Choosing Me | Bill Weber
Title: Choosing Me
Author: Bill Weber
This is a post of firsts, as this is the first poetry book I've reviewed on this blog as well as the first book that I've been asked to review by its writer for this blog.
I started out my writing career as a poet (in fact, I still maintain a poetry page over on Hello Poetry), so I am a huge fan of poetry in general, and I was very excited to get asked to review someone's book. This became awkward when it became quickly apparent that I did not like the poetry in this book at all. It had a couple of fine moments, most specifically found in "Fountains of Heaven," toward the end.
The writer overuses several words, such as "feminine' and "sensuous." I cringed when he said "anxiousness" instead of "anxiety." I recognize that "anxiousness" is technically an established word, but "anxiety" just sounds so much better. In fact, this writer was a big fan of just tacking -ness on the end of several words. And some of the metaphors were so bad that it actually made me laugh out loud. It reeked of a lack of creativity.
The book starts out as an homage to femininity in general, and as it progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that it's about one particular female. Unfortunately, it really felt like I was reading the same poem over and over, and I found myself rooting for some serious heartbreak at the end, just for a change of pace.
I feel bad saying these things since the writer asked me to review the book, but my job is to be honest, and this is my opinion. I may not accept requests for reviews from authors themselves in the future, just because I had to struggle with the need to please the writer of the book and to be honest about my opinion.
2 out of 5 stars.
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READING PROGRESS:
The Tommyknockers by Stephen King: 30%
Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward: 70%
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon: 34%
Serial Date by D.V. Berkom: 90%
Author: Bill Weber
This is a post of firsts, as this is the first poetry book I've reviewed on this blog as well as the first book that I've been asked to review by its writer for this blog.
I started out my writing career as a poet (in fact, I still maintain a poetry page over on Hello Poetry), so I am a huge fan of poetry in general, and I was very excited to get asked to review someone's book. This became awkward when it became quickly apparent that I did not like the poetry in this book at all. It had a couple of fine moments, most specifically found in "Fountains of Heaven," toward the end.
The writer overuses several words, such as "feminine' and "sensuous." I cringed when he said "anxiousness" instead of "anxiety." I recognize that "anxiousness" is technically an established word, but "anxiety" just sounds so much better. In fact, this writer was a big fan of just tacking -ness on the end of several words. And some of the metaphors were so bad that it actually made me laugh out loud. It reeked of a lack of creativity.
The book starts out as an homage to femininity in general, and as it progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that it's about one particular female. Unfortunately, it really felt like I was reading the same poem over and over, and I found myself rooting for some serious heartbreak at the end, just for a change of pace.
I feel bad saying these things since the writer asked me to review the book, but my job is to be honest, and this is my opinion. I may not accept requests for reviews from authors themselves in the future, just because I had to struggle with the need to please the writer of the book and to be honest about my opinion.
2 out of 5 stars.
-------------------------------------------------
READING PROGRESS:
The Tommyknockers by Stephen King: 30%
Hate Notes by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward: 70%
A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon: 34%
Serial Date by D.V. Berkom: 90%
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