Official Review: Nighthawk by Willa Deamer

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 01 Jun 2019, 09:49

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Nighthawk" by Willa Deamer.]

4 out of 4 stars

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"I take advice from my friend the moon,
Because if she indeed can find the will,
To fight her darkness and start anew,
Then I can conquer these thoughts,
And into the night, I flew."

Nighthawk: Thoughts Born from the Night is a captivating poetry collection written by Willa Deamer. As the subtitle suggests, the collection draws inspiration from the moon, stars, weather, nature, and nighthawks, while addressing themes such as life, love, relationships, family, independence, regret, anger, forgiveness, and resilience.

Deamer's writing style is eloquent and approachable; so much so, that I finished the 105-page book in one sitting. While her poems vary in style, format, and length, they are hauntingly beautiful, emotive, and laden with imagery. Many of the longer poems rhyme, while the shorter passages of prose are succinct but profound; I enjoyed reading several of them more than once, including “Winter Rose.”

"I am the rare winter rose
Blooming even in adversity,
Harsh words you throw at me,
Only serve to deepen my roots.
I am the only color
Amidst the fallen white snow."

Deamer masterfully captures the essence of particular emotions and experiences. "Just Our Lives" delivers a powerful message about rape, while "Director" describes a controlling partner. However, the overall tone of the book is not dark, as Deamer balances the collection with uplifting poems such as "All Will Pass" and "Song of Old." Not a random collection, the poems are clear and purposeful without being predictable. Because many of the poems build upon one another, as in the ten-part "Nighthawk" series, this is a collection best read sequentially.

The editing is pristine, and I particularly like Deamer’s meticulous attention to detail. I have read more than a few poetry books that were disorganized and poorly edited. It's not that I want to stifle a poet's creativity, but poetic expression and punctuation are not mutually exclusive; Deamer confirms the fact. The collection is divided into five sections, which are thoughtfully grouped by themes. For instance, in "The Witching Hour," Deamer poignantly addresses family dynamics, such as the complicated mother-daughter relationship.

There honestly isn't anything I dislike about this engaging collection. However, my one suggestion for improvement would be the inclusion of a table of contents, enabling readers to view the book's layout at a glance. I am pleased to rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. In light of Deamer's approachable style, I wholeheartedly recommend it as an introduction to poetry; it will also appeal to more experienced poetry readers.

******
Nighthawk
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Books-Rock-4ever · Post by **Books-Rock-4ever** » 02 Jun 2019, 03:15

Cecilia_L, your review of Nighthawk was delightful to read; eloquent, immaculate, yet warm. It is certainly an incentive to read this book.

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 02 Jun 2019, 05:39

Books-Rock-4ever wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 03:15 Cecilia_L, your review of Nighthawk was delightful to read; eloquent, immaculate, yet warm. It is certainly an incentive to read this book.

Thank you. I appreciate your comment.

Letora · Post by **Letora** » 02 Jun 2019, 07:07

I love the two poetry examples you used. They paint such a vivid picture for me. It's hard to find poetry that I enjoy, but I believe this book will be a good read. Thank you for reviewing!

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 02 Jun 2019, 07:57

Letora wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 07:07 I love the two poetry examples you used. They paint such a vivid picture for me. It's hard to find poetry that I enjoy, but I believe this book will be a good read. Thank you for reviewing!

I'm glad you enjoyed the poems, Letora. I agree, and I was especially drawn to the author's shorter poems. Thanks for your comment.

Bianka Walter · Post by **Bianka Walter** » 02 Jun 2019, 10:37

I love the idea of poetry that draws inspiration from these natural elements. I think that's quite refreshing.
And we all know how much I know about poetry. Zero. Nothin. Zip.
Loved your review

kdstrack · Post by **kdstrack** » 02 Jun 2019, 12:08

I share your fascination with "Winter Rose." Your observation about the correct punctuation used in the poems is well taken. This looks interesting. Thanks for your insights on this book!

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 02 Jun 2019, 12:42

Bianka Walter wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 10:37 I love the idea of poetry that draws inspiration from these natural elements. I think that's quite refreshing.
And we all know how much I know about poetry. Zero. Nothin. Zip.
Loved your review

Thank you, Bianka!

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 02 Jun 2019, 12:43

kdstrack wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 12:08 I share your fascination with "Winter Rose." Your observation about the correct punctuation used in the poems is well taken. This looks interesting. Thanks for your insights on this book!

Thank you.

Rachel Lea · Post by **Rachel Lea** » 02 Jun 2019, 15:23

This sounds like a very lovely poetry collection. I really liked the segments that you quoted, especially the one about the winter rose--the prose was achingly gorgeous. Thank you for your review!

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 02 Jun 2019, 22:12

Rachel Lea wrote: ↑02 Jun 2019, 15:23 This sounds like a very lovely poetry collection. I really liked the segments that you quoted, especially the one about the winter rose--the prose was achingly gorgeous. Thank you for your review!

Thank you, Rachel.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 03 Jun 2019, 09:58

Wow! That's quite a recommendation. It sounds like an intense and descriptive collection. I really don't read poetry books, but if I did, this would be one to place on my list. Thanks!

Nisha Ward · Post by **Nisha Ward** » 03 Jun 2019, 10:31

The editing is pristine, and I particularly like Deamer’s meticulous attention to detail. I have read more than a few poetry books that were disorganized and poorly edited. It's not that I want to stifle a poet's creativity, but poetic expression and punctuation are not mutually exclusive; Deamer confirms the fact.

I'm pretty much agreed on this. While I do give a pass for poetry that uses punctuation differently on purpose, I think that if you're not doing that then you have no reason to not have proper grammar. This makes me want to read it more. Thank you.

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 03 Jun 2019, 12:51

kandscreeley wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 09:58 Wow! That's quite a recommendation. It sounds like an intense and descriptive collection. I really don't read poetry books, but if I did, this would be one to place on my list. Thanks!

Thanks for stopping by.

Cecilia_L · Post by **Cecilia_L** » 03 Jun 2019, 12:52

Nisha Ward wrote: ↑03 Jun 2019, 10:31
The editing is pristine, and I particularly like Deamer’s meticulous attention to detail. I have read more than a few poetry books that were disorganized and poorly edited. It's not that I want to stifle a poet's creativity, but poetic expression and punctuation are not mutually exclusive; Deamer confirms the fact.
I'm pretty much agreed on this. While I do give a pass for poetry that uses punctuation differently on purpose, I think that if you're not doing that then you have no reason to not have proper grammar. This makes me want to read it more. Thank you.

You're welcome. I appreciate your comment.