OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Poetry Dead to Society" by Cee Jay Spring.]

Poetry Dead to Society by Shirley and Cee Jay Spring is a short book of collected poems. The book is split into sections entitled “Love,” “Artificial Dreams,” The Ways The Days,” “True, Real Life,” “Life for God,” and “Promises of Love and Dreams.” Each section includes poems from both authors that relate to the section’s themes. The book was compiled by Cee Jay Spring, who authored many of the poems. He dedicates the collection to his late sister, Shirley, whose poems are also included.

Poetry is a difficult medium to judge, but I generally look for poetry that evokes thoughts and emotions from me that prose isn’t able to produce. In reading this collection, I was disappointed to find that only one or two of the over fifty poems actually caused me to feel something. The rest of the poems simply felt like words on a page, not inspiring images in my mind or emotions in my heart.

I think that one of the reasons this collection fell flat for me is because the authors don’t make use of so many elements of poetry. The rhyme and rhythm are inconsistent or nonexistent in most of the poems. They also don’t include punctuation in the vast majority of the poems, and I didn’t see any grouping of lines into stanzas throughout the entire book. The author did add pictures to many pages, but I didn’t always feel like they contributed to the meaning of the poem. The one large exception to this was the poem in which the pictures were actually incorporated into the lines to stand in for words.

Overall, I would rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I chose to give it more than one star because a couple of poems did evoke emotion in me, but I couldn’t give it three or four stars due to the issues mentioned above. I also found a variety of errors in the book, especially incorrect spelling or word usage, which made me believe the collection was not professionally edited.

I think that members of the Spring family would be the best audience for this book, since these poems would likely mean more to them than to the public. If the author wishes for the collection to be more widely marketable, I would hope for major revisions to his poems that would give them a more distinct voice through the use of some of the elements mentioned above.

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Poetry Dead to Society
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Great review! The book cover and title are super appealing.

Thank you for the nice review. I am not quite a of poetry, but I read it sometimes. This book seems 'unique' compared to others. I might read it someday.

Too bad the book didn't evoke emotions in the reader. The title though is quite unique and evokes curiosity in the reader, Nice review.

I love poems but because of the inconsistency of rhymes and a few errors,I think I will skip this.
Thanks for your honest review.

I love a good poetry book, and I’m all for poetry that does not adhere to typical stanza patterns or rhyme schemes, so I don’t think that would particularly bother me. However, I do need poetry to affect me and induce emotion, as you commented on, so it’s unfortunate that aspect wasn’t felt in the poems. Great review!

As much the anthology didn't evoke emotions as the reviewer confesses, I will still read this collection. I don't think a poem's lack of rhyme is a bad thing. I am a poet and I believe poetry should be an art when you are free. However, the review is an honest one and I totally appreciate it.

I've always loved poetry. It's sad to hear that the author couldn't manage to provide rhythm to the lines, as it is a crucial part of writing a poem. Thanks for the nice review.

I appreciate poems for their ability to make you think deeper. Thanks for the nice review.

I am down for poetry of all kinds. Words need no one's approval to become poetry and so, I am going to read this collection. Your review is honest though.
Some poets like me love freedom so I don't think lack of a rhyme scheme is a big deal in poetry.

At first, I thought it was a story in form of a poem given its front cover. But your review actually showed its real content and what to expect. Might pass on reading the poems contained within as they seem to sound boring.

It is hard to judge books of poetry indeed. Although the premise of this collective appealed to me, your review and got me second-guessing. I shall have a read to develop my own opinion. Thank you for a critical and helpful review.

That's why they say don't judge a book by its cover. Though I was immediately drawn to the book by its cover and title. Your review definitely left me second-guessing.

Exactly. Good poetry is evocative and speaks to the soul. A poem shouldn't sound like a prose, most often.

I was immediately drawn to the book by its cover. But reading your review, it seems I need to pass this one. Thanks for the honest review.