I debated whether or not to use a really tired cliche when I sat down to write this review of Vancouver writer, filmmaker, and performance artist Amber Dawn's recently released memoir, How Poetry Saved My Life. In the spirit of a writer who's not afraid to title two of her poems "What's My Mother F***ing Name" and "Hey F*** Face," I then thought 'fuck it,' I'm going to say it anyway: this book made me laugh and it made me cry. I mean this in the best and the most sincere way. Let me tell you why. 
 There's a certain messiness and refusal to be contained that this book, subtitled A Hustler's Memoir, celebrates and shouts from the rooftops... 
 See the rest of my review on my blog: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wor...