Review of The graveyard and other poems

This forum is for volunteer reviews by members of our review team. These reviews are done voluntarily by the reviewers and are published in this forum, separate from the official professional reviews. These reviews are kept separate primarily because the same book may be reviewed by many different reviewers.
Forum rules
Authors and publishers are not able to post replies in the review topics.
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Review of The graveyard and other poems

Post by Kavita Shah »

[Following is a volunteer review of "The graveyard and other poems" by Mae Bea Sayes.]
Book Cover
3 out of 5 stars
Share This Review


The graveyard and other poems by Mae Bea Sayes is a supernatural poetry book. The book has five parts and twenty-five poems. The five parts are The Cemetery, The Craigs and Moors, Dark Shadows, Other Poems, and Prelude to the Lilac Garden.

I enjoyed reading four of the twenty-five poems. They are called The Sunburned Gaze, Scargo Lake, La Mer, and Early Childhood Memories. The description of the ocean, the lake with the ghost of a princess, and two souls meeting after death was captivating. I enjoyed reading the poem’s account of the author’s early years. If you have read Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, or if you have read poems by poets like John Keats and Lord Byron, you will find many poems based on them. As I had previously read the novel called Jane Eyre, I understood the poem called Jane Eyre.

I had an overall good time reading these poems. The author made something dead, like corpses, and intangible, like ghosts and dead souls, come alive and express deep emotions to the reader. All except two poems are brief in length and have profound meaning. The poet creatively described scenes of snow, moss, and graveyards; there were pieces about souls repenting, witches, corpses, and crows in a cemetery. I learned quite a lot from searching for words and phrases used in the poems. I learned about graveyards, the ides of March, famous poets like Lord Byron, and some Christian concepts of sin and redemption.

However, there were many poems where I struggled to get the point across and ultimately failed to enjoy reading them. I believe that a person who is familiar with the Christian faith and enjoys poetry would be better able to understand these poems than an ordinary reader. I don’t want to imply that only Christians should read this poetry book. But understanding Christian principles will aid readers in fully appreciating the poems’ meaning.

I rate the poems three out of five stars. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions and the many supernatural poems, especially the four poetic pieces I mentioned above. I found no grammar errors, which shows that a professional editor has skillfully edited the book. I deducted two stars as I found it hard to grasp the meaning of some poems because of the words employed and the unfamiliar concepts. I recommend it to readers who like poems about souls, corpses, the sea, and early childhood memories. I would also suggest this to poets who have dived into the classic works of classical writers and poets.

******
The graveyard and other poems
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
User avatar
Sarah Zain
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 1210
Joined: 09 Jan 2023, 17:00
Favorite Book: Wutheing heights
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 64
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sarah-zain.html
Latest Review: The Movie Chair by Shari Borkin

Post by Sarah Zain »

I love Wuthering Heights it was my first book and the beginning of my love for reading. But The other poems with corpses and things like that it kind set a mood I can't handle. Thank you Kavita for your honest and thorough review.
Life is hard on its own so let's make it easier for each other if we could.
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

Sarah Zain wrote: 01 Jun 2023, 12:18 I love Wuthering Heights it was my first book and the beginning of my love for reading. But The other poems with corpses and things like that it kind set a mood I can't handle. Thank you Kavita for your honest and thorough review.
That's great. No problemo!
It can be eerie with corpse poems. 💀
I think it's quite mysterious how dead things can be described. How does one know they(souls, corpse) will have these emotions?
You're welcome Sarah! :tiphat:
User avatar
Hazel Mae Bagarinao
Posts: 3408
Joined: 20 Mar 2022, 06:53
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 148
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-hazel-mae-bagarinao.html
Latest Review: The Sound of Creation by Gabriella Zielke

Post by Hazel Mae Bagarinao »

All the poems are new to me. I haven't heard of them before. I am picky about reading poems since most of them use difficult words. When I choose, I'll always sample the book so I'll know I can manage reading. This book seems hard for me to grasp. But your review is wonderful, Kavita!
"Less is more." ~ Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

Hazel Mae Bagarinao wrote: 02 Jun 2023, 02:01 All the poems are new to me. I haven't heard of them before. I am picky about reading poems since most of them use difficult words. When I choose, I'll always sample the book so I'll know I can manage reading. This book seems hard for me to grasp. But your review is wonderful, Kavita!
Hello Hannie. Thank you for reading and sharing your views! :tiphat:
I really liked the concept from what I read in the description, and it never crossed my mind to sample the book. I'll keep this in mind when next time I select a poetry book.
I like all kinds of poems because they speak a lot and can mean different things to different readers. I totally agree that some poems sure can be a headache with fancy words.
😎(//・_・//)
User avatar
Sara Nóbrega Bartolomeu
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 505
Joined: 17 Jan 2023, 19:46
Favorite Book: The Midwife of Auschwitz
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 41
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-sara-n-brega-bartolomeu.html
Latest Review: Disappearance by Julien Ayotte

Post by Sara Nóbrega Bartolomeu »

