MARINA, the renowned singer-songwriter, has ventured into the literary world with her debut poetry book, "Eat the World," released by Penguin Random House on October 29. In this collection, she navigates through profound themes of trauma, love, self-worth, and the societal pressures on women.
At 39, MARINA has embraced a new medium to express the more hidden parts of her psyche, revealing the darker, more intimate aspects of her life that are often overshadowed by her public persona. The book emerges from a period of personal reflection and healing, particularly following her recovery from an eating disorder—a topic she candidly discusses in her work.
MARINA explained that writing poetry allowed her to break free from the structured format of songwriting, diving deeper into the raw emotions and experiences that have shaped her. "This book is very raw and honest and magnifies the parts of myself that I probably hide a lot of," she said. "So I really hope that it fills in those gaps with people, that it's OK to have these shadowy areas of ourselves that perhaps need integrating instead of suppressing and hiding."
During her book tour, MARINA found that her personal revelations resonated deeply with her audience, reinforcing the shared human experience of grappling with flawed, complex selves behind the public image. She noted, "There's a shared humanity in so many of these issues. I also know that a lot of pop artists don't talk about them because we are so image-focused, but really we are all flawed human beings who struggle day-to-day with different things at different times in our lives."
One of the central issues MARINA addresses is the intense focus on physical appearance and the superficial desire to be thin, which often masks deeper issues of self-esteem and self-worth. By shifting focus from external appearances to strengthening internal self-awareness, she found a pathway to healing.
The poet also touches on the expectation for women to have children, sharing her personal decision not to pursue motherhood—a choice she has come to find peace with. "Around 35, I really challenged myself about it and thought carefully about it for a couple of years. And then I kind of gave myself the space and freedom to just feel the way that I felt, which is that I don't want to have kids," she reveals. Her openness provides a refreshing perspective on the freedom to choose one's path without societal pressure.
When considering the entire process of creating "Eat the World," MARINA concludes that "Cocoon" is the poem that signifies the close of a difficult phase and the start of a new one in her life. MARINA is excited to build stronger relationships and carry on having important conversations that go beyond her work as a pop musician as she enters this new stage.
Available now, "Eat the World" gives readers an insight into the transforming and restorative potential of confronting and accepting one's worst sides.