Official Review: Poetry by Angela Khristin Brown

Verna Coy · Post by **Verna Coy** » 07 Jul 2019, 05:43

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Poetry" by Angela Khristin Brown.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Poetry, by Angela Khristin Brown, is a book of reflection. Intended to be an autobiography of the poet, it reflects lessons learned from personal experiences over her lifetime. It begins with the story of her early life. It shares some family history and continues with thoughts on love, faith, and wisdom.

Considering that this book has been placed in the drama and poetry genre and titled the way it was, I expected standard poetry. What I was surprised to see instead, was a poetic essay written in the confessional style (which allows the poet to speak freely).

The formatting in this book is so informal it is almost non-existent. There is no Title Page, Table of Contents, Dedication Page, or Introduction. The body of the book begins immediately on the first page, with the short subtitle: “Poet Activist and Scholar, by Angela Khristin Brown." The text then is delivered in the style of a letter or essay.

To begin with, I wasn’t sure that the cover suited the book, but after reading it, I do feel it belongs to this book. The sketch of a character in the simplest of lines using pen and ink shows a glimpse into the heart of the writer. Although some wouldn't consider it the most attractive cover, it does show through those lines the emotion found throughout much of this work. I liked that, in this way, the cover art was appropriate for the book.

What I liked most about this book is the way that this author spoke of her family. Her style of writing shows, through respectful tones, how much she cared for each of them. It gives the feeling that this book is a tribute to their contribution to her life and way of thinking.

The subject matter in this book is sometimes controversial, but I feel that it will find its place with readers who agree with the author’s viewpoints. For the most part, however, this book is an emotional outpouring of heartfelt feelings. I believe that aspect of it will resonate with readers.

A self-proclaimed scholar, this author has published poems and literature and been awarded several recent writing awards. Having overcome severe personal hardships makes this even more of a professional accomplishment. I believe this book will appeal the most to readers of prose that delves into the poetic feel, as this book provides a commentary on various thought-provoking subjects. If you aren’t into deep reflection, this may not be the book for you.

As I mentioned earlier, this book did have some formatting issues. Mainly, things that were missing or out of place. For instance, on page six (well into the story), the author dedicates the book to family, friends, and teachers who played an important role in her life. I feel this belonged in a dedication at the beginning of the book. I found a lot of grammatical and spelling errors, and I think that this book could benefit from the services of a professional editor. That said, I am impressed by the depth and quality of thought expressed in this work, and for these reasons, I am rating it with 3 out of 4 stars. It could achieve a higher rating if the errors were corrected. I recommend it to readers who enjoy a contemplative read written around issues spanning everything from family to social politics.

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Poetry
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illgiveuthesun · Post by **illgiveuthesun** » 16 Jul 2019, 02:28

This looks so interesting, the cover of the book really grabbed my attention. I want to read this now, thank you for the review!

Areej Tahir · Post by **Areej Tahir** » 16 Jul 2019, 08:21

This book sounds really interesting. The line "What I was surprised to see instead, was a poetic essay written in the confessional style" makes me feel inquisitive enough to add the book to my reading list. I am glad you mentioned about the grammatical errors because I am really particular about it. Thank you for the review. ♡

Verna Coy · Post by **Verna Coy** » 17 Jul 2019, 05:06

illgiveuthesun wrote: ↑16 Jul 2019, 02:28 This looks so interesting, the cover of the book really grabbed my attention. I want to read this now, thank you for the review!

I'm glad it caught your interest, thank you for the comments!

Verna Coy · Post by **Verna Coy** » 17 Jul 2019, 05:08

Areej Tahir wrote: ↑16 Jul 2019, 08:21 This book sounds really interesting. The line "What I was surprised to see instead, was a poetic essay written in the confessional style" makes me feel inquisitive enough to add the book to my reading list. I am glad you mentioned about the grammatical errors because I am really particular about it. Thank you for the review. ♡

There are so many different forms of poetry, all of them a part of the same discipline, so it was interesting to read one written in this way. Thanks for your comments!

Laila Hashem · Post by **Laila Hashem** » 17 Jul 2019, 16:12

The cover drew me to the book and I fail to see how it could relate as well, but I guess I'll find out after I finish it. Thank you for the detailed review!