Raw Earth Ink
Spit mixed with dirt – Muddy words flow
Book Review – Tainted by the Same Counterfeit by Candice Louisa Daquin
Available at Amazon.
I read this book as a paperback. This is an unsolicited review.
The Review:
To say Candice Daquin’s poetry is deeply moving is barely scratching the surface to actually reading it. Her words get deep inside the marrow, burrowing in and finding ways to be remembered days down the line. This latest collection of poetry from her is the perfect example of this. I earmarked so many pieces in the book, I don’t have room in this review to share them all.
A few of my favorites were:
“The memory of clothes” which begins ‘Somewhere in a filing room with corrugated cardboard and dried blood, her skirt of 2006 is folded by a uniformed man who isn’t used to folding women’s clothes.’
“The Opal” with ‘how did you come to be? A vowel, a constellation, a rhyme in my mind…’
“We, made of paper” with lines like ‘we made of fog… we made of wrung hands… we made of incomplete stitch…’
“Not of man, not of woman” begins ‘The earth cracked open one ordinary Thursday Thursday’s child walked out she has long to go’ and continues ‘setting out on foot zola budd if she swam oceans in seal fat and ate stones to give her some brevity… once, crossing river she saw herself reflected her skin green like deep forest with shallow scoop, she spoke to silver fish telling them of her beginning in clay too hard for shape…’ oh man I loved that piece
And not to mention a handful of short pieces such as “Loathe” and “Relinquished habits”.
Other pieces which I can’t bear to share a simple line or two because they were so powerful were “Amulet”, “Frenzy”, and “Late bloom”.
I took my time and absorbed each poem one by one, savoring them, not crowding them in my mind. What a privilege to be able to read her words! My heart is tender and pulled. She knows just how to write the words between the lines to evoke such emotion.
My Overall Score:
This book receives 4.5/5 stars from me. Beautiful cover and an excellent length. The poetry itself isn’t lacking. The only dings from me are some spelling errors and some awkward formatting, (which I didn’t expect I’d see from a press like this, as I was under the impression they publish a LOT of authors). It was a hard pill to swallow because such immense and gorgeous poetry deserves respect and a gorgeous printing. To be honest I don’t feel the publisher gave Daquin the beautiful book she deserves. Sadly, that 1/2-star is really from the publisher not doing a great job and not due to the writer.
Regardless, I highly highly recommend this collection of poetry to those who love real poetry and poems to make you swoon and sigh and clutch your heart.
Read more book reviews by following the Book Reviews Category.
be a good writer: read.
~tara caribou
A FINAL NOTE ON REVIEWS: it may seem that I am harsh on many writers for their editing, formatting, grammar, punctuation, etc. I do so unapologetically. First, because this is a review not a popularity contest. Second, because honest criticism should help us grow as artists.
The fact of the matter is, these things MATTER. A mathematician must use his tools and use them correctly to be an effective mathematician. A surgeon cannot simply say, “I know I can’t sew the wound closed but at least I could remove the appendix or whatever that thing is called.” Same with writers. We can’t claim to be writers yet refuse to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. We can’t claim to be a photographer just because we know how to push the button on the camera (or phone). There’s an art to it.
So while I may appreciate the artist as a person and their words, I believe that it does us all a disservice to claim that lower quality editing is okay, whether in word, deed, or omission of criticism. Instead: believe in yourself! Believe in the power of your words! Put the effort into being the very best you can be. Ask for help. Grow and learn.
“The Comment Poems” poetry by Robert G. Wertzler
Raw Earth Ink is proud to present Robert Wertzler’s debut poetry book, The Comment Poems: Encounters with Contagious Poets.
From the back cover:
In keeping with Robert’s heart for reading and writing, to encourage and share work which touches him, he shares links to the original piece which inspired the poem, as well as including at the end of the book a list of those inspirations by author.
In paperback at: lulu.
As eBook at: lulu, Nook, Kobo, or Kindle.
Leave a review on Goodreads.
©️2023 | Robert G. Wertzler
Robert can be found on his website cabbagesandkings524.wordpress.com.
Book Review – Suburb’n ndn by Hidden Bear
Available at Amazon.
I read this book as a paperback. This is an unsolicited review.
