Review of Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
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Nisha Ward
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Review of Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
[Following is a volunteer review of "Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life" by Jeffrey Paul Bailey.]
Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life by Jeffrey Paul Bailey is interesting. This is a collection of poems based on the progression of various relationships. It explores the ups and downs of love and loss, as well as how complex relationships can be with different people and situations in your life. Each poem tackles something different, but it feels like the collection itself is a linear narrative that takes you through the persona’s thought process as he deals with depression amidst loss.
What I liked most about this exceptionally well-edited collection is that it doesn’t just limit itself to interpersonal conflict. It also looks at societal issues and expectations, like mass shootings in “Death” or the way “Martyrslaughter” handles the influence of the media on one’s psyche. These are qualities in poetry that I appreciate, as the form leads to deep explorations of each topic.
By far, “Machine Madness” is my favourite poem, looking at the way both the rise of social media and the internet age have given rise to the world’s negative influences. For some reason, that spoke deeply to me in a way that I could implicitly understand.
Many of the other poems were like this too, making it feel like Bailey is trying to say something vitally important with what’s available to him. I was particularly drawn to the poems that spoke of a fraught and complex relationship with the persona’s mother. There was something so personal about them that hit me in a way that stayed with me long after I had finished reading.
Another thing I liked was the atmosphere of Bailey’s work. If words could evoke colours, I’d say it was a cold blue that isn’t quite sad but isn’t happy either. The poems remind me of a sort of twilight space where things are on the brink of happening but only just.
That’s not to say that everything about this collection is perfect. For as beautiful, well-written and edited as it is, sometimes it felt like I was wading through too much sadness. I had to stop reading at multiple points just to catch a break from its overwhelming melancholy. As a result, it made much of the book difficult to digest.
With that said, the reasons above are why I feel comfortable giving the book 3 out of 4 stars. I definitely had a great time reading it, and I think anyone who wants a deeper look at life, love and society should pick it up.
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Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life by Jeffrey Paul Bailey is interesting. This is a collection of poems based on the progression of various relationships. It explores the ups and downs of love and loss, as well as how complex relationships can be with different people and situations in your life. Each poem tackles something different, but it feels like the collection itself is a linear narrative that takes you through the persona’s thought process as he deals with depression amidst loss.
What I liked most about this exceptionally well-edited collection is that it doesn’t just limit itself to interpersonal conflict. It also looks at societal issues and expectations, like mass shootings in “Death” or the way “Martyrslaughter” handles the influence of the media on one’s psyche. These are qualities in poetry that I appreciate, as the form leads to deep explorations of each topic.
By far, “Machine Madness” is my favourite poem, looking at the way both the rise of social media and the internet age have given rise to the world’s negative influences. For some reason, that spoke deeply to me in a way that I could implicitly understand.
Many of the other poems were like this too, making it feel like Bailey is trying to say something vitally important with what’s available to him. I was particularly drawn to the poems that spoke of a fraught and complex relationship with the persona’s mother. There was something so personal about them that hit me in a way that stayed with me long after I had finished reading.
Another thing I liked was the atmosphere of Bailey’s work. If words could evoke colours, I’d say it was a cold blue that isn’t quite sad but isn’t happy either. The poems remind me of a sort of twilight space where things are on the brink of happening but only just.
That’s not to say that everything about this collection is perfect. For as beautiful, well-written and edited as it is, sometimes it felt like I was wading through too much sadness. I had to stop reading at multiple points just to catch a break from its overwhelming melancholy. As a result, it made much of the book difficult to digest.
With that said, the reasons above are why I feel comfortable giving the book 3 out of 4 stars. I definitely had a great time reading it, and I think anyone who wants a deeper look at life, love and society should pick it up.
******
Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"...while a book has got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the reader it's got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the writer as well." - Terry Pratchett on The Last Continent and his writing.
Latest Review: Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute by Jeff Meyer
