Lolito

I grabbed this book from Barnes N Noble after winning a gift card from a luncheon I had attended. The cover was awesome, and the reviews that were plastered all over were stunning.

I like the idea of this book. I love the marketability of this book. That being said, I really did expect more from this writer. I really wanted Etgar to actually develop as a character instead of remaining stagnant the entire time. I also wanted to experience Macy, and I don't feel we were able to. She was there. She existed, but I really don't remember much about her. There were some quirky and some funny moments which were enjoyable. The teenage awkwardness was hella-apparent. Brooks wrote it well, but he didn't take it far enough. He tiptoed around the subject of the story and politely opened the door instead of opening the books spine and shoving it down our throats.

There's a lot of this story that could be cut. Mostly towards the beginning. Some chapters remain moments, but some of those moments could have been merged together.

It's not a great book. Not really an innovative book. But it's not absolutely terrible. It's decent. Has a few good moments, but overall not that impressive.

Fireball

Fireball is the second book I’ve read from Charles Joseph, as well as the second book I’ve read from Indigent Press, and I’m equally happy with both the publisher and the poet!

Charles Joseph is back, and he’s beating the fuck out of all his readers with his latest chapbook, Fireball. I recently did a review of Joseph’s chapbook Temporary Obscurity which also featured B. Diehl. That book was my first encounter with Joseph’s work and it’s pretty much left me wanting more. As you can imagine, I pretty much devoured the digital copy that was sent to me.

Charles Joseph starts the book out with a piece called The Return of Kid Lightning, which addresses a man from Texas who had given him some pretty nifty compliments, AKA me. Which is pretty cool to be honest. I like how the poem addresses the struggles with creativity, its irritating ebb and flow that’s inside all creators. When the muses are pissed with you, you know it. They’ll suck out the juice from your fingers and leave you dried up until they’re satisfied in their punishment. Although the muses are some the greatest friends to writers, they can be demons to us at times. Return of the Lightning Kid sparks fire for the whole chapbook. It’s the strike of a match that leads to a whole forest fire by the end of the book.

The thing I love most about Joseph’s work is that it feels real. The pages within are insecurities, frustrations, life and everything in between. It knocks you down into the concrete with each page. It’s a good ride, and one I plan on reading again. Fireball is definitely a recommended book to read. 

The No You Never Listened To

Meggie Royer is back with another astounding collection of poetry. The No You Never Listened To was recently released through Words Dance Publishing, and it is her best work yet. Royer has a way of really twisting the reader’s emotions through her words. There is not a moment in this collection that does not get to you in some way.

The No You Never Listened To is a journey. It’s an essential journey; a journey of healing and understanding. It’s a collection I feel is one of the most important collections the literary world has to date. Royer’s intense style grabs us through the pages and educates us on the trauma of sexual assault and the culture of victim blaming. She does not hold back, as well she shouldn’t hold back. She is brutal. She is honest. Her words are a great comfort to many people out there.

This collection is really commendable, and I’m happy to have this on my bookshelf. You can find out more about this author at their blog Writings for Winter. The collection can be found on Amazon, as well as through the publisher, Words Dance Publishing. Meggie is definitely a hard working individual and her latest book is well worth the money.

Temporary Obscurity

So I received a copy of Temporary Obscurity by B. Diehl and Charles Joseph. It was fairly easy to order online, and only $5. Temporary Obscurity is a pretty short chapbook of poetry blending works from both authors. The table of contents should help the reader distinguish who wrote what poem. Honestly, I didn't even think of who wrote what when reading it. I noticed style changes and such, but it wasn't as important as the experience the combination was giving. The chapbook makes you lose yourself for a bit. You're thrown into their world, and it's not half bad.

I've never heard of Charles Joseph, though he is now a poet that I intend on following. B. Diehl I've only known through twitter and a few of his posts on facebook, though I'm not sure I've ever read anything of his. They're both stellar poets and the book really does speak for itself.

You're only with them for a short time, but fuck that's one awesome time. The title is like a warning sign in a way. You're not sure what you're getting yourself into. You're given a small, saddle-stitched booklet (which is a damn good print job, kudos to the printer) and forced to make the decision to a gamble. Enter the unknown and see what it does to you or play it safe and leave it on the coffee table for guests to see. You won't be disappointed if you enter though.

