Dirty Pretty Things by Michael Faudet is a best-selling collection of poetry. To be honest, the title pulled me in. I am not much for romantic poetry and I don't read erotica, but something in this book seemed to hold promise. The range of poetry is wide, to say the least, from cutesy to something the other side of candied vulgarity. From serious to sophomoric. Somewhere in that mix, I found what I liked. At times there was the thrill of being outside my comfort zone yet still other times it was over the top. It is easy to see why this would be a best seller. There is something for everyone in this collection -- from the meek to the overtly adventurous.

Some of the writing is inspired:

Second Chance

We kissed beneath the twisted trees,
our lips between the stars,
tiny ripples in a lake
this love, once lost,
is ours.

Some a bit “punk”

Perfume

Her perfume reminded me of freshly picked
flowers and sticky candy floss, mixed with
a gentle hint of debauchery

Risque

Curious girl

She was a curious girl,
who loved the smell
of old books,
chasing butterflies,
and touching herself
under the covers.

To

“Fuck me like you hate me” she purred, her lips curled up into a
teasing point.

The collection certainly has range and a style dependent on the tone -- from quality to the lowest common denominator. I liked perhaps 80% of what I read. It was not the subject matter that turned me off the other 20% but the method in which it was expressed. Faudet seemed to lower his writing style and quality when writing more primal and vulgar poems. It is like he turned from poet to a trashy romance novelist whenever he mentions panties. The socially acceptable is well written and at times beautiful. The more animal side of love, or lust, takes on a more sensational, shocking, and simplistic style of writing. I can’t tell if this is intentional or not, but it works. From an intellectual point of view, the writing pulls the reader in and periodically repulses him or her only to be pulled back in again. It is a repeating cycle through the collection where Faudet is playing with the reader or perhaps it is incidental. I am going to go with the former because it seems to tie the whole theme of relationships, vodka, loss, and renewal together very nicely.
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I was really curious on what's the hype about this poetry book. It's price around USD 12-13 when I saw it in our local bookstore so I thought that maybe it is really worth the price. But to my great dismay, the hype and the price doesn't equate to the quality of the poems in this collection. The author wants to convey passion of love and lovemaking, but really the poems are just mediocre.

I also purchased Faudet's 2nd book of Bitter Sweet Love. And despite of the average rating of the said book here in Goodreads, I'm still giving it a chance to amuse me. ( )

Though there are definitely poems in this book that I found moving, I did not finish reading the book with a feeling of connection or growth. I am often drawn to poetry that feels beautiful as well as important, and this was not that for me. I found it to be dirty and sexual in a way that was just for excitement of being dirty, not because it made the poem something important. I can read about sex and passion in literature that does bring something further to the conversation, I don't need to read this just for the sake of being dirty. ( )

This is my first book of poetry. I do not like poetry. I don't get it and it doesn't get me. Usually, it does nothing for me. But when I was checking out the nominees for GoodReads best of 2015, something about this book spoke to me. I was intrigued and for the first time in ever, I WANTED to read poetry...voluntarily. So I put it on my 'maybe-i'll-check-this-out' list and then later, I put it on my Christmas wish list.

Well kudos to my hubby because not only did he get me practically everything on my list this year, he got me this book specifically.

This was just lovely. It captivated me. It was haunting, and dirty, and pretty, and beautiful. I loved the poetry and prose and short stories all mixed together. It drew me in. I cannot wait to read it again so I can decide which are my favorites. And then read it again so I can pick all new favorites.

Michael Faudet has given me a new...I wouldn't say love because so far it's only his poetry that I have enjoy reading, but I will say I have gained a new respect, or maybe just a curiosity for poetry and I look forward to not only rereading this, but his next book. ( )