overallshowman's review
4.0
This isn't Chloe N. Clark's first poetry collection, but this is my first time experiencing her words. With this, I learned three things: first, Clark knows how to title her works. I was just nodding my head with a stupid smile on my face as I scrolled through the contents. Second, it's quite a long collection which makes some concepts slightly repetitive. Because the collection spans five parts, it cannot go unnoticed that some parts just stand out among others, in terms of both idea and execution. Then again, this happens almost every time. Third and last, the language used is very accessible indeed. It's more narrative than descriptive, but I think it's something that can consequently be enjoyed by avid poetry fans, considering Clark's talent in word-weaving. That being said, this is the type of poetry collection I would recommend especially to those who want to get into poetry but do not know where to start.
Thank you, NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Ko-fi | Carrd
Thank you, NetGalley and Interstellar Flight Press, for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Ko-fi | Carrd
coldsoup's review
4.0
This collection of poems is gorgeously written. The way the words are set on the page is one of my favourite elements. Sometimes the poet invites the reader to pause, to meditate on every phrase they set aside. Othertimes, the poem is a paragraph, read like a cascade of words until the poem's end.
My favourites are:
- Once they sainted a mermaid
- Error coding
-The Witch's House
My favourites are:
- Once they sainted a mermaid
- Error coding
-The Witch's House
petiteghoul's review
5.0
There is something very melancholic and magical about Escaping the Body by Chloe N. Clark that's stuck with me since I've read this poetry collection. Reminiscent of reading suburban fantasy novels that take emotions and turn them into something dreamy and sentient, Clark's poems articulate experiences and feelings in a compelling and extremely personal manner.
One of my favorite lines from this collection comes from the poem "You'd Be Home Now":
"how I would like to seduce / the infinite, use my tongue / to collapse galaxies in on themselves / over and over, let the stars find new / ways to make my body ache"
I am definitely going to get a physical copy to own and would love to read this writer's future work. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chloe N. Clark for this eARC!
One of my favorite lines from this collection comes from the poem "You'd Be Home Now":
"how I would like to seduce / the infinite, use my tongue / to collapse galaxies in on themselves / over and over, let the stars find new / ways to make my body ache"
I am definitely going to get a physical copy to own and would love to read this writer's future work. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Chloe N. Clark for this eARC!
linkallyson's review
2.0
This just felt very disjointed to me. Individually the poems were good, but I wasn't captivated by the writing.
scizzors's review
5.0
While reading this collection I found myself utterly entranced. Its poems are incredibly effective, using style and aesthetics consistently without becoming repetitive or trite. I kept thinking I had found the best poem in the collection only to turn the page and find one even more compelling than the last.
This is my favourite type of poetry collection. Intimate, haunting and visceral. These poems will draw you in and keep you captivated.
I highly recommend this collection to fans of Richard Siken's 'Crush', Dakota Warren's 'On Sun Swallowing' and Olivia Gatwood's 'Life of the Party'.
This is my favourite type of poetry collection. Intimate, haunting and visceral. These poems will draw you in and keep you captivated.
I highly recommend this collection to fans of Richard Siken's 'Crush', Dakota Warren's 'On Sun Swallowing' and Olivia Gatwood's 'Life of the Party'.
myweereads's review
4.0
“My skin holds mostly worry underneath it’s layers, so tightly coiled as to seem still, like those guarded rattlesnakes..”
This was my first read by author Chloe N. Clark, I was curious to see how this collection of poetry felt.
The way in which the body is depicted in these pages is quite unexpected. There is a variety of perspective were some are quite visceral and others very blatant in their message. A few of these felt disturbing, enlightening and moving.
The author succeeds in allowing the reader to interpret this poetry in a way which will either comfort or disturb them. I found many quotes which I was drawn to and repetitively read them.
Overall this collection includes some dark and uplifting poetry which I enjoyed experiencing and would recommend checking out.
Escaping the Body is published on March 7th 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
This was my first read by author Chloe N. Clark, I was curious to see how this collection of poetry felt.
The way in which the body is depicted in these pages is quite unexpected. There is a variety of perspective were some are quite visceral and others very blatant in their message. A few of these felt disturbing, enlightening and moving.
The author succeeds in allowing the reader to interpret this poetry in a way which will either comfort or disturb them. I found many quotes which I was drawn to and repetitively read them.
Overall this collection includes some dark and uplifting poetry which I enjoyed experiencing and would recommend checking out.
Escaping the Body is published on March 7th 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
maddys_needful_reads's review
5.0
This collection is elegant, lyrical, and touching. Each poem can stand on its own, but they tell a story when read together. Something about the poems speak to me; they are deep and reflective but not pretentious. I keep going back and reading them, and each time they mean something different to me. I think this is the mark of strong poetry.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review, but I will be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. I really loved it.
I received a copy of this from Netgalley for an honest review, but I will be purchasing a physical copy for my collection. I really loved it.
lxxo's review
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy to review!
Stunning work with many different emotions that people can interpret in their own way. Loved the theme of the book and how easy it was to read and get through.
Will definitely look out for more from Chloe N. Clark
Stunning work with many different emotions that people can interpret in their own way. Loved the theme of the book and how easy it was to read and get through.
Will definitely look out for more from Chloe N. Clark
liana's review
3.0
Okay, so I am still a bit undecided on this one, hence the 3 star rating, sitting perfectly in the middle. While I read this very quickly, I sometimes feel like poetry is not necessarily meant to be read quickly - in fact, my favourite poetry book so far - Louise Gluck's The Wild Iris - took me more than two weeks to finish, simply because I took my time reading it, sitting with every poem for a few minutes before moving on to the next one, or returning to a previous poem every now and then.
I thought Clark's strongest poems in this collection were the ones where nature and natural imagery was at the forefront. Her use of imagery reminded me of Mary Oliver, even if their themes and use of language are ultimately quite different; still, it felt like Clark was more in her element in those poems, managing to be both poignant and dreamy at the same time. Some other recurring themes and metaphors, like the ones regarding space, for instance, were a bit lost on me; not a testament to her writing, but more so a matter of personal taste, as I struggled to connect with them in the same way.
That being said, I thought two of her strongest poems in the collection were "For someone who doesn't have to believe in monsters" and "Error Coding" - Error Coding especially just really hit a spot for me, and I definitely think I will be coming back to it again.
I thought Clark's strongest poems in this collection were the ones where nature and natural imagery was at the forefront. Her use of imagery reminded me of Mary Oliver, even if their themes and use of language are ultimately quite different; still, it felt like Clark was more in her element in those poems, managing to be both poignant and dreamy at the same time. Some other recurring themes and metaphors, like the ones regarding space, for instance, were a bit lost on me; not a testament to her writing, but more so a matter of personal taste, as I struggled to connect with them in the same way.
That being said, I thought two of her strongest poems in the collection were "For someone who doesn't have to believe in monsters" and "Error Coding" - Error Coding especially just really hit a spot for me, and I definitely think I will be coming back to it again.