B. Diehl and Charles Joseph are promising poets. I'm interested in seeing what they have planned for the future, whether it's another collaboration or a seperate collections. Either way, the next project is something I'm sure we'll be thrilled to see. You can check them out at the information below. Buy a book too, it's only $5 and one hell of a read!

http://www.mynameisb.co

http://www.charlesjosephlit.com

From the Margins

From the Margins

So I’ve had the pleasure of receiving a review copy of From the Margins by Nathan Moore. Before I was approached, I really didn’t know who the poet was or who the publisher was. But that’s the great thing about indies, discovering the unknown, and this was well worth the find.

Poetry comes from all sides of the universe, whether it’s from a bar napkin, a receipt, or from our own personal diaries. It’s an art that just can’t be contained to one strict source. Poets are mad this way, constantly butchered by the muses to get out the new thoughts they’re tossing inside your skull. It’s simply beautiful. The author notes in the summary that he was “looking through some old notebooks from high school and college and I was shocked to see that on almost every page there were poems scribbled in the margins.” Essentially finding your art in the oddest place. Everyone’s art is somewhere, in this case it was literally the margins and junk mail. This book is a deep exploration of poetry from scrap and I have to say I really enjoyed it. It’s a large collection, just about 234 pages filled with vivid poems and raw ink drawings. You really get a feel of how exposed and open the author puts themselves as your move forward with the work.

I will say, if I had to sit down, one on one with the author, my biggest piece of advice would be to avoid clichés at all costs. Clichés, although can be important in some situations, really aren’t meant for poetry. It really detracts from the core of your work. It’s a bit too easy. As a poet you want your words to take knives and twist around inside your readers. Make it something that’s worth it, they’ll remember it by the end that’s for sure.

From the Margins was definitely an enjoyable read, and one that I would recommend to any lovers of poetry. Nathan opens himself up to a lot in this collection, using poetry from a pretty lengthy timespan. It’s a solid collection and one that will keep your attention. You can find out more information on this book through Pandamonk Publishing (Love that name, by the way). From the Margins is available through the publisher as well as through Amazon and Barnes N Noble. Enjoy poetry lovers!

A Black Wave Commeth

This time I got the wonderful experience of reading a fresh chapbook by Scott Thomas Outlar, A Black Wave Cometh. I don’t much experience with this author’s work aside from publishing one of his poems in my Degenerates anthology, but after reading the manuscript I can tell this dude’s got some immense talent.

A Black Wave Cometh, is beat poetry at it’s finest. It’s existential and will mesmerize its readers with several hard-hitting images. It’s a book you really won’t want to put down aside from taking a breath after wholly immersing yourself.

There’s a lot of poetry out there, and most don’t know when to actually stop; that doesn’t really understand what it means to get your point into a few short bursts of inspiration. When you’re writing poetry, being concise is really key. Scott’s collection is a great example of what it means to attack readers with tight and gut-punching lines, twisting our experiences and spitting us back out when it’s finished. It’s a great ride, and one that was thoroughly enjoyed.

You can find Mr. Outlar's collection at Dink Publishing!

Twisted Love & Hot Sex

C. Lynn Carden AKA Happy Daze Poet is a talented and one of the most influential poets I have had the pleasure of meeting. She is a people’s poet, inviting every day individuals to take part in her writing process through her facebook group. Connecting and writing poems for everyone, Happy is enthusiastic and truly devoted to her readers and her writing.

I met Happy Daze at an open mic and later asked her to take part in an interview for a poetry documentary still filming today. As I had just started my press at the time, I was thrilled to take on a project from her regarding the tough and emotional topic of domestic violence. We worked with MVP Management to blend poetry and photography together to create a solid journey for the readers.

I was ecstatic to learn that she had published a second poetry collection, featuring photos by MVP management. The collection is titled, Twisted Love & Hot Sex, which blends wonderful photography with hard hitting and well written poetry. The topic? Exactly as the title says, Twisted Love & Hot Sex, released before valentines day to get lovers in the mood.

No punches held, this collection goes all out and will leave you breathless. The collection hosts a mixture of tame love to down and steamy fun, with appropriate pictures to help set the tone of each work. This collection is for lovers of all kinds, whether you enjoy hot BDSM sessions or a nice cuddling moment on the couch with your partner. There is a poem here for everybody, which says a lot. You don’t often find universal collections of poetry, but Happy really makes an effort to include people from all backgrounds. Twisted Love & Hot Sex is definitely a recommended read, and a fun experience for all readers!

