Review of Poetically Conscious

[MsH2k]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Poetically Conscious" by AR Brown.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Poetically Conscious is a collection of eighty-nine poems written by AR Brown. In these lyrics, the reader views the world through the eyes of a shy, loving, mostly optimistic, thankful human being.

This thirty-something poet shares her thoughts on aspects of her life that are like many her age: mourning the loss of her grandmother, an important figure in her childhood, dealing with the anxiety of social distancing during a pandemic, feeling vulnerable and in love, and wondering about the future. She weighs the tenuous nature of being an adult while learning how to become an adult.

I enjoyed the ageless words of encouragement and hope the author offered in this read. Two entries emerged as my favorites. “Heavy Heart” conveys her empathy for a person feeling unwanted, hated, and broken-hearted. She senses their sadness and anger. She then offers a prayer that this person would heal by recognizing the convergence of beauty and ugliness in life that serves to help one grow. Through her words, I could sense the authenticity that can only come from someone who has experienced that very thing. “Song 2Sing” is a short poem that simply gives the reader permission to belt their song, their particular song to sing in life, at the top of their lungs. It made me smile and almost sing.

Brown seamlessly shares all facets of her being, including her Christian faith, lesbian lifestyle, experiences with racism as an African American, recreational “weed” consumption, and addiction issues of her friends. They are as much a fabric of her poetry as they are of her life.

As with any collection of work, I did not connect with every poem, but I enjoyed the poet’s resiliency and respect for life present in each verse. The only negative aspect was that I found over ten grammatical errors; therefore, I must deduct a star from my rating. The errors were mainly issues with verb form, and they did not affect my enjoyment of this work. Brown has a free-flowing style that invites the reader to inhale as many words as possible in one breath, digest them, and repeat the process. The verb errors were not noticeable because they did not affect the essence of the meaning inhaled.

I rate Poetically Conscious 3 out of 4 stars, deducting 1 star for the grammatical errors mentioned previously. The read contains no erotic content and minimal profanity. The topics in this collection reflect the concerns of early adulthood and would resonate best with readers 20 to 40 years old. However, poetry lovers of any age would appreciate the author’s reflections on universal struggles.

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Poetically Conscious
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[Janet Kimetto]

I was just thinking that eighty-nine poems would definitely be enough to cover all aspects of one's life (or at least the parts that matter most). I love how poems perfectly portray thoughts and feelings, and how emotions are able to transfer to the reader. I would love to read this collection someday. Thanks for the wonderful review!

[MsH2k]

I was just thinking that eighty-nine poems would definitely be enough to cover all aspects of one's life (or at least the parts that matter most). I love how poems perfectly portray thoughts and feelings, and how emotions are able to transfer to the reader. I would love to read this collection someday. Thanks for the wonderful review!

I am in awe of how poets convey so much in so few words. They really do connect with our emotions. Thank you for stopping by, C Janet! I appreciate your comment.

[Starilanka Glowy]

Can I just say the book cover is great? I'm glad to know that the errors didn't affect your reading. Good job on the review.

[Unosthetic]

Can I just say the book cover is great? I'm glad to know that the errors didn't affect your reading. Good job on the review.

We share the same thought. The book cover is so great. It was artistically designed, how much more is the content right? The reviewer did a great job.

[MsH2k]

Can I just say the book cover is great? I'm glad to know that the errors didn't affect your reading. Good job on the review.

The cover is what kept bringing me back to this book. I could so identify with the vibe—it reminded me of my thirties in California.

Thank you for stopping by!

[Kaushiki Parihar]

This seems an amazing poetry book. Titles like "heavy heart" and "song2sing" itself is enough to appeal me and bring up all my emotions. Thanks for the great recommendation.

[MsH2k]

This seems an amazing poetry book. Titles like "heavy heart" and "song2sing" itself is enough to appeal me and bring up all my emotions. Thanks for the great recommendation.

I enjoy poetry collections—all kinds of anthologies, actually. It’s wonderful to connect with pieces of the compilation. I hope you have the chance to check out this book.
Thank you for your comment!

[Josephe-Anne]

Many people have chosen to reflect on these uncertain times by writing poetry. I'm glad that you enjoyed this collection by a young woman eager to share her experiences. Hopefully, some editing can be done to fix the errors.

Thank you for your detailed review.

[Astral Magi]

Sounds like a lovely book. I enjoy peotry and I think this may be one I need to read. Thanks for a great review.

[MsH2k]

Many people have chosen to reflect on these uncertain times by writing poetry. I'm glad that you enjoyed this collection by a young woman eager to share her experiences. Hopefully, some editing can be done to fix the errors.

Thank you for your detailed review.

Yes, I think many artists have used this as a time for reflection and creativity.
Thank you for stopping by, Josephe-Anne. I appreciate your comment and your visit.

[MsH2k]

Sounds like a lovely book. I enjoy peotry and I think this may be one I need to read. Thanks for a great review.

I hope you decide to check it out. Thank you for stopping by!

[Raluca_Mihaila]

Pain and loss can inspire great poems. I am glad to discover that the author is an optimistic soul! Thank you for your inspiring work!

[MsH2k]

Pain and loss can inspire great poems. I am glad to discover that the author is an optimistic soul! Thank you for your inspiring work!

Yes, the author is an empathetic soul as well.
Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate your kind comment!

[Ailakhu Yusau Aizhebiomon]

Eighty-nine poems in a book mean that the author has put a lot of effort into this book. Though I am not a huge fan of poetry, some of the poems sound fantastic. Thank you for an insightful and amazing review.