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micahbean's review
5.0
I am continuously baffled by just *how much* i enjoy Alex Silvius's poetry.
Because here's the thing-- it's a lot more simplistic and minimalist than i usually enjoy. It's got typos. It's self reverential and likes to poke fun. Silvius definitely hasn't mastered the craft by any means, but, especially in this collected works, there's just something that draws me in.
I think it's that, no matter the outcome, Silvius is honest. Granted, I am reading the annotated edition, so I'm not sure what my thoughts would have been if i read the original collections without the author's notes. But especially in "Imposter Syndrome", "Making A Living", and the note on the end of "Page Thirty", there's something incredibly frank and refreshing about the way Silvius writes.
I think it's the way the author doesn't take himself too seriously. He admits straight up that his poems aren't always *good*, whatever that means. They're not the peak of literary development, but nor are they meant to be. Silvius confesses that sometimes he reads them back and cringes. And somehow, that levity frees the reader to enjoy the work without getting stuck in an academic feedback loop.
Also? There are GEMS inside this work. Especially the Jellyfish Through My Heart section.
Alex has bullshit his way to brilliance. That's it, we can all go home now. XD
Except-- there's that too. He wouldn't want us to. He's not trying to be the best. His work is for those who enjoy it, and if that's not you, you know he'd want you to go out and find something you do (especially if it's by another indie author bc let's face it, indies have the heart that a lot of trad publishing has lost).
Anyway, all that to say that i genuinely love this collection. Silvius has promise, but more importantly, he has heart. (He has the rAnge, dAhling).
9/10 rounded up because my heart is feeling too many things to rate it less than five stars.
And after all, isn't that what poetry is meant to do?
Because here's the thing-- it's a lot more simplistic and minimalist than i usually enjoy. It's got typos. It's self reverential and likes to poke fun. Silvius definitely hasn't mastered the craft by any means, but, especially in this collected works, there's just something that draws me in.
I think it's that, no matter the outcome, Silvius is honest. Granted, I am reading the annotated edition, so I'm not sure what my thoughts would have been if i read the original collections without the author's notes. But especially in "Imposter Syndrome", "Making A Living", and the note on the end of "Page Thirty", there's something incredibly frank and refreshing about the way Silvius writes.
I think it's the way the author doesn't take himself too seriously. He admits straight up that his poems aren't always *good*, whatever that means. They're not the peak of literary development, but nor are they meant to be. Silvius confesses that sometimes he reads them back and cringes. And somehow, that levity frees the reader to enjoy the work without getting stuck in an academic feedback loop.
Also? There are GEMS inside this work. Especially the Jellyfish Through My Heart section.
Alex has bullshit his way to brilliance. That's it, we can all go home now. XD
Except-- there's that too. He wouldn't want us to. He's not trying to be the best. His work is for those who enjoy it, and if that's not you, you know he'd want you to go out and find something you do (especially if it's by another indie author bc let's face it, indies have the heart that a lot of trad publishing has lost).
Anyway, all that to say that i genuinely love this collection. Silvius has promise, but more importantly, he has heart. (He has the rAnge, dAhling).
9/10 rounded up because my heart is feeling too many things to rate it less than five stars.
And after all, isn't that what poetry is meant to do?
midnightwritelight's review
4.0
Hilarious and often insightful, The Collected Poems of Alex Silvius (so far) is a perfect palette cleanser. Light and effervescent, anyone looking for something to make them smile should pick up this collection.
The footnotes add humor to the poetry but the collection can also be enjoyed without them.
The footnotes add humor to the poetry but the collection can also be enjoyed without them.
annamidnightwritelight's review
4.0
Hilarious and often insightful, The Collected Poems of Alex Silvius (so far) is a perfect palette cleanser. Light and effervescent, anyone looking for something to make them smile should pick up this collection.
The footnotes add humor to the poetry but the collection can also be enjoyed without them.
The footnotes add humor to the poetry but the collection can also be enjoyed without them.
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