The Review:
Hidden Bear’s second collection of poetry did not leave me disappointed. He opens with a heartfelt and honest introduction to both the book and himself, as an indigenous man living in the modern world, something I am quite familiar with here in my own birthplace of Alaska, where a huge percentage of the people are Alaskan natives. He goes from there to separating out the poetry into “land” (his tribe’s land and modern heritage) then “people” (his heritage as a man, more than blood) and then “me” (hidden bear, the man).
I really appreciate his honesty and I’ve had so many of these same conversations myself, questions such as “how native are you? or you don’t look native…” which he addresses in the poem “The Conversation”, where he breaks down the assumptions from the ignorant and answers with hard-hitting truths and realities. ‘Didn’t you get like free education? No I didn’t. Boarding schools cost us everything – Kidnapping, colonizing, culture killing rings – All in the name of kill the Indian save the man – Suppressing who we are so they could take our land – Pretending to be heroes offering helping hands’.
Some of my favorite pieces are: “Box” which describes a sacred place; “Seek” with ‘I hear the old language – I listen for elder whispers – I pray to the Creator – I visualize the village and me’; “Winter Flowers” which reminded me of crocuses with ‘Delicate the petal holds up the Ice – More ice seeks out the beauty – Soon the bloom is covered in Ice – Though consumed its beauty shines through’; my personal favorite “Nyctophilia” a gorgeous nighttime scene described; “Eaton Jamani” describes his tribe’s home valley over the eons; and “Home” a mixture of suburbs and nature.
Hidden Bear has always been a favorite poet of mine. He know how to describe nature and you’re standing right there too; he knows how to explain inner thoughts and draw out the emotions. He writes simplicity without being simple. He inspires me to embrace who I am, as he has embraced himself, and strive to be the best me I can be. There aren’t a lot of poets who do that. I appreciate that.
My Overall Score:
This book gets 4.75/5 stars from me. Gorgeous cover, which is even better in person than it is on the screen; nice length (though I would have happily accepted another 50 pages); really great content and subject poetry; relevant and timely. The only loss of a 1/4-star comes in the odd formatting and a few grammatical/misspelling mistakes (though not many). I did NOT enjoy reading this font and it took away from the reading experience for me, also the wide spacing was too much. It felt clunky and didn’t flow well. That’s a shame with such a great writer, but it’s a small ding on an overall excellent book.
Highly recommended to those who appreciate indigenous topics, especially combined with modernism, nature poetry, and poems from the heart.
Read more book reviews by following the Book Reviews Category.
be a good writer: read.
~tara caribou
A FINAL NOTE ON REVIEWS: it may seem that I am harsh on many writers for their editing, formatting, grammar, punctuation, etc. I do so unapologetically. First, because this is a review not a popularity contest. Second, because honest criticism should help us grow as artists.
The fact of the matter is, these things MATTER. A mathematician must use his tools and use them correctly to be an effective mathematician. A surgeon cannot simply say, “I know I can’t sew the wound closed but at least I could remove the appendix or whatever that thing is called.” Same with writers. We can’t claim to be writers yet refuse to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. We can’t claim to be a photographer just because we know how to push the button on the camera (or phone). There’s an art to it.
So while I may appreciate the artist as a person and their words, I believe that it does us all a disservice to claim that lower quality editing is okay, whether in word, deed, or omission of criticism. Instead: believe in yourself! Believe in the power of your words! Put the effort into being the very best you can be. Ask for help. Grow and learn.
Book Review – Elk by Jacob Russell Dring
Available at Lulu.
I read this book as a paperback. This is an unsolicited review.
The Review:
This book is one of Mr. Dring’s older books but that doesn’t take anything away from it. I love the storyline. The main character, named Elk, wakes up with amnesia in a stranger’s home and ends up on the run searching for who he really is. It ends up in a run-down city where the law is dirty and the townspeople know it. He becomes a bit of a self-made vigilante, executing anyone he crosses paths with who doesn’t hold a sacredness for human decency as he does (such as a pimp who pimps out his teenaged step-daughter or a would-be rapist caught in the act). The situations seem to come to him by providence and he unapologetically takes care of business.
Jacob Dring’s style, as I’ve come to expect, engages you immediately from the first line and holds you until after you’ve turned the final page. I loved this story. I liked and wanted to see the bad guys get their justice. For once, to see them NOT get away with it. I won’t give away the ending… but this book is worth every minute.