Tales of Music

It is no stretch of imagination to say that the world could not thrive without music. It’s what keeps the people going, that soulful artform that knows exactly what mood to hit or what itch to scratch. Without music, we would probably be aimlessly wandering in some mundane lives. There would just be something lacking to the world. So it was a joy to pick up an anthology that focuses its collection on the theme of music and how it can affect the world around us.

Recently, I purchased a copy of Tales from the Guild: Music to your Ears, a furry anthology featuring eight short stories around the topic of music. Now, to those who don’t know what Furry Literature is, it is essentially fiction featuring anthropomorphic animals (AKA Humanized Animals). I won’t lie, the furry writing community has not been something I have been following for awhile, though I have been a silent observer writing poetry in my little corner of this particular world. Tales from the Guild is an anthology put out by the Furry Writers Guild, a guild that seeks to “support, inform, elevate, and promote quality writing and writers of anthropomorphic fiction.” They help several furry writers with publishing opportunities and advice for writing, and are a wonderful resource that authors of furry fiction should look into.

I suppose one should say that you could really feel the music in this collection. Although each piece went off in its own direction with the theme, there was a unity in the collection that made the experience rather enjoyable. Anthologies are difficult to manage as you have maintain the ethos of the collection, but I found no issues here. Transition between the works was well managed, and the selections were very well written and memorable. Which isn’t something I come across too often in anthologies. Usually I find a few good stories or poems and forget the rest, but with Tales I felt that every story had a good amount of value to the collection. There were no placeholders.

Tales from the Guild is an excellent introduction to the world of furry writing, one I would highly recommend. Having knowing a little bit about the community, I found this book to be inviting and fun, and I’m sure other readers are likely to get the same experience out of it. You can purchase a copy of this collection through Rabbit Valley, which also shelves a Weasel Press title. If you’re interested in learning more about writers of furry fiction or to get a good introduction of that world, visit the Furry Writers Guild!

Striped Ego

Here is another book where I totally did not know what to expect, and I rather enjoyed it, both the collection and the feeling. I didn’t get a chance to do any background research on it, I just sort of picked it up on amazon. I met the author of this collection through Twitter and saw his book on his personal site so I decided to snatch it up and have it shipped out to me. I’m pretty impulsive when I buy stuff, but this was not a bad purchase. I’m happy to have it on my shelf.

Striped Ego is a collection of poetry written by Jo Hill, and it’s one interesting ride. Hill has a to the point style to his work as the collection works out solving personal insecurities that several of us either have or will experience at some point in our lives. It’s relatable in a way, and not something to eat up in one sitting. The poet has a great sense of imagery with each piece and is sure to make each one a memorable read while adding to the theme of the book as a whole. I will say, I have noticed some popular brand names in the authors work, but it does not detach from the work. Something commendable I would say. It’s hard to blend brand names with poetry and even fiction as the name itself stands out so much that it is hard to keep focus on the rest of the work. That’s definitely not a problem here, the poems as a whole blended rather well.

Poetry lovers everywhere will enjoy and relate this collection. It’s one I highly recommend. You can purchase Hill’s book at Amazon and follow him on Twitter!

Pocket Book of Words

First non-poetry related book review. Woot! I really didn’t know what to expect when going into The Little Black Book by R.K. Gold. Seeing this posted on twitter I neglected to do any real research on the author and the book and ended up purchasing a copy on Amazon. The price was very reasonable so I can’t really complain. This is a pretty quick read I will say. I was able to get through this one in just a couple hours, but I did go back and reread some moments before writing this review. I loved this collection, as short as it is, Gold leads us through a heavily engaging experience. He mixes real world troubles with supernatural elements and gives us characters we can actually feel. I’ve always been a little leary of short story collections because it can be a little difficult to grab onto a character in a short time, but that was not a problem here.

I would have liked to see some more depth in the characters relationships with the others in their world. I could tell there was a history with some of the characters, but was not entirely sure on what happened in their past. I also felt that the last two stories could have had slightly better pacing, but they did not suffer entirely. Each story had great twists and unexpected turns that it kept the audience enamoured all the way to the end. Overall this collection was really enjoyable and I’m happy to have made a sporadic purchase when grabbing this one.

