Matt McAvoy Book Review

I can totally relate to Kas’s comments in the foreword, that she already felt somewhat cocooned in her life long before coronavirus came along.  Then, lockdown gave her time for reflection, to see the world anew, re-evaluate her future and reprioritize what is important – I can relate to this, too.  What we then see, for the remainder of this book, are Kas’s musings, ponderings and philosophizing as she goes through this process.  Her words are put to poetry, not what I would call verse; it is simple if intellectual prose, given something of a rhythm, and it is indeed a thoughtful and melancholic read, as mundane and reflective as it gets, yet in some ways hypnotic, too.

I really enjoy poetry, and I like Kas’s compositions, scattered with her beautifully vivid and colourful photography, as she captures in both words and images whatever expresses her feelings most simply and appropriately at the time.  It is stylish but no frills; don’t expect to be blown away, but do expect to be engaged and transfixed by Kas’s short and sweet observations of varying length and depth.  Much of it is obscure, but then isn’t that the point of poetry: to invoke your own interpretation of it? 

I did enjoy this very quick read, which is probably best kept in a pocket-sized book or device, to refer to in snippets, during moments of quiet musing of your own – almost as one would affirmations.  In relation to its content, if I am being brutally honest, I simply could not allow its $20 price tag to slide, and admit this may have had a bearing on my rating.  But the author has the quality, and she seems to mature as the work progresses, reaching the high points later from “A Letter of Love” onward.  Definitely worth a read for fans of poetry, peace and pondering.