The Anatomy of Being

Self PortraitThere are certain things about myselfthat I romanticize, like the way I have Orion's belt on my chinor the way my grandmother gave me her hands:gift-wrapped and covered in flour.Yesterday, I found a birthmark on my inner thighof a heart or split milkand this morning I found thatthere's nothing that a person can doto make me feel more beautiful, than totrace me like I holdsimpler linesbeneath me.It's so easy to fool myself into believing that yes,of course there are constellations on my skin, orfreckles in the night, as if my bodyis a pool that reflects the sky.But all of thisisn't me being a dreamer,or a spilt-milk, heart-shaped romantic.It's just metrying to turn this husk of muscle and dirty fingernailsinto something more,as somethingthat I can hold likemy grandmother's hands,as somethingI can keep closer to me /than my own flesh.I find this book breathtakingly profound in a sense that it spoke to me, in a way I hadn't seen in a long time.If you're in lovethis book makes sense,if you're struggling to find your musethis book speaks to youif you realize a rebellion in the way you were taught your ways needs to happenthis book speaks to youif you want answers to unanswerable questionsthis book is for you.if you feel lost, like no one makes sense of your words but youthis book speaks to you.it takes every aspect of the person.and sucks the reader in somehow.I bought it.i love it."Why do you write poetry?"because I've forgotten everything else. - The Anatomy Of Being; Shinji Moon

I bought this book when I was 15 and just getting into poetry for the first time. I'm now 19 and this book is my favorite thing I've ever read. I have read it countless times since I've bought it, and yet every time I read a poem from this collection, it feels like I'm reading it for the first time. I notice something new in every poem no matter how many times I look over it. These poems have helped me through so much, and I take it on almost every trip with me to read in the car. I read it at work, I read it at school, I read it just about anywhere. I don't think there's a poem in this book that I don't like. The emotions are so strong in this, as if I'm experiencing everything she talks about. Not only does it help me feel like someone understands, The Anatomy of Being also inspired some of my own poetry. I feel so lucky to have found this book, and I'm checking all the time to see if she's put out another collection. If she does, I'll be ready to buy it immediately. If she doesn't, this book will remain as my favorite book for many, many years.(This is my dad's amazon account that I bought the book from when I was younger)

I have wanted this book for years, and it did not disappoint in the slightest. I admit I was a bit surprised to find out that it's only around a hundred pages long, but every page was beautifully written. This is my absolute favorite poetry book. It makes you see the world in so many different ways, and the stories really follow you after you're done reading them. I already finished it, and I can't wait to re-read it.I bought a used copy, but it was in stellar condition. There was just a tiny, tiny little knick on the bottom corner of the book, but other than that, you couldn't even tell it wasn't brand new.The receipt also came with a little "thank you" sticker, which is adorable and makes the order feel a little bit more special.

I follow Shinji Moon's blog, so I'd already read a lot of these poems, but there are many in the book that she hasn't posted. It was also much better to read these poems in context of one another. The way the book is set up with different sections with framing prose pieces and illustrations really adds a great deal.This collection focuses on "anatomy" in relating words to the human body and it is very much about a young woman finding herself (her "being") through poetry. It feels slightly juvenile at times, but in the best and most honest way. Most of the time it is tender, with fresh turns of phrase--the most vital part of poetry writing.If you're familiar with Moon's work, you should buy this book to support her because she is a young new author still paying for college. If you aren't, you should buy this book and get familiar with her. I can't wait for her next collection. Judging from the works on her blog it's moving in a very different (but still amazing) direction.

I bought this book (originally) a long time ago, and I've bought myself a second copy and even a third to gift to someone. This book changed the way I see poetry, it's important yes for the aesthetics, but so often I pick up this book and I read something from any page- its impactful. It's helped me through a lot, and I'm working on my own books now. Without this book, I don't think I'd be the writer I am today. I've learned from TAOB by picking it apart and studying why something is so impactful, why the images are so potent. Honestly, thank you Shinji Moon.

Wonderful, beautiful poetry. Straight from the author's soul.The only thing I have against it was that the formatting of the book could have been better, and that the book could have been printed on better quality paper and have better binding.Naturally, I didn't love every single one of the poems because some were not relatable, whereas others were very personal to the author. We're humans. We don't experience things exactly the same way. But one thing is for certain- the poems were all pure and honest and I love the book very much.Looking forward to book two.

This book is now my favourite

Lovely poems. So intimate.

Habe mich in das Buch vom ersten Satz an verliebt.Es ist doch etwas kürzer als ich erwartet habe doch gleicht der Inhalt das ums 10-fache wieder aus obwohl es dann doch wieder schade ist das es "kurz" ist.Aufjedenfall etwas was man nicht nur einmal liest sondern gelegentlich wenn man alleine Zuhause entspannen möchte oder einfach von allem abschalten möchte. :)

At first I thought that the book was thin for it's price, but the quality of the writing is absolutely wonderful. It's definitely worth the price, I would recommend this book.

I devoured this little black book, it's deep, moving, beautiful.In every poem I found something I could identify myself with. Thank you Shinji, keep writing your amazing poetry.