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Description
A sardonic, stinging wake-up call to the complexities of modern existence
The Fleece Era is Yukon-based, UK-born Joanna Lilley's first book of poems: a wry and eloquent testament to the intricacies of our various relationships. From the shattered pieces of our environmental puzzles to the labyrinth of family dynamics, Lilley makes these dilemmas come alive. Chillingly sparse, attractively odd and refreshingly frank, The Fleece Era embraces the complexities of human life with an unsettling mix of the sardonic and the compassionate.
On Sunday, my mother made me
help her dig the garden.
She sat back on the heels
of her rubber boots, muddying
the backside of her old blue trousers.
She said: Last week I stuck a fork
into the soil and heard a scream.
She'd stabbed a frog.
She definitely heard it scream.
I was the first person she'd told.
— from "Biology lesson"
Contributor Notes
Since emigrating from the UK in 2006, Joanna Lilley has lived in Whitehorse, Yukon. Her poems and stories have been published in Canada and the UK in journals including The Malahat Review, Grain and The Fiddlehead. This is her first collection of poetry.
Editorial Review
"At times chilling in its honesty, The Fleece Era nevertheless embraces the complexities of human life with warmth and passion." - Adebe DeRango-Adem, Quill and Quire
"Joanna Lilley brushes aside her sensitivities and concerns and adopts a comical tone that is (self-)critical of tropes associated with historical and economical privilege, bringing about a marvelous effect, and this crafty poetic approach amid our obsession with everything North is to be found throughout her collection." - Garry Thomas Morse, Jacket 2
"The Fleece Era contains some beautiful poetry, but has a narrative ease to it that will appeal to readers who don't usually read poetry. The writing is taut yet deep, brimming with energy and openness." - The Literary Press Group