Thank you for your thoughts on this one. Poetry is really not for me..i always miss the underlying message ahah
User avatar
Elina Tshabalala
Posts: 274
Joined: 12 Feb 2023, 10:18
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 26
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-elina-tshabalala.html
Latest Review: Natural Relief for Anxiety and Stress by Gustavo Kinrys, MD

Post by Elina Tshabalala »

What an interesting title. Even more surprising is the fact that the author wrote poems about the dead also. This should be an interesting read. Thanks for the review!
User avatar
Smrithi Arun
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 666
Joined: 04 Dec 2021, 13:46
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 92
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-smrithi-arun.html
Latest Review: Derrick of Death by Malvina Lerma
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
2024 Reading Goal: 30
2024 Goal Completion: 6%

Post by Smrithi Arun »

I haven't been one to read poetry before, and this one doesn't seem like a good start due to the unfamiliar concepts :(
Thank you for the comprehensive review, Kavita!
Reading is dreaming with open eyes
User avatar
MsH2k
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 4723
Joined: 31 Jul 2019, 11:11
Favorite Book: Crushing
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 366
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-msh2k.html
Latest Review: Lilleah by eelonqa K harris

Post by MsH2k »

Kavita Shah wrote: 30 May 2023, 09:25 The poet creatively described scenes of snow, moss, and graveyards; there were pieces about souls repenting, witches, corpses, and crows in a cemetery.
I am a Christian who enjoys poetry and is familiar with classic works, but I am not a fan of pondering these subjects. :D
To each his own, I guess, especially when it comes to poetry.

Thank you for your thorough introduction to this collection, Kavita. Enjoy the rest of your month! :royalty-crown:
"Knowing what must be done does away with fear."
Rosa Parks
Shally Z
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 322
Joined: 02 Mar 2023, 07:00
Currently Reading: The Happiness Project
Bookshelf Size: 79
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-shally-z.html
Latest Review: Things that bite in the Night by Deborah Tant
Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU

Post by Shally Z »

I don't read a lot of poetry but I did enjoy reading Jane Eyre so I might give that a go. Thank you for your honest and thorough review as always :)
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

Sara Nóbrega Bartolomeu wrote: 03 Jun 2023, 03:43 Thank you for your thoughts on this one. Poetry is really not for me..i always miss the underlying message ahah
That's okay Sara. Read what you like the best, yes. The underlying meaning hunt gets me to read and also the concise and vivid sentences/words. I used to marvel at how do poet analyst find so much from a poem, it was never in the poem(not explicitly), so I try to find out for myself if I get that meaning. They're like a puzzle. (^v^)
I'll see you again on another review!
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

ElinaT wrote: 03 Jun 2023, 05:56 What an interesting title. Even more surprising is the fact that the author wrote poems about the dead also. This should be an interesting read. Thanks for the review!
Thank you for reading and commenting ElinaT!
One clue to that there will be poems about the dead in the poem is in the title: The Graveyard and other poems. 🧟‍♂️
It is very interesting. I would recommend reading more reviews about this book, there will be more better explanation of the content compared to what I've here.😅
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

Smrithi Arun wrote: 03 Jun 2023, 12:45 I haven't been one to read poetry before, and this one doesn't seem like a good start due to the unfamiliar concepts :(
Thank you for the comprehensive review, Kavita!
Thank you for reading Smrithi!
Yes, this one will be complex for new poetry enthusiasts. To begin poems, I suggest Hold Your Breath. Easy language, sentences, you'll easily comprehend and also get the emotions and insight. If it comes your way, don't miss it. It's about Pandemic, like a short poem diary.
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

MsH2k wrote: 03 Jun 2023, 19:33
Kavita Shah wrote: 30 May 2023, 09:25 The poet creatively described scenes of snow, moss, and graveyards; there were pieces about souls repenting, witches, corpses, and crows in a cemetery.
I am a Christian who enjoys poetry and is familiar with classic works, but I am not a fan of pondering these subjects. :D
To each his own, I guess, especially when it comes to poetry.

Thank you for your thorough introduction to this collection, Kavita. Enjoy the rest of your month! :royalty-crown:
Thank you for reading Donna!
Agreed. To each his own. I think, its about what sparks the readers interest. (・∀・)
I like the mystic feeling, afterlife and all.
Thank you, thank you. Hai Hai(Yes In Japanese)! (≧∇≦)/“ (`∇´)
User avatar
Kavita Shah
Book of the Month Participant
Posts: 3116
Joined: 12 Dec 2020, 12:30
Favorite Book: Spellbound - The Workings of Drugtech
Currently Reading:
Bookshelf Size: 188
Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kavita-shah.html
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas

Post by Kavita Shah »

Shally Z wrote: 03 Jun 2023, 19:55 I don't read a lot of poetry but I did enjoy reading Jane Eyre so I might give that a go. Thank you for your honest and thorough review as always :)
You're most welcome Shally! There is only one poem on Jane Eyre, but if you're still interested, then go for it.👍
Post Reply

Return to “Volunteer Reviews”