cgcpoems's review against another edition
An absolutely stunning work. Knock is myth and nature and music intertwined into something so beautiful that it lingers with you long after reading. "Our souls paused like kites in the salt-grass & I'm sorry but what you said about me was always about you." I mean come ON.
amber_yaindulgences's review against another edition
5.0
Let me first put a disclaimer here to say I received an e-copy of this book via the publisher for a blog tour and it affects my opinion in no way.
I am happy to review Knock for my first poetry book review. When I began Knock, I wasn’t sure what to expect. For such a small book, it took me away on a surprise journey.
Metaphors and figurative language explode from the pages as it goes through depression, gender and the deepest parts of ourselves.
If I were to compare Knock to another poetry book, I would compare it to The Princess Saves Herself In This One and The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One By Amanda Lovelace. They follow a dark, magical sort of telling.
As the first chapter begins we learn of an apocalypse beginning and the power and removal of tongues. This grabbed my attention immediately with how often, even more so today that women’s voices are policed and demanded. The imagery doesn’t stop there as we hear of witch hunts, trees, ghosts, a whale mother, mice skeletons and monsters all describing this character’s life.
The title, Knock May be taken from s self-titled poem describing a girl’s hopeful knock for just a little opening and teaches others to knock as well.
Knock is a beautiful haunting story told in poetry. I believe it may be best with repeated readings as I know I will most certainly be doing. I’ll be following along Melissa’s future poetic works as well.
I am happy to review Knock for my first poetry book review. When I began Knock, I wasn’t sure what to expect. For such a small book, it took me away on a surprise journey.
Metaphors and figurative language explode from the pages as it goes through depression, gender and the deepest parts of ourselves.
If I were to compare Knock to another poetry book, I would compare it to The Princess Saves Herself In This One and The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One By Amanda Lovelace. They follow a dark, magical sort of telling.
As the first chapter begins we learn of an apocalypse beginning and the power and removal of tongues. This grabbed my attention immediately with how often, even more so today that women’s voices are policed and demanded. The imagery doesn’t stop there as we hear of witch hunts, trees, ghosts, a whale mother, mice skeletons and monsters all describing this character’s life.
The title, Knock May be taken from s self-titled poem describing a girl’s hopeful knock for just a little opening and teaches others to knock as well.
Knock is a beautiful haunting story told in poetry. I believe it may be best with repeated readings as I know I will most certainly be doing. I’ll be following along Melissa’s future poetic works as well.
marshmallowpudding's review against another edition
5.0
I won this book in a giveaway. This does not affect my opinion in any way, and all words below are my honest thoughts on this book.
The cover is so freaking gorgeous.
I went into this book not knowing what to expect - I've read a lot of "tumblr poetry", but the poems in this book are so different from the ones I usually read. The writing is so beautiful, so dark, so mysterious, and the poems reflect how, in society, women are silenced and looked down upon.
This is my first time reading a book of poetry that tells a story, and Knock did not disappoint.
The cover is so freaking gorgeous.
I went into this book not knowing what to expect - I've read a lot of "tumblr poetry", but the poems in this book are so different from the ones I usually read. The writing is so beautiful, so dark, so mysterious, and the poems reflect how, in society, women are silenced and looked down upon.
This is my first time reading a book of poetry that tells a story, and Knock did not disappoint.
utopiastateofmind's review against another edition
4.0
(Disclaimer: I received this free book from the tour company. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
This collection is rich with imagery and phrases that are borderline eerie. But they have this mysterious quality about it, like a wise sage, where the wisdom of the words have yet to fully leave the room. It's almost as if the collection rings an ominous gong and leaves you to your reflections as it echoes.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/knock-melissa-atkinson-mercer-blog-tour/
This collection is rich with imagery and phrases that are borderline eerie. But they have this mysterious quality about it, like a wise sage, where the wisdom of the words have yet to fully leave the room. It's almost as if the collection rings an ominous gong and leaves you to your reflections as it echoes.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/knock-melissa-atkinson-mercer-blog-tour/
beverleyh's review
4.0
Going into Knock, I had little idea of what to expect and so I went in completely fresh and let myself be swept along by the words on the page. Soon, I was whisked into a world that hinted of something magical and otherworldly, yet was rooted in plumbing the depths of the human mind with all its urgency and melancholy.
The collection has an air of simmering tension around it, creeping notes of something haunting yet wildly mesmerising. The pages are home to an abundance of imagery, sometimes confusing and requiring second reading but mostly rich and evocative. The words sing from the page, loudly, firmly. They sing of suffering and healing and truth. Each word carefully selected and arranged, imploring you to listen, just listen.
Reading was simultaneously like trying to stay afloat, gulping down mouthfuls of water, and then: a breath of fresh air, a sigh of relief. Here I am, this is who I am and what I have to say, the voices in the book whisper, like a bird breaking free of its chains, shaking its wings and finding flight, soaring into the sky.
The collection maintains a steady pace, gathering momentum and crescendoing in the third section – my absolute favourite – which is aptly named ‘v. to collide’. Here, the poetry is lucid and sharp, breaking down and reconciling. It becomes a relentless dialogue: persistent questioning answered by a voice that is stronger, more insistent. A worthy, emphatic finale.
Ultimately, the words deftly threaded together transcend out of the shadowy depths into something light and almost free and hopeful. They come together into a collection of poetry that is shrouded in a sense of urgency, constantly pushing and pulling, giving and resisting.
The collection has an air of simmering tension around it, creeping notes of something haunting yet wildly mesmerising. The pages are home to an abundance of imagery, sometimes confusing and requiring second reading but mostly rich and evocative. The words sing from the page, loudly, firmly. They sing of suffering and healing and truth. Each word carefully selected and arranged, imploring you to listen, just listen.
Reading was simultaneously like trying to stay afloat, gulping down mouthfuls of water, and then: a breath of fresh air, a sigh of relief. Here I am, this is who I am and what I have to say, the voices in the book whisper, like a bird breaking free of its chains, shaking its wings and finding flight, soaring into the sky.
The collection maintains a steady pace, gathering momentum and crescendoing in the third section – my absolute favourite – which is aptly named ‘v. to collide’. Here, the poetry is lucid and sharp, breaking down and reconciling. It becomes a relentless dialogue: persistent questioning answered by a voice that is stronger, more insistent. A worthy, emphatic finale.
Ultimately, the words deftly threaded together transcend out of the shadowy depths into something light and almost free and hopeful. They come together into a collection of poetry that is shrouded in a sense of urgency, constantly pushing and pulling, giving and resisting.
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