Hello! It’s been a minute—it’s funny how a more active social life means (slightly) less time to read. Plus, when you work at a uni like I do, the spring semester is hectic, to say the least. But it feels so good to be back, let’s dive in. As y’all know, I love getting book [...]
I always love when Isabelle Kenyon reaches out to me about book tours! This week, I read All Island No Sea by Chris Campbell! (And I have a vlog!) This is a very short chapbook that's chockfull of the feels--it's nostalgic, romantic, and just all around thoughtful. Its cover describes it as being about "identity, [...]
Thanks to Broken Spine for recommending this great new collection From This Soil by Casey Bailey! Y'all are in for a treat since it will be officially released July 30. (And here's a short vlog too!) Poetry is always a little tricky to review as it's so unique--sometimes there's a throughline of theme or story, [...]
Perhaps what I like best about poetry is that you can sit with it for as long or as briefly as you want. Jay Rafferty’s new collection Strange Magic is a quick read, but it feels deep. It feels hopeful. It feels angst. It feels. (By the way, for more poetic(ish) pondering, here’s the link [...]
Few things compare to Machine Journey, a scifi poetry/flash-fiction piece by Richard Doyle. In a few words, it's whimsical, eclectic, and very much reminded me of the Twilight Zone. (Oh, and by the way, vlogs are back!) It's a very quick read, but one that demands attention, perhaps even a re-read to get the "meaning." [...]
You know that feeling of when you remember something but it's almost like you're just remembering the last time you remembered it...and it doesn't exactly feel real? That's similar to the vibe I got Alan Parry's poetry collection Echoes. (Oh, and here's a link to my vlog review, as well as my author interview) What [...]
"I love the power of language." Writer Alan Parry has always dabbled in the written word. Whether it was his venture in the short stories, novels, and even sitcoms, Parry is an experimenter. For a while, he dabbled with songwriting, even wanting to be a musician, but it wasn't until a poetry unit in his [...]
I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like Holy Things by Jay Rafferty. It’s compelling and funny, and irreverent. Literally. Rafferty has a self-reflective yet cynical voice when referencing the church and it’s quite intriguing, to say the least. (Oh, and before I forget, here’s a link to my vlog… and, in case [...]
When he was young, Jay Rafferty tried to write fiction, but it didn't ever stick. Then, he shifted focus to poetry and hasn't looked back. Rafferty admitted to some of the turn toward poetry was an attempt at creative catharsis. A self-proclaimed angry teenager, poetry became the most fulfilling way to redirect that energy. It [...]
Thank you for your patience with my sporadic reviews--life sure does get crazy sometimes! *** Grief is a difficult thing. On one hand, we’re often told to go through the stages, heal and move on. But on the other hand, it’s not clear how long those stages “should” last, and we can be pressured to [...]
A Little Bit of Happiness 