and observant nature.
Critics have lauded Parry’s unique poetic voice and the collection’s profound exploration of its themes. Paul Muldoon, speaking on behalf of the T.S. Eliot Prize 2023 judges, notes the book’s “transformative power” filtered through the lens of solitude. He highlights Parry’s lyricism and her keen attention to the “physicality of imagery, word choice and sound,” creating poems saturated with sensory detail and playful allusions to pop culture, film, and even footnotes. This playful approach doesn’t diminish the collection’s depth, but rather enhances its ability to engage readers on multiple levels.
Pascale Petit, from the Wales Book of the Year Award 2024 judging panel, praises I Think We’re Alone Now for revealing a “profound and original metaphysical imagination” that grapples with the “enigma of intimacy and its paradoxes.” Petit emphasizes the poet’s impressive vocabulary and “razor sharp” vision, noting the collection’s “oceanic, but playful depths” and its multi-layered nature that rewards repeated readings. The sentiment is clear: Abigail Parry is a unique voice in contemporary poetry, unlike any other.
Christopher Reid of the Sunday Independent echoes this praise, describing Parry’s work as “pyrotechnics” in her investigation of intimacy. He notes each poem as a “freshly conceived and high-spirited assault,” consistently subverting reader expectations in a pursuit of “uncomfortable home truths.” This energetic and challenging style is a hallmark of Parry’s work, pushing readers to actively engage with the poems and confront complex emotions.
Wales Arts Review emphasizes the surprising discovery of intimacy within the reading experience itself, despite the poems’ diverse subject matter ranging from pop music to medical procedures. They highlight the “genuine honesty” present in each poem, suggesting that intimacy emerges not from direct representation, but from the vulnerability and authentic voice Parry brings to her writing. Katie Munnik, also from Wales Arts Review, was “caught by her vivid voice and the intelligence of her rhythm and clarity” upon hearing Parry perform, further emphasizing the power of Parry’s poetic voice and its ability to connect with audiences.
Sean O’Brien, reviewing for The Telegraph, positions Parry as a “metaphysical poet” who masterfully employs form and language. He describes her poetry as a game, albeit one that leads to profound reflections on mortality. O’Brien highlights Parry’s “full keyboard” approach to language, utilizing a vast range of references and styles to create a truly outstanding collection. John Field, writing for the T S Eliot Prize 2023 Reviewer, succinctly declares I Think We’re Alone Now a “tour de force,” praising its joyful energy and mastery of formal structures, positioning Parry at “the top of her game.”
Ian Sansom of The Daily Telegraph aptly describes the collection’s “relentless and immense curiosity,” signaled by Parry’s use of asides and parentheses, yet ultimately finding the book “entirely companionable.” This balance of intellectual exploration and emotional accessibility is key to the book’s appeal. Similarly, Mary Jean Chan in Oxford Poetry celebrates the collection’s “knottiness of thought and emotion” and its “refusal of easy answers,” suggesting that the book’s strength lies in its complexity and willingness to grapple with difficult questions.
In conclusion, Abigail Parry’s I Think We’re Alone Now is more than just a poetry collection; it’s an experience. Like the echoes of the song “I Think We’re Alone Now,” the book resonates with themes of solitude and the yearning for connection, but it does so with a dazzling array of poetic techniques and intellectual depth. It’s a book that challenges, amuses, and ultimately rewards readers willing to delve into its rich and multifaceted world. For those seeking poetry that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant, I Think We’re Alone Now is an essential read.
Order your copy:
- Ireland & EU: Books Upstairs in Dublin
- USA: Indiebound or Bookshop.org