I’m planning on watching out for R.K. Gold as I’m interested in seeing what he’ll be doing in the future. You can purchase your copy of The Little Black Book through Amazon as a physical print or as a kindle purchase. If you’re looking for some unique and heavy fiction, this collection is a must!

Gut Punched with Survival Poetry

“It depends on you, no matter how weary and filthy you feel after a week of straggling across the highway of recovery.” --- Meggie Royer, 12 Months of Self-Creation Instead of Self-Destruction (Depression Survival Guide).

I have been following Royer’s work for quite some time, and I’m thrilled to say that I’ve featured a couple of her poems in a literary magazine called Degenerates: Voices for Peace. Meggie Royer’s work has always been a pleasure to read and I was thrilled when I received my copy of her second poetry collection “Healing Old Wounds With New Stitches.” The book itself is something I would highly recommend for anyone and everyone going through some rough times. The book itself covers a wide range of topics from Suicide to Depression, there is a poem in here for you.

The collection is split up into two parts. The first one is titled Grief. Reading through each poem, it really plunges you into grief and the process of grief. Royer uses some really great images to get her point across in each poem, and it really forces you to feel. It is immersion at its best! Poetry has a healing factor for people; it can be therapeutic, especially to those who need to be lead through some emotionally stressful times. Grief starts them on the process and slowly leads them to the path of recover, which is the second part of this collection. It’s a part that says it is okay to make mistakes and have scars. It means you are living! The quote up top I feel sums up this whole collection rather nicely. It’s here to help people, to awaken them. I couldn’t think of a better way for a collection of poetry to be read! Royer uses her intense style of writing and pushes the reader to go through one hell of an experience. It is simply something you must read!

To read some of Meggie Royer's work, find her at her Tumblr! You can also order a copy of her book through Where are You Press at their Etsy Shop!

#runtraccoonrevolution

To say that there is nothing interesting in #runtraccoonrevolution would be far from the truth. This particular collection of poetry is probably one of the most explosive books I’ve read, and I read a ton of poetry. Jeremiah Walton is a rather extraordinary writer who forces nothing but passion into his work. It’s what makes it shine like it does, and the energy this author uses in this collection I’ve seen in their previous books. There is no slowing down for mad ones; these dedicated individuals only pick up more speed as their art becomes a part of them.

Walton’s #runtraccoonrevolution offers the reader a wealth of impactful and gut punching material from page one to the end. It is simply a collection you wouldn’t want to put down (and would be a crime to do so). Essentially what you hold in your hands or what you’re reading on your screen (depending on your preference for reading) is “kerosene for the soul” and nothing less. If you’re wondering if you should grab this book, I would highly recommend it. Read a few pages at the Scribid link and decide for yourself, I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.

https://jeremiahwaltonnostroviapoetry.wordpress.com/

https://www.scribd.com/doc/245025876/RuntRaccoonRevolution-by-Jeremiah-Walton

The Blues and Poetry

henry 7 reneau jr. is a poet of intense talent, and one I truly respect after experiencing his work. There’s a sense of dissonance when the reader is first exposed to his poetry, but the overwhelming look of his work on the page draws the reader into an engaging experience. In his latest collection, freedomland blues (left un-capitalized as it is on the cover), henry 7 pummels us with harsh and disorienting works that leave us returning several times. Written to open eyes, he allows us to form our own opinions and decisions regarding several hot-button topics in America today.

If you have never known what the blues were, you will learn it through this collection. Each poem takes a daunting and somewhat melancholy look at different stages of life and love, American politics and racism. We as people have a sense of what freedom should be; an idea of values that make this immaculate feeling we all share. henry takes that and brings out all the flaws and disgusting parts of our ideals and forces us to see them for what they are. He shoves our sense of self-importance right back at us, and it’s one hard ride.

freedomland blues is a true poetry collection. It is one I definitely recommend to anyone interested in blues poetry. 

To grab your copy of freedomland blues, go to http://www.transcendentzeropress.org

Poetry For the Living Dead!

