Christine Kwon, Romy Rhoads Ewing, Claire Evans
Let me tell you about three books I love by Christine Kwon, Romy Rhoads Ewing, & Claire Evans!
The reviewer: Rachel Turney is a former art reviewer for New City Magazine. She is currently the writer in residence at NKollectiv and hosts the Trident Women’s Writing Group. Rachel is a poetry mentor with AWP. She runs Poetry (in Brief), an online reading series and magazine. She is a staff writer for Bareback Magazine and a poetry reader for The Los Angeles Review. She is the author of two books: Record Player Life (the b-side) and Retired Wannabe Club Kid. Sign up for her newsletter and learn more on the website.
A Ribbon the Most Perfect Blue by Christine Kwon
Black Lawrence Press
These are really nicely constructed poems. The collection is varied and interesting to the eye. There is some debate in the poetry world about putting free verse with formal forms etc.; this collection proves it can be done and be done well.
These beautiful narratives all tell stories and they are filled with fascinating observations. In a world of AI, it’s amazing to see what only a human can do so clearly through poetry, this is crystal in Christine Kwon’s collection. It’s a great addition to your shelf because there are just so many fascinating elements to the collection, like surrealism. Kwon also dedicates the collection to her therapist…intriguing.
One of my favorite poems is the run-on sentence (two pages!) with repetition that builds the anxiety of the piece: “Faire La Grasse Matinee.”
I also really liked “Lazy Boy” where Christine uses the line “Father was a chair” over and over to depict the father-daughter relationship.
This is a deep and captivating collection. Bravo Christine!
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edging by Claire Evans
Arcana Poetry Press
Clair is a great sensual writer. She juxtaposes the ugly and the beautiful, the pain and the longing well. It’s all so mouthwatering - like when she compares an orgasm to Baileys in your coffee; I totally get that. She does this interesting thing in the collection where she is both Aphrodite and the ingénue. This is really relatable for women who are feeling their sexual power and prowess but for whom that sense of insecurity still lingers from when they were a girl. I like the story of the sexual journey and maturing that is being told here. Erotic writing is important to educating and normalizing sex, sexuality, and sensuality. This, I feel, will combat what happens when populations are ignorant - some of it sad and some of it violent and evil.
edging is a sexy little book! You will also enjoy following Claire on Instagram where she posts a lot of short original writing along the same themes.
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Please Stay by Romy Rhoads Ewing
Bottlecap Press
Please Stay is a biography in poetry. Sectioned into seasons, we see the poet/person evolve through time. Rooted in childhood memories and torn between youth and adulthood, Romy is innocent turned to realistic.
My favorite piece is the one that concludes the collection “daedalus as a labradoodle - or, three ruminations on labor and love.” There is a real sense of lack of control that is very attractive. It’s a raw and real collection that lets you see Romy the poet, who she was and who she has become.
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A note from Rachel: I am looking for folks to review my two books with small presses, too! Record Player Life (the b-side) and Retired Wannabe Club Kid. If you can write a review for me and help spread the word about my collections, please email me for a free digital review copy. Thank you. The books are also for sale on my website: TURNEYTALKS.COMturneytalks@gmail.com
