Tag: Contemporary Poetry

Louis Alan Swartz – Constructed of Magic | Review

Title: Constructed of Magic

Author: Louis Alan Swartz

Type: Poetry

Page Count/Review Word Count: 190

Rating: 7/10

 

Louis Alan Swartz - Constructed of Magic

Louis Alan Swartz – Constructed of Magic

 

Disclaimer: While I aim to be unbiased, I received a copy of this for free to review.

Well, now – this is a tricky book to review. On the one hand, I quite liked it at times, especially when Swartz wrote in free verse; on the other hand, there was also quite a lot of cliché. Rhyming poetry always smacks of cliché to me anyway, and then there’s the fact that Swartz uses words like ‘thee‘, which is never good – I don’t understand why you’d artificially add words that you just wouldn’t say. It’s usually a pretty good sign that the author is writing in imitation, rather than with originality.

It’s also a fairly spiritual book, which isn’t really my thing – that said, I have read a few books in the genre here and there and I have to admit that this is easily one of the better ones. I’d say that the poetry is also of a higher standard than almost all contemporary poetry I’ve been sent – bonus!

 

Magic

Magic

 

Click here to buy Constructed of Magic.


Ken Edwards – Down with Beauty | Review

Title: Down with Beauty

Author: Ken Edwards

Type: Fiction/Poetry

Page Count/Review Word Count: 240

Rating: 7/10

 

Ken Edwards - Down with Beauty

Ken Edwards – Down with Beauty

 

Ken Edwards is an interesting figure, the former editor of Reality Studios magazine and the co-founder and father figure of Reality Street, an independent poetry press based in the seaside town of Hastings. He’s also an accomplished poet and writer in his own right, with a unique voice and idiosyncratic style that marks both Ken and the press apart from their contemporaries.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Down with Beauty can be a little hard on the brain – it’s poetry that makes you concentrate, not some wishy-washy nonsense written by an old woman who spends too much time with her cats and not enough time with a pint of Stella at the local pub. For me, at least, that’s a good thing.

 

Ken Edwards

Ken Edwards

 

Down with Beauty isn’t for everyone, but it is a good read if you’re a reader of contemporary poetry. Plus, it comes with the full text of Nostalgia for Unknown Cities, one of his previous works – you’re effectively getting two books for the price of one. You’d also be helping to support a small independent press at a time of economic uncertainty – how good would you feel?

Seriously though, if you’re not a poetry reader then you’re not going to enjoy this, because it might push you out of your comfort zone. Prepare for an eye opener.

 

Hastings

Hastings

 

Click here to buy Down with Beauty.