Reviews and Press

Reviews of Gay Poems for Red States

“Willie Carver, award-winning teacher and truth-teller, has written a memoir of narrative poems that poignantly explore his experience as a gay man in Appalachia. Through food, religion, heartache, and a bone-deep love for the hollers, the hills, and the people. These poems hold your gaze and your ear.”

~Crystal Wilkinson, Kentucky Poet Laureate, author of Perfect Black


“Willie Carver is a humane and necessary voice from the hills of Kentucky. He writes with stunning insight, vivid imagery, and enormous courage. This is a powerful book that should be read by everyone.”

~Chris Offutt, author of Country Dark

“The love embodied in Carver’s voice will set off tambourines in your heart.:

~Robert Gipe, author of Pop

“In Gay Poems for Red States, Willie Carver extends grace in two directions: back to the child he was, and forward to the queer young people living in rural places today.”

~Neema Avashia, author of Another Appalachia: Coming Up Queer and Indian in a Mountain Place

“He somehow manages to be paradoxically vulnerable and whimsical at the same time and I can’t get enough of his writing. Beautiful. Authentic. Compelling. An incredible work of art.”

~CJ Holstine, Minnesota State Teacher of the Year and owner of WordHaven BookHouse

Literary Praise

  • “Willie Edward Taylor Carver Jr.’s poetry collection is a celebration of the awkwardness of growing up queer and poor.” Read more at Foreword Reviews.
  • “Gay Poems for Red States possesses a defiant, resilient voice which resounds loudly above the cacophony of hate and backlash permeating discriminatory legislative decisions.” Read more at Southern Review of Books.
  • “Carver’s poems are an outpouring of love for a place that doesn’t love him back.” Read more from Book Riot.
  • “Every piece is dripping with heart, some tragically so, but even so, every single one is a letter of support to queer people who may be struggling.” Read more from the American Library Association.
  • “Carver’s voice in this memoir-focused collection is a welcome one among the overwhelming noise of political unrest in our country.” Read more at Bowling Green Daily News.
  • “Because despite the pain, both time and memory contain important gifts of hope. Gifts he offers freely to everyone.” Read more at Medium.
  • “Carver shows how he has reconciled who he is with where he’s from and who he loves, largely based on the acceptance of those closest to him.” Read more at New Pages.

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