Molly Malone Cook (1925–2005)

A beautiful combination of Molly Malone Cook's and Mary Oliver's works, both writing and photography, that creates such an intimate and heartfelt picture of their two lives together. "Our World" feel like part tribute and part memoir that all together is just lovely and full of compassion.

I've been reading Oliver for years now, but this is the first time I've experienced Cook's work. Her photography is quite distinct, and often has this mixture of nostalgia alongside exploration, like she's already remembering and meditating on the moment she is currently experiencing in front of her. It also feels like it's capturing a breath: I know that's literally what photos do in a way, but with her work it's as if you can FEEL the people in the picture about to exhale. Absolutely wonderful stuff.… (mehr)

A moving elegy for her partner of 40 years, late lesbian poet Mary Oliver preserved a fragment of their companionship through this short but nicely curated book. Her partner, Molly Malone Cook, who was a photographer and also Mary’s literary agent was affectionately and mysteriously referred in her writings as 'M.' In Our World, Mary shared their intimacy, their simple yet rich lives tied with their passion for nature and art, in glimpses through carefully chosen yet curiously varied photographs taken by Molly (a candid photo of Cocteau included!) interspersed by Mary’s affectionate prose which habitually veered into poetry (one poem included was Walking home from Oak-Head). Whilst a number of bittersweet reminiscences included their first encounter (Mary said of Molly: "I took one look and fell, look and tumble"), their struggle to make ends meet, and even the ordinariness of their lives, the book only showed one photo of them together in the last page of the book. Mary Oliver was keen on retaining their privacy—a world created and known only between them which included some excerpts from Molly's journal without complete context. It's quite telling to discover they met at Edna St. Vincent Millay's home whilst Mary worked as secretary to Edna's sister. And although I can't say the photographs or poems were of greatest quality, I can't help but see the catharsis this personal project brought for Mary after Molly's passing. In reading Our World, there was an unsaid lasting devotion I found deeply affecting. I think it's always a blessing to love, be loved, and spend the rest of one's life with someone. Mary recognised this with gratitude, grief, and a grin.… (mehr)