Publishing date: 01.08.2024

Thank you to Netgalley and Michigan State University press for the ARC. My opinions are my own. 

The book as a meal: The whole family is gathered outside for a birthday party, the chocolate cake for the birthday kid is half eaten, and now the adults are fighting over something that happened so long ago

The book left me: Wondering what kind of generational trauma my family has

Negatives:

Some poems felt a little repetitive or too similar to each other

Lost some focus the further into the book you went

Positives:

Strong nature vibes

Very raw, wild, and emotional

Features: 

Themes of nature, aging, and dying, different formatted poems

Why did I choose this one?

I thought nature themed poems sounded like an absolute treat. I had heard about this author's work before and how "raw" everything he wrote was, so I had to get a taste. 

Pick-up-able? Put-down-able?

In-between. Some poems almost "dragged" a little. Eventually the book lost some focus, and my attention with it. Suddenly, a certain trigger popped up and soured my mood a little. But, I kept coming back and finished on a strong note. 

What was the vibe and mood?

It has a very wild feeling to it. The emotions are raw and strong. I felt both unsafe and like fleeing, and then very serene and accepting of my nature. It smelled like rain and damp forest floors. But, also like alcohol and dust. 

Final ranking and star rating?

B tier, 3 stars. I liked this collection a lot, but it dragged down a little with the repetitiveness and the length and "chunkiness" of some of the poems. I think I may not be the correct person to read a collection like this. A little too depressing and a little too "raw" for me. But I will recommend this to some other people I know. 

Favorite poems: 

Free Write

Vernal Pond

The Doctor asks my Friend to Follow the Light at the End of her Pen

Coffin Honey

In the Garden

Sitting Shiva

How our names turn into Light

Gnosis

Taxonomy

Crow counsels me in the ways of Love