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coldsoup's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of poems is gorgeously written. The way the words are set on the page is one of my favourite elements. Sometimes the poet invites the reader to pause, to meditate on every phrase they set aside. Othertimes, the poem is a paragraph, read like a cascade of words until the poem's end.
My favourites are:
- Once they sainted a mermaid
- Error coding
-The Witch's House
My favourites are:
- Once they sainted a mermaid
- Error coding
-The Witch's House
petiteghoul's review against another edition
5.0
There is something very melancholic and magical about Escaping the Body by Chloe N. Clark that's stuck with me since I've read this poetry collection. Reminiscent of reading suburban fantasy novels that take emotions and turn them into something dreamy and sentient, Clark's poems articulate experiences and feelings in a compelling and extremely personal manner.
One of my favorite lines from this collection comes from the poem "You'd Be Home Now":
"how I would like to seduce / the infinite, use my tongue / to collapse galaxies in on themselves / over and over, let the stars find new / ways to make my body ache"
I am definitely going to get a physical copy to own and would love to read this writer's future work. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chloe N. Clark for this eARC!
One of my favorite lines from this collection comes from the poem "You'd Be Home Now":
"how I would like to seduce / the infinite, use my tongue / to collapse galaxies in on themselves / over and over, let the stars find new / ways to make my body ache"
I am definitely going to get a physical copy to own and would love to read this writer's future work. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chloe N. Clark for this eARC!
linkallyson's review against another edition
2.0
This just felt very disjointed to me. Individually the poems were good, but I wasn't captivated by the writing.
scizzors's review against another edition
5.0
While reading this collection I found myself utterly entranced. Its poems are incredibly effective, using style and aesthetics consistently without becoming repetitive or trite. I kept thinking I had found the best poem in the collection only to turn the page and find one even more compelling than the last.
This is my favourite type of poetry collection. Intimate, haunting and visceral. These poems will draw you in and keep you captivated.
I highly recommend this collection to fans of Richard Siken's 'Crush', Dakota Warren's 'On Sun Swallowing' and Olivia Gatwood's 'Life of the Party'.
This is my favourite type of poetry collection. Intimate, haunting and visceral. These poems will draw you in and keep you captivated.
I highly recommend this collection to fans of Richard Siken's 'Crush', Dakota Warren's 'On Sun Swallowing' and Olivia Gatwood's 'Life of the Party'.
myweereads's review against another edition
4.0
“My skin holds mostly worry underneath it’s layers, so tightly coiled as to seem still, like those guarded rattlesnakes..”
This was my first read by author Chloe N. Clark, I was curious to see how this collection of poetry felt.
The way in which the body is depicted in these pages is quite unexpected. There is a variety of perspective were some are quite visceral and others very blatant in their message. A few of these felt disturbing, enlightening and moving.
The author succeeds in allowing the reader to interpret this poetry in a way which will either comfort or disturb them. I found many quotes which I was drawn to and repetitively read them.
Overall this collection includes some dark and uplifting poetry which I enjoyed experiencing and would recommend checking out.
Escaping the Body is published on March 7th 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
This was my first read by author Chloe N. Clark, I was curious to see how this collection of poetry felt.
The way in which the body is depicted in these pages is quite unexpected. There is a variety of perspective were some are quite visceral and others very blatant in their message. A few of these felt disturbing, enlightening and moving.
The author succeeds in allowing the reader to interpret this poetry in a way which will either comfort or disturb them. I found many quotes which I was drawn to and repetitively read them.
Overall this collection includes some dark and uplifting poetry which I enjoyed experiencing and would recommend checking out.
Escaping the Body is published on March 7th 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
maddys_needful_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This collection is elegant, lyrical, and touching. Each poem can stand on its own, but they tell a story when read together. Something about the poems speak to me; they are deep and reflective but not pretentious. I keep going back and reading them, and each time they mean something different to me. I think this is the mark of strong poetry.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review, but I will be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. I really loved it.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review, but I will be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. I really loved it.
lxxo's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review!
Stunning work with many different emotions that people can interpret in their own way. Loved the theme of the book and how easy it was to read and get through.
