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joshuamc's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Casey Renee Kiser’s sardonic apercus are wonderfully delivered through varying and recognizable poetic rhythm and structure and packaged in plain language, each poem corporealizing an experience, which some I interpreted as overcoming trauma (OCEAN TABLE-TURNING, CRYSTAL GARDEN), being letdown and not having your needs met (SNAIL VIXEN, I SLIT MY WRISTS and HE SAID ‘YO’), examining the current human condition (SIGNAL, PAPER DOLL FACTORY), and an epiphanous elucidation about a Cheshire cat evacuating its bowels every time James Franco smiles (SERIOUSLY THOUGH).
I genuinely appreciate the author for providing me with a digital copy of this chapbook, it is a perfect sample of that straightforward poetic expressiveness that lightly taps the xiphoid process and then leaves the fingertips lingering there for a moment… After each poem, I sat with the familiar, uncomfortable, and sometimes hopeful impressions that were evoked by so much of the imagery. I’m recommending to myself reading some more Casey Renee Kiser, asap.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoy reading Casey Renee Kiser's poetry, a fact that is unsurprising considering this is her seventh book that I have read.
What I like most is the tell-it-like-it-is style of her poetry. It's so refreshing to read poetry that feels like talking to a friend. There is a closeness in each poem that instantly bonds the reader to the page. The poems don't get bogged down in describing a perfect summer day or a lost love from yonder years. Instead, these poems get in your face with bold images and harsh lines, complete with profanity (another thing I think poetry can benefit from).
I can see how not everyone would like such poetry, but I for one love reading her books. It's a different kind of poetry- dark and hard, but I wouldn't change a thing (although I do kind of have a thing for James Franco, so there's that).
Some of my favorites from this collection were "Ocean Table-turning", "Shadow Stab," "We Didn't Have the Heart", and "Date Night".
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoy reading Casey Renee Kiser's poetry, a fact that is unsurprising considering this is her seventh book that I have read.
What I like most is the tell-it-like-it-is style of her poetry. It's so refreshing to read poetry that feels like talking to a friend. There is a closeness in each poem that instantly bonds the reader to the page. The poems don't get bogged down in describing a perfect summer day or a lost love from yonder years. Instead, these poems get in your face with bold images and harsh lines, complete with profanity (another thing I think poetry can benefit from).
I can see how not everyone would like such poetry, but I for one love reading her books. It's a different kind of poetry- dark and hard, but I wouldn't change a thing (although I do kind of have a thing for James Franco, so there's that).
Some of my favorites from this collection were "Ocean Table-turning", "Shadow Stab," "We Didn't Have the Heart", and "Date Night".
mandapandareads06's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not much of a poetry reader, but I think this book was quite interesting. I won it in a GoodReads giveaway.
kingjason's review
5.0
Casey Renee Kiser is fast becoming one of my favourite poets, her writing is dark, dream-like and full of cheeky humour. She also has a great voice, check her out on Soundcloud. There are some great titles in this collection "Paper Doll Factory" and "I Slit my wrists and he said 'Yo'" are a couple of the best.
To pick a favourite is tough, but I'd have to go with the first one in this collection "Lucky One", it feels like an introduction for the poet, you can almost picture the intro being used just like the intros in wrestling.
Each poem is very strong and stands well on it's own. There is a collection of artwork included and I couldn't see what the point in them was until I looked at Casey's profile pictures on Goodreads, it is just her crazy personality (she could be a real life fairy) coming out on the pages in a different way, both written and visual.
A cool collection, I'll definitely be checking out more of her work.
Blog post (with links) here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/snail-vixen-and-the-crystal-garden-by-casey-renee-kiser/
To pick a favourite is tough, but I'd have to go with the first one in this collection "Lucky One", it feels like an introduction for the poet, you can almost picture the intro being used just like the intros in wrestling.
Each poem is very strong and stands well on it's own. There is a collection of artwork included and I couldn't see what the point in them was until I looked at Casey's profile pictures on Goodreads, it is just her crazy personality (she could be a real life fairy) coming out on the pages in a different way, both written and visual.
A cool collection, I'll definitely be checking out more of her work.
Blog post (with links) here> https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/snail-vixen-and-the-crystal-garden-by-casey-renee-kiser/
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