People You Know, Places You’ve Been by Hana Shafi

The latest poetry and artwork collection from Hana Shafi examines the everyday connections we make to the people and places we encounter. Despite the infinite variations of our lives, every urban dweller has sparred with a neighbour they disliked, seen beautiful strangers on public transit, told secrets to their hairdresser. We interact with these supporting characters on a daily basis—and often we are them for others.

Shafi celebrates the Antiheroes of the world (the alcoholic at your local bar, teenage girls); examines those in Beautiful Leading Roles (the hot professor, the rich couple); lauds older generations of Wizards and Crones; and flags the Nemeses (men who think they’re allies, competitors for produce at farmer’s markets). We sink into recognition at depictions of Palaces such as the greasy spoon, Dungeons of public transit, and the Liminal Spaces of checkout counters or waiting rooms (including that one at the end of the cosmos).

People You Know, Places You’ve Been is an insightful, charming collection that offers a sense of shared recognition and nostalgia, ultimately asking: what if seemingly mundane places are actually the foundations of who you are?

Praise for People You Know, Places You’ve Been:

“People You Know, Places You’ve Been is a spellbinding collection of poems and drawings that thoughtfully describes the discomfort and beauty of everyday life. Shafi skillfully pairs humour and tenderness to depict familiar people and places through a lens of nostalgia, rage, and feminist thought.” —Ambivalently Yours, author of Fire and Other Feelings

“People You Know, Places You’ve Been is a touching and engaging collection of everyday moments and connections seen through the viewfinder of Hana Shafi’s glorious and immensely creative mind. A joy to read.” —Farzana Doctor, author of You Still Look the Same

“People You Know, Places You’ve Been brings ‘little signs of magic in such / an un-whimsical world.’ In this collection of poetry and visual art, hazy telephone poles against sky-rise buildings are a sight of beauty, a diner down the road has the best breakfast, and a subway commute is a scene from a movie. You are the main character in a world full of encounters with antiheroes, supporting characters, and nemeses. From aunties to teenage couples in vacation towns to hot professors, each moment makes life more alive. Shafi’s words guide us to ‘romanticize your ugly life’ and to ‘think of small blessings / as grand gestures.’ In this collection, and the world Shafi creates, ‘loving you is so wonderfully easy.’” —Manahil Bandukwala, author of MONUMENT

Press Coverage:

The 2023 TMU Alumni Book List: 24 buzzworthy books authored by alumni —TMU Alumni News

33 Canadian Poetry Collections To Watch For In Fall 2023 —CBC Books

Most Anticipated: Our 2023 Fall Poetry Preview —49th Shelf

What We’re Reading: Staff Writers’ Picks, Fall 2023 —Hamilton Review of Books

The CBC Books fall reading list: 40 Canadian books to read this season — CBC Books

22 Hotly Anticipated Fall Releases to Add to Your “To Read” Pile —She Does the City

Hana Shafi featured on q with Tom Power —CBC Radio’s q

Hana Shafi’s People You Know, Places You’ve Been, is a wonderful collection of sharp observations on the everyday broken into chapters covering everything from Chapter 1’s “Antiheroes” to the “Wizards and Crones” of Chapter 8. Nearly every poem had me nodding along and thinking, “Yes! It’s exactly like that!” All the moments, people, places—and the internal thoughts that go with them—are written about here with a very frank honesty and humour that is as refreshing as it is delightful.” —Renee McTavish, The Miramichi Reader

“People You Know, Places You’ve Been testifies to the variegated beauty of everyday connections and settings that – often unappreciated –  shape our identities and our lives. This poignant reflection beckons us to discover the profound, extraordinary stories within the seemingly mundane.” —Arpita Ghosal, Sesayarts Magazine

Coze Fest: Hana Shafi + People You Know, Places You’ve Been —All Lit Up

“The poet and visual artist Hana Shafi confronts what it means to live on the fringes of society in her latest illustrated collection, People You Know, Places You’ve Been. With good humour and sharp wit, the author paints a glaring portrait of those who wish to attain enviable lives.” —Caroline Noël, Literary Review of Canada

Musings on the Margins Contemplate Connections —The Winnipeg Free Press

An Interview with Hana Shafi —The Commentary

CTV Morning Show S8E87 —CTV

30 Canadian Books to Read in Winter 2024 —CBC

Interview with Hana Shafi —Talkingbooksandstuff Podcast

To Tenderly Toe the Line Between the Grime and the Beauty —49th Shelf

Hana Shafi | Issue 32 —Send My Love to Anyone