In a recent review of Ben Ladouceur ‘s Otter , Emma Healey of The Globe and Mail writes that the young poet’s debut collection “could just as easily be his 10th [collection].” Healey notes that the power of Otter comes from the fact that “every image, moment and person in these poems is given equal weight, and the way he works them together is both seamless and skillful.” In a review in The Puritan , Stewart Cole writes that Ben Ladouceur ‘s debut poetry book, Otter , in granting ‘vivid access to spheres of intimacy between men,’ also manages to ‘[root] his speakers’ journeys in unabashed carnality … with such consistenteloquence and in such consistently compelling contexts that the overall effect is not to shock, but ultimately, to challenge the ludicrousness of the heteronormative mindset from which all opposition to LGBTQAI lifestyles stems.’ In a short review of Ben Ladouceur ‘s debut poetry book, Otter , in the Winnipeg Free Press , Jonathan Ballwrites that Ladouceur’s lyrical volume ‘joins a handful of excellent and explicity books that bring a gay male perspective to the poetry world.’ Ball concludes that ‘ Otter is a startling debut and a dense, rewarding read.’ ‘ Otter has more weight per line than any book I’ve read since I started this blog.’ – Michael Dennis “