My Overall Score:
This book gets 4.75/5 stars from me, with the only losses coming from some misspellings/mistakes in the storyline (such as the character leaving behind a certain gun as the scene and then later having it and then later having a different gun again). There were 8-10 in the entire book, so not too many and it was only enough to lose 1/4-star. Other than that, a tight engaging story, awesome character, awesome justice, great cover and title.
Highly recommended to those who like fast-paced fiction with justice for all.
Read more book reviews by following the Book Reviews Category.
be a good writer: read.
~tara caribou
A FINAL NOTE ON REVIEWS: it may seem that I am harsh on many writers for their editing, formatting, grammar, punctuation, etc. I do so unapologetically. First, because this is a review not a popularity contest. Second, because honest criticism should help us grow as artists.
The fact of the matter is, these things MATTER. A mathematician must use his tools and use them correctly to be an effective mathematician. A surgeon cannot simply say, “I know I can’t sew the wound closed but at least I could remove the appendix or whatever that thing is called.” Same with writers. We can’t claim to be writers yet refuse to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. We can’t claim to be a photographer just because we know how to push the button on the camera (or phone). There’s an art to it.
So while I may appreciate the artist as a person and their words, I believe that it does us all a disservice to claim that lower quality editing is okay, whether in word, deed, or omission of criticism. Instead: believe in yourself! Believe in the power of your words! Put the effort into being the very best you can be. Ask for help. Grow and learn.
“Tiny House, Big Mountain” a novel by Patrick Gillespie
Raw Earth Ink is proud to present Patrick Gillespie’s novel, Tiny House, Big Mountain.
From the back cover: With her ex-husband imprisoned for embezzlement, the pampered Virginia Fleetman relocates to an inherited mountainside property expecting to live in a newly-finished vacation home. Instead she finds a half-finished foundation with the builder Drew Tippet and her twelve-year-old daughter Cody living inside. Drew has been planning a new life too, but after the checks stopped coming, she is forced to make the basement a refuge.
When Virginia orders Drew and her daughter out, a cascade of life-altering events inextricably binds them together. Cody’s visions and premonitions, after nearly drowning, make her wonder if anyone, including her own mother, believes her. Drew, with a broken back and ankle–and a worsening dependence on pain medication–struggles to forgive herself. Above all, if they’re to have a home before winter, all three must work together to build a house atop the foundation.
Tiny House, Big Mountain is a coming-of-age novel set in the fictional town of Brookway, Vermont where magical realism is woven with betrayal, addiction, and recovery through the bonds of friendship, family, and community.
In paperback at: Lulu, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
As eBook at: Lulu, Nook, Kobo, or Kindle.
Leave a review on Goodreads.
©️2023 | Patrick Gillespie
Patrick Gillespie can be found on his website PoemShape.
Book Review – The God Articles by Steven Colborne
I read this book as a ebook. This is an unsolicited review.
The Review:
While I don’t agree fully with all of Steven’s philosophies or conclusions, I admire his journey and his willingness to ask the hard questions. He never takes anything at face value, instead he digs in deep, searching for answers with an openness to ‘being wrong’. Often we dogmatically hold on to our personal set of beliefs due to tradition, laziness, or pride. Steven is none of these. He is fairly open about his past, his present, and his journey. This, of course, comes with struggles, stumbles, triumphs, and blessings.
I’ve been following along on his personal blog for several years and I must say that there have been a number of times he has raised a question within faith and philosophy that has made me.. uncomfortable. I like that. I like it because it challenges me. What DO I believe about that? Why do I believe it? What if…? …I’m wrong? What if… I’m right? His questions causes me to question. Sometimes I have meditated on my own answer and stood firm. Others I have altered my perceptions. There have been times I have felt, nope, he’s way off base and others where I know we stand in a minority and yet I have faith in Truth.
So here’s a collection of blog posts spanning several years. It’s an interesting set and one I don’t regret reading. Again, I don’t agree with it all, but that’s okay! The main take-away is he has once again “got me thinking”. In this day, so often philosophy is given in pre-chewed bites which don’t really offer a lot of substance. This isn’t it. If you really take your time and read each chapter and meditate on the implications, you find a treasure trove of deep thoughts. May your faith be challenged and strengthened.
My Overall Score:
I rate this with 4.5/5 stars. Easy to read chapters that are neither sophomoric nor bloated and pompous. Prepare to be challenged!
Read more book reviews by following the Book Reviews Category.
be a good writer: read.
