Review of Monumental
Posted: 26 Jun 2021, 11:03
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Monumental" by Jerquias Walker.]
Monumental is a book of poems by Jerquias Walker. Many of the works contained in this volume address the harsh reality of life in the underclass, taking on issues such as police brutality, racism, and terrorism. There are also poems that address more personal issues such as attraction, love, and heartbreak.
This is a brief book but not necessarily a quick read. The poems are worthy of full consideration rather than just a passing glance. They are written in an unpolished rhyming style that reads like a rap. The style reminds me of songs by some of the politically oriented rap groups from the 70s through the 90s that I enjoyed in my youth and still appreciate today.
It is challenging to edit poetry as over-editing can leave poems feeling watered down and overproduced. I personally appreciate poetry that has a raw, unpolished quality. Nonetheless, correct word choices can be important to the readability of a poem, and I feel that if the document had been proofread that the author would have made different word choices in certain cases.
When reviewing poetry, it can be difficult to determine if a word is a typo or a deliberate stylistic choice. For instance, when the author writes “But you left/And that was the end of the rode/ What happened was beyond my control,” he may have made the deliberate choice to use the word rode rather than road. However, I believe that in the case of these lines:
“nothing but humidity on could only sense humility no need for pity”
The word “on” is a typo. “One could only sense humility” makes sense. “On could only sense humility” does not.
Other than the need for proofreading, there was nothing that I disliked about the book. It was written in a real and honest style. I prefer the sociopolitical works to the personal ones, but that is a matter of taste. I appreciated the fact that the author did not shy away from taking on difficult subjects or criticizing politicians and policies that keep people trapped in poverty.
The book is best suited to a mature audience because of subject matter such as drug and alcohol use, police brutality, racism, sexuality, and terrorist attacks. Also, the author often writes from a Christian standpoint, and those who prefer secular reading material might not appreciate the religious aspect of his work. None of the poems include graphic descriptions of sex or violence. There is strong profanity, but not a lot of it.
I give Monumental three out of four stars for the fact that the book was not professionally edited. It is an excellent effort, and the world needs more bold and honest voices like Mr. Walker’s.
******
Monumental
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Monumental is a book of poems by Jerquias Walker. Many of the works contained in this volume address the harsh reality of life in the underclass, taking on issues such as police brutality, racism, and terrorism. There are also poems that address more personal issues such as attraction, love, and heartbreak.
This is a brief book but not necessarily a quick read. The poems are worthy of full consideration rather than just a passing glance. They are written in an unpolished rhyming style that reads like a rap. The style reminds me of songs by some of the politically oriented rap groups from the 70s through the 90s that I enjoyed in my youth and still appreciate today.
It is challenging to edit poetry as over-editing can leave poems feeling watered down and overproduced. I personally appreciate poetry that has a raw, unpolished quality. Nonetheless, correct word choices can be important to the readability of a poem, and I feel that if the document had been proofread that the author would have made different word choices in certain cases.
When reviewing poetry, it can be difficult to determine if a word is a typo or a deliberate stylistic choice. For instance, when the author writes “But you left/And that was the end of the rode/ What happened was beyond my control,” he may have made the deliberate choice to use the word rode rather than road. However, I believe that in the case of these lines:
“nothing but humidity on could only sense humility no need for pity”
The word “on” is a typo. “One could only sense humility” makes sense. “On could only sense humility” does not.
Other than the need for proofreading, there was nothing that I disliked about the book. It was written in a real and honest style. I prefer the sociopolitical works to the personal ones, but that is a matter of taste. I appreciated the fact that the author did not shy away from taking on difficult subjects or criticizing politicians and policies that keep people trapped in poverty.
The book is best suited to a mature audience because of subject matter such as drug and alcohol use, police brutality, racism, sexuality, and terrorist attacks. Also, the author often writes from a Christian standpoint, and those who prefer secular reading material might not appreciate the religious aspect of his work. None of the poems include graphic descriptions of sex or violence. There is strong profanity, but not a lot of it.
I give Monumental three out of four stars for the fact that the book was not professionally edited. It is an excellent effort, and the world needs more bold and honest voices like Mr. Walker’s.
******
Monumental
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