I have to say that I was rather shocked to find this wonderful collection sitting in my mail box when I arrived home a few weeks ago. I must give my thanks to Presa Press for the complimentary review copy. I love poetry; even manage a whole press dedicated to publishing the most talented poets out there. Though, I have never come across Eric Greinke’s work, I can say that the collection that was sent out to me, For the Living Dead, is a really solid and well written one.

Greinke has a direct and conversational way with his words. Readers who grab this book will be twisted and thrown through surrealistic and bold spectrums as they move through the pages. For the Living Dead contains a wide range of poetry from the authors career, from 1969 to 2012 and it is simply amazing to watch a talented writer become seasoned through each turn of the page.You almost think you get to know the poet through this wealth of material collected here, but I get the feeling there’s a lot more to steal away from the poet.

I would definitely recommend this collection to anyone who is interested in poetry or interested in starting out as a poet. I think you’ll be able to learn a lot as you examine the growth that takes place through these pages. The book has great a great connection through each page and completely immerses the reader in his well written lines. This is simply a must have for all poetry lovers out there.

I may have to look into the other titles out there at Presa Press, and I’ll definitely be looking for more of Greinke’s work.

You can purchase Eric's book here at http://www.presapress.com/

Wandering Poet

It simply leaves me wanting more. I’ve been following Mr. Wise’s work and performances for some time and he has impressed me many times. Excited to hear this book was finally put out I had to grab it, caught it before the color/black and white switch that happened shortly after the release. I could not have torn the package open quick enough, like a broke kid on Christmas opening his one present, I had to catch the work inside. Honestly, I’m glad I did.

ZM Wise has a way with poetry that I haven’t experienced before; his words linger on with the reader moments after the book is closed up and put to the shelf. But as a poet and an editor myself, I fear that I was left a little empty by some of the work inside the collection. Overall, I’d say it’s a solid book and worth the money. You simply have to have it if you are a poetry fan. But that does not mean every work in here is perfect.

I noticed that there was some distance in the work between the reader and the poem. I saw the words and they were good, but they didn’t make me feel anything. Some of the poetry carried a lack of experience for me, which was rather disappointing coming from the talented author. I’m a guy who loves to be immersed ( who doesn't?), I want poetry to grab me in, shake me around til I don’t know what’s going on. I got that from some of the work here, but not all. Poetry collections need to be solid and connecting. There needs to be a symmetry with the material you choose and the book as a whole. The Wandering Poet is filled with many great selections, however not all keep the symmetry in tact.

I had the same critique about the previous book, Take Me Back, Kingswood Clock. There were some great selections but the symmetry was broken by a few skeleton poems, poems where we need to meat and the gristle. These poems have great ideas behind them but the execution was not so great.

Needless to say I still love the book, and would recommend it to all of my poetry loving friends. I do expect great things from Mr. Wise in the future. If you’ve not picked up this book, I recommend grabbing a copy and experience the journey for yourself.

You can purchase Z.M.'s book at http://transcendentzeropress.org/

Poetry Lives on Kingswood Clock

I can’t say when I really met Z.M. Wise, but I can remember when I first saw him read. It was about a couple years back at a Barnes N Noble reading. When I heard him read that first time I could tell he was going to become a really strong writer. When I found out he had a book release I simply had to purchase a copy, and I cannot say I’m disappointed in my purchase.

Take Me Back to Kingswood, Clock, is a solid collection of poetry; one that I would recommend to anyone who is searching for the latest releases in the poetry world. An interesting note about writers is that they’re always growing, always getting better in their craft, and this book leads the reader through the authors development. It’s not often readers can experience such a journey, to actually see the progression.

It's been said to me in the past by other poets that one of the problems with the literary world, poetry specifically, is that there's a lack of feeling. We're focused on getting the job done. It's not far from the truth, there are several poets who tend to put a few pieces out but there's a lack of feeling, a lack of intimacy between poet and poem. The intimacy was there in the book, but it grew as I moved through each page.

I’ve chatted with Wise on a few occasions, and through those conversations I could see the dedication in him. I could see that poetry wasn’t simply a writing hobby; that poetry actually breathed inside this person. Wise is strong in his work as he is charismatic on stage and in-between conversations.

Take Me Back to Kingswood, Clock, is one hell of a read altogether. I’m proud to have it on my shelf.

You can purchase this book at: http://www.maverick-books.com/kingswood_clock.html