~tara caribou
A FINAL NOTE ON REVIEWS: it may seem that I am harsh on many writers for their editing, formatting, grammar, punctuation, etc. I do so unapologetically. First, because this is a review not a popularity contest. Second, because honest criticism should help us grow as artists.
The fact of the matter is, these things MATTER. A mathematician must use his tools and use them correctly to be an effective mathematician. A surgeon cannot simply say, “I know I can’t sew the wound closed but at least I could remove the appendix or whatever that thing is called.” Same with writers. We can’t claim to be writers yet refuse to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. We can’t claim to be a photographer just because we know how to push the button on the camera (or phone). There’s an art to it.
So while I may appreciate the artist as a person and their words, I believe that it does us all a disservice to claim that lower quality editing is okay, whether in word, deed, or omission of criticism. Instead: believe in yourself! Believe in the power of your words! Put the effort into being the very best you can be. Ask for help. Grow and learn.
In the Woods
©️2023 | tara caribou all photos by me
Book Review – The Colourblind Grief by Jude Gorini
Available at Barnes & Noble. (I could not find an Amazon US link.)
I read this book as an ARC in PDF book form.
The Review:
The Colourblind Grief by Jude Gorini follows the life of Daniel, a queer man living with double personality syndrome in his twenties and thirties. He begins by describing his life as he attempts to cover over any difficult situations or chaos or trauma with clubbing, drinking, drugs, and sex. Not recognizing how beautiful his own soul truly is, he assumes everyone around him views him as worthless and not good enough. Any time a friend or lover reaches in and shows him care and real affection; he sabotages the relationship and dives headlong into another.
Daniel doesn’t realize that he has never learned what real love is, yet he occasionally searches within himself, trying to answer why he makes the choices he does. Couple that with several seemingly wonderful relationships in which the other man is using him and leaves him, and it’s the perfect storm of unmet needs to truly be understood and accepted, self-hatred, self-doubt, and mistrust towards others.
Eventually, Daniel comes to realize that he must stop drinking and doing drugs, when tragedy strikes his best friend. He becomes sober and really begins to explore his perceptions and his reactions to both negative and positive stimuli. In this self-exploration, he learns there is a separation between emotions and intellect and he must choose carefully which he follows.
This was a deeply moving story which pulled me in right from the start. My heart broke reading about his life and all that he experienced as well as what he brought on himself. But what really brought in close was I could feel his heart. I wanted the best, the good things. I wanted him to break free and realize his potential. I wanted him to know true love, both giving and receiving. Daniel clearly could not see what a beautiful soul he was and it’s evident, as he responds to a lover who says, upon learning of some of his past trauma, that Daniel is strong and amazing. “I never felt like a strong and amazing person. I perceive myself more as someone born to suffer. Life was treating me good at that moment, but my past was a giant chaos, full of traumas and bad choices.” I loved that introspection. Acknowledging the perception he had of himself, balanced with another’s view, as well as his own choices and unchosen trauma. This connected me to him deeper, knowing he was more than his circumstances or decisions. More than the drugs or drinking or bad parenting or mental illness.
My Overall Score:
This book gets 5/5 stars from me. Nice story length, engaging characters, great emotional balance, and writing that is easy to read without being sophomoric. Highly recommended to those who enjoy real stories of personal growth or biographical memoirs.
Read more book reviews by following the Book Reviews Category.
be a good writer: read.
~tara caribou
A FINAL NOTE ON REVIEWS: it may seem that I am harsh on many writers for their editing, formatting, grammar, punctuation, etc. I do so unapologetically. First, because this is a review not a popularity contest. Second, because honest criticism should help us grow as artists.
The fact of the matter is, these things MATTER. A mathematician must use his tools and use them correctly to be an effective mathematician. A surgeon cannot simply say, “I know I can’t sew the wound closed but at least I could remove the appendix or whatever that thing is called.” Same with writers. We can’t claim to be writers yet refuse to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation. We can’t claim to be a photographer just because we know how to push the button on the camera (or phone). There’s an art to it.
So while I may appreciate the artist as a person and their words, I believe that it does us all a disservice to claim that lower quality editing is okay, whether in word, deed, or omission of criticism. Instead: believe in yourself! Believe in the power of your words! Put the effort into being the very best you can be. Ask for help. Grow and learn.
Raw Earth Ink 