Will definitely look out for more from Chloe N. Clark
Stunning work with many different emotions that people can interpret in their own way. Loved the theme of the book and how easy it was to read and get through.
Will definitely look out for more from Chloe N. Clark
liana's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, so I am still a bit undecided on this one, hence the 3 star rating, sitting perfectly in the middle. While I read this very quickly, I sometimes feel like poetry is not necessarily meant to be read quickly - in fact, my favourite poetry book so far - Louise Gluck's The Wild Iris - took me more than two weeks to finish, simply because I took my time reading it, sitting with every poem for a few minutes before moving on to the next one, or returning to a previous poem every now and then.
I thought Clark's strongest poems in this collection were the ones where nature and natural imagery was at the forefront. Her use of imagery reminded me of Mary Oliver, even if their themes and use of language are ultimately quite different; still, it felt like Clark was more in her element in those poems, managing to be both poignant and dreamy at the same time. Some other recurring themes and metaphors, like the ones regarding space, for instance, were a bit lost on me; not a testament to her writing, but more so a matter of personal taste, as I struggled to connect with them in the same way.
That being said, I thought two of her strongest poems in the collection were "For someone who doesn't have to believe in monsters" and "Error Coding" - Error Coding especially just really hit a spot for me, and I definitely think I will be coming back to it again.
I thought Clark's strongest poems in this collection were the ones where nature and natural imagery was at the forefront. Her use of imagery reminded me of Mary Oliver, even if their themes and use of language are ultimately quite different; still, it felt like Clark was more in her element in those poems, managing to be both poignant and dreamy at the same time. Some other recurring themes and metaphors, like the ones regarding space, for instance, were a bit lost on me; not a testament to her writing, but more so a matter of personal taste, as I struggled to connect with them in the same way.
That being said, I thought two of her strongest poems in the collection were "For someone who doesn't have to believe in monsters" and "Error Coding" - Error Coding especially just really hit a spot for me, and I definitely think I will be coming back to it again.
pixiieee's review against another edition
5.0
For the first time in a long time I read this entire book in one sitting, barely taking my eyes away from the words in front of me. Whilst I may not relate to every single aspect of Clark's poetry, and in turn her life, I related to so many of the poems in this collection that it was almost eerie. There were times I wanted to cry, times I wanted to shout "WHY IS THIS SO TRUE?" and times I sat in contemplative silence. This book is described by Interstellar Press as a profound journey and you know what, they're right.
It's very rare for me to have nothing bad to say about a book, movie or game, even the ones I love but I genuinely felt so wrapped up in the story that if I were to try to come up with something it would sound extremely forced and dishonest.
It felt as though Clark had heard the thoughts I only speak in whispers when I'm alone and turned them into poetry. Yet even when reading the poems that I related to a little less the way they were told was so immersive that it didn't matter. I haven't come across another modern poet that writes in the way that I think Clark does yet but if anyone knows of any please send me some recommendations because I can read faster than any one person can write (apart from maybe Stephen King but that's a different topic).
Overall, if you love anything mystical, rooted in nature and symbolism or exploring interpersonal relationships in new ways I would absolutely recommend this book. Despite having already read it, I will be buying a physical copy because I am in love.
It's very rare for me to have nothing bad to say about a book, movie or game, even the ones I love but I genuinely felt so wrapped up in the story that if I were to try to come up with something it would sound extremely forced and dishonest.
It felt as though Clark had heard the thoughts I only speak in whispers when I'm alone and turned them into poetry. Yet even when reading the poems that I related to a little less the way they were told was so immersive that it didn't matter. I haven't come across another modern poet that writes in the way that I think Clark does yet but if anyone knows of any please send me some recommendations because I can read faster than any one person can write (apart from maybe Stephen King but that's a different topic).
Overall, if you love anything mystical, rooted in nature and symbolism or exploring interpersonal relationships in new ways I would absolutely recommend this book. Despite having already read it, I will be buying a physical copy because I am in love.
srwells48's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
4.0
"Do you remember the hands of men?"
From the first line of the first poem I knew this collection was going to be good
From the first line of the first poem I knew this collection was going to be good