BOOK REVIEW // Instructions for Flight

pages: 34

publish date: January 31, 2017

genre(s): poetry

format: eARC

cover rating: 🌟🌟 (I loove the concept and I'm not one to turn down wings. ever. cons: I think that, for subject matter covered, the font isn't the best choice and I wish there was some way of combining the texture and the drawing more naturally. This is no way detracts from content.)

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I'd like to mention, before I start this review, that I've never really reviewed poetry and I don't read poetry on a regular basis. To me, poetry means words that rhyme. Of course I know that's not how it is all the time but it makes me hesitant to read poems or give my opinion on them sometimes. 

So here's my disclaimer: I am not an expert by any means. I'm going primarily by feel--the emotions the words bring me and how the words feel rolling off my tongue.  

• I was impressed by the rich language the author used throughout the work: the metaphors (which were super creative btw), deliberate and effective repetition, breaks in the lines of words. All of these combined to create a hard-hitting writing style that spotlighted many important ideas and controversies.
• Speaking of relevant topics--I read about learning to step out and live, young people who self-destruct, the strength of love. and the fears of public speaking. To me, these things are common ground. Love, fear, hope, and self-destruction. 
• My favorite poem was To Beautiful Disasters. I LOVE the short, choppy, desperate lines. The language is dark and violent and conveys the strongest emotion in the collection. 

" You put shattered people back together with borrowed shards."

• Another poem I really liked was Instructions for Flight, especially the first stanza. The author captures the essence of hope so well with her metaphors, using things like candy and ice cream to describe it, that I can see it, taste it. 

• On the off side, in some places (like Dear Dr. King) I thought the rhythm was not quite as smooth and lilting as I wished it would be.
• I said before and I'll say it again--I was super duper impressed by the lyrical words in this poetry collection. BUT there were some areas mixed in there where the language wasn't quite so eloquent and I was slightly disappointed. 

This was a unique experience for me, and I'm happy to say that I really enjoyed it. I was delightfully surprised by the depth of the topics and the bold words used to convey the stories! 

rating: 

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.