Where the Apple Falls

WHERE THE APPLE FALLS is a lovely book full of poetry and prose. The book is written in a cyclical journey through seasons, femaleness and its relationship to nature. Through this style of writing, Bashir is able to impart to her readers the importance of all that she is writing about. The poems deal with elements such as sexuality, sexual perversion, love, lust, female genital cutting, and domesticity. The book takes the reader on a journey through birth and death and back again through lyrical poetry. In the book, she writes about what it means to be female and how it relates to the environment. Using imagery of the environment and relating it to the seasons, the reader is able to see how Bashir related femaleness to nature. This is seen in the beginning poem "Moon Cycling" which sets the mood for the rest of the book. Where the Apple Falls is broken down into three sections. With each progression of the sections, the book shows more and more raw emotion on the part of Bashir. Starting with the calm "Of Saints and Suppers" and climaxing at the titled work "Where the Apple Falls," Bashir's book of poetry is a memorable read. Each of the poems in this book is poignant and powerful and fit for goddess readers. If you enjoy reading the works of brilliant poets, this book is definitely for you. Reviewed by Nina J. Davidson Sistahs on the Shelf