poyums cover art

poyums

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Try for £0.00
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

poyums

By: Len Pennie
Narrated by: Len Pennie
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £16.99

Buy Now for £16.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

And I have done more than just simply get by

So much more than escape or survive

Through the galvanisation of love, time and patience

I’ll take hold of my story and thrive

After life that was seldom what life ought to be

Through laughter and love I’ll be whole

This story is mine from the cover to spine

And the narrative I will control

Whether she’s writing letters to her younger self, advocating for women’s rights or adapting fairy tales to process an abusive relationship, Len’s voice is bold, unashamedly frank and unmistakably hers.

The poems in this collection, both funny and fiercely feminist, announce a formidable new talent. Moving deftly between English and Scots, poyums is as approachable as it is affecting.

©2024 Len Pennie (P)2024 Canongate Books
Inspirational & Religious Funny Inspiring Heartfelt
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

Listeners also enjoyed...

Scots: The Mither Tongue cover art
Life Lessons from Historical Women cover art
The Anxiety Solution cover art
Gay Britannia cover art
Kinky History cover art
The Pillow Book: Series 1-11 cover art
Wranglestone cover art
Charlotte cover art
The Social Distance Between Us cover art
Lobster cover art
The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires cover art
My Lady Parts cover art
Janey cover art
Crypt cover art
Kill Day cover art

Critic reviews

"Beautiful poetry and her language is just spectacular." (Jane Godley)

What listeners say about poyums

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    34
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    34
  • 4 Stars
    0
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    32
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A roller coaster of emotion

Wow! What a listen. I devoured it in one sitting. I had wanted to listen to hear the poems as they were intended and this did not dissappoint. Len's reading of her work is passionately descriptive of the torment she has experienced. This brought me to tears. Tales of her mother and her mental health struggles rang so true in my ears. A few lines scattered which take me back to my own childhood such as "haud yer wheesht" in yer talking shite to name a few. Loved this Len. Thank you for sharing.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fiesty Passion

Len has such passion in the way she delivers her poems. truly an emotional journey.....but very much enjoyed..wrong word I know ..might need a wee dram after listening and holding her book.
keep goin lass.
from a fellow red

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Strength in struggle

"Poyums", by the inimitable Len Pennie, is a thought-provoking collection of magnificent wordsmithing! Len's passionate phrasings comes from a soul-deep well into which each of us should both dread and delight to peer. There lies immense pain and soaring hope, amalgamated; creating a tough, shining alloy. Sharpness that cuts, resilience that shields, and a stalwart support.
And for me personally, I'm glad I didn't have to wait for the audiobook. Not only for my difficulty in reading these days, but also for the added nuance of hearing poetry read by its author.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Emotional, Powerful and Unapologetically Compelling

Len takes you on a journey starting with personal tragedy with the likes of 'Honey' and 'Oh, Look' and finishes with poyums about defiance and hope with the likes of 'Address tae the Leid' and ''I'm No Havin Children'. There is a lot here and it can be an emotional rollercoaster to go through. I personally found that I got the most out of it in bite sized sessions rather than all in one go.

There are poyums in here that will resonate with readers of all shapes and backgrounds. Her strongest peices are based on her own experiences with abuse, misogyny, mental health struggles, and heart break. As a survivor of abuse, sexual assault and mental illness there was a lot in here which resontard with me. A lot of the times depictions of mental health issues and sexual violence can feel put on and inauthentic. That is not the case with poyums. You can tell that she has gone through a lot and that she is not putting it on. She has managed to concentrate complicated and distressing emotions into concise and easily understood lines and stanzas.

Len's performance of each poyum is powerful. A lot of the poyums within poyums have been published on her TikTok and Instagram accounts. I was worried that the audible version might feel the same as the TikTok ones. I was relieved that the audible versions of her pieces were unique.

It feels like Canongate just got her in a room and told her to just go for it. She does not hold back in the recording booth. You can feel the emotion of every line, stanza and rhyme. It will make you feel a wide range of emotions and it will make you cry.

My only criticism of the audible adaptation is that it would be better if the poyum titles were used rather than chapter numbers in the audible menus. I love that the audible version is split by poyum but it is hard to work out which one is which when trying to replay individual poyums.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

amazing emotional performance

Amazing listen on a long drive, lots of emotions and hard hitting poyums. Strongly recommended for anyone living in today's world.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

If you’re not into poetry, then I’d still recommend this book. Yes, there’s an ongoing message due to her traumatic experiences. There’s still lots of humour, anger, love and all sorts of other emotions and I’ve loved it all. Len Penny reads her words with such passion and depth that you’re surprised that she isn’t sitting next to you. I look forward to her next book with anticipation and in the meantime will just have to settle for her daily posts ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

the Scots and hearing my Granny

I loved the poems , strangely their hope thank you , the passion and the journey of the words

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing poyums

I love poetry and wanted the audio version as Len performs them so well - much better than I could.

Would highly recommend! Makes you feel all the feels…

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The Scots language

Brilliantly written and recited. Heartbreaking at times but funny and witty to boot. I can't wait to listen to the next one.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Powerful and beautiful

So glad that I didn't have to wait for the audible failing eyesight makes reading a chore.
The poyums are amazing emotionally challenging but certainly they're not a bore.
From one who has suffered abuse heartbreak and pain . unbeleivingly I'm left wanting more.
More of your witty and gritty revelations that we really knew all along.
Your stanzas so musical lilting and beautiful really they should be called song.
Keep up the fight I'm right behind you I just wish I had your gift of wisdom and words.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!