Nice collection of poems and imagery. I haven't read a lot of poetry but I think I'm going to read more now!

Nocturnal is a touching and at times heartbreaking poetry collection with beautiful illustrations. I honestly fell in love with it.

This is my first time reading the poet and it definitely won’t be my last. I read this amazing collection in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down once I’d started to read. The poetry deals with themes that can be universal and very personal and at times I felt like I was spying on the poet’s innermost thoughts and feelings. The collection was even more of a pleasure to read because of the paintings, ink stains and blackened pages scattered throughout, almost as if the poems had been torn from a notebook, a well-loved, well-used one that had been used for sketches and doodles. Nocturnal offers a unique and impressive reading experience.

There was a lot of really well rounded poems in this book. And the art work thrown in was a beautiful surprise. I enjoyed this book.

This book came to me at a perfect moment in my life. My father just passed away, and I was floating in a cloud of sadness. This served as an anchor for me, and really helped me get through the feelings of loss and heartache. The pages are filled with beautiful artworks with a gorgeous dark vs. light theme. The collection bravely talks about loss, grief and self-discovery.

I highly recommend this for anyone who needs comfort or motivation, and for all who loves really good poetry and art. I hope this brings light to your darkness, too.

This was just okay for me. I don’t know what I was exactly expecting out of the poetry in this book, but it wasn’t what I got out of it. I was thinking some deep, maybe twisted, thought provoking, emotional poems. But I didn’t feel any of those things. That’s not to say it isn’t a good collection though, just because I personally didn’t relate. But many of theses were just a mere few lines strung together, lacking any real meaning or feeling. There were a couple I liked more than others, but nothing that “wowed” me.

Thank you Netgalley and McMeel Publishing for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm a bit conflicted about this poetry collection. On one hand I find the illustrations and art work to be absolutely fantastic, but the poems felt a little short for me. The poems did not really draw any emotions out of me. The shorter ones didn't have a whole lot of deep meaning and the longer ones just didn't speak to me. There was a range of topics including the standard relationships and family, but also solitude and nature. The graphics did a wonderful job connecting with the words and giving them more impact than they gave themselves. As someone who is a night owl, I loved the nocturnal theme, I also read this in a digital format and I feel like it would be better as something to have and physically interact with. There were a couple poems that spoke to me and my favorite was probably:

this is how i pour myself
into all of the spaces
i never knew i could fit,
like a sun that finds
the smallest corners through
fingerprinted glass.

it isn't always graceful,
but becoming never is.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this novel before it's release. All thought and opinions are my own.

A post on my blog will be coming closer to the release date.

I enjoyed a lot of the poems (a majority I would say) but not enough to absolutely love the collection. However, there is some beautiful writing here and I love the cover as well! I related to a lot of the poetry but nothing really stood out to me or made me stop and think.

Wow...
So this was everything I never knew I needed to read.
Think: self love but not preachy, thought-provoking and a strong reminder that to love and be loved are important for our own happiness.
This is definitely fitting into the category of 'modern poetry' and in the best possible way! I would definitely compare it to the works of Rupi Kaur however less feminine in a good way! Gave it another perspective which was very much appreciated.

I really enjoyed this collection, I thought it had a lot of strong poems. Some were shorter and didn't resonate as much with me. Overall I found this collection to be a beautiful work of self love and growth.

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc early.

I honestly think how you’re feeling/where you’re at in life when you read this book will effect your opinion on it. Emotions are a fickle thing.

This book didn’t wow me. The words didn’t flow as poetically as I’d like.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC!

I enjoyed this book, but I think I should give it another try in another moment of my life. These poems are beautiful, but I wasn't "feeling them", you know? And that was kind of a surprise for me, since I follow the author on instagram and I usually love her posts.

Woah.

On one hand this is so visually striking, absorbing and distinctive that I feel guilty for giving anything less than a glowing five for the artwork and graphic design. On the other hand, however, these two stars feel generous for a bunch of random, nonsensical, horribly overdone sappy Tumblr lines.

So, there it is, a little compromise. Definitely not worth paying the full price for, unless you like to surround yourself with lots of pretty items, in which case I'd urge you to get yourself a copy as soon as possible.

Nocturnal (Revised and Extended)
Author: Wilder Poetry
Pub date: 7 May 2019
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing

How can a collection of poetry be so heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. A collection inspired by 'darkened days and sleepless nights', Nocturnal explores the raw human emotions of love and loss, grief and healing. Seperated into four distinct sections, Dusk, Northern Lights, Howl and Lucid Dreams, these sections follow the authors journey of self discovery along a path of heartbreak and torment through to a discovery of courage and self love. This collection was full of beautiful imagery and the nature motif created an atmospheric read. Completed by beautiful illustrations, the whole book has a dreamy feel and I felt like i floated through the poems in a contemplative haze. In my subjective opinion I got a strong feeling from each of the different sections. In Dusk I felt strong themes of letting go and trying to move on, in Northern Lights thoughts of hope and new beginning took. When we entered Howl, I began to feel the author describing ones inner peace and strength, and how the individual is able to find peace through nature. Finally in Lucid Dreams I felt a sense of the authors resilience and ability to accept change. Personally I found a lot of comfort through these poems and thoroughly enjoyed the entire collection. This collection has a piece for every memory, every good day and every bad day and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking to begin reading poetry like myself.

A few of my favourite pieces from the collection:

'I hold promises
Between my lips
Hoping to speak them
To someone
Who will show me
What it's like to be
Held with more
Than just two hands'

'Like love
It will either drown you
Or help you grow'
WATER

'Dear self,
It was real bwcause you felt it,
Love is meant to hurt when it leaves'

This collection was good. I enjoyed many of the poems, but not enough to love this collection. The ones I found myself loving were the longer poems that had more substance. The shorter ones just felt too superficial. I needed more from them- more meaning, a deeper feeling. This was definitely a solid collection, I just think some of the poems need to be fleshed out more to create a greater connection for the reader. Not bad, though.

I thought the theme for this book was really intriguing but the poems were not poetic, just thoughts spread pinto sections in order to fill the pages. There are so many beautiful words in the English language, please, make use of them. I couldn't connect with the poems and didn't evoke any emotions in me, there is nothing that lingers in my mind after reading this book. While the worded phrases didn't really touch me, the visuals and artworks were absolutely lovely, very pleasing!

This book of poetry is a steady and familiar voice as you share her journey through these pages.
Inspiration from the natural world and emotions as forceful and focused as tides, storms, light and loss. All beautifully supplemented and enhanced by wistful and ethereal artwork in black and white illustrations.
A collection you could not tire of reading or dipping into, about misplaced love, broken dreams and heartache while sensing a struggle to be loved, held and reaching for something more.
I liked the concept of a relationship as a flat pack assembly item and the sense of losing someone between yesterday and tomorrow.
I feel each time you pick this book up thoughts will be prompted and memories stirred. Different words or drawings will capture your heart or lift your spirit.
No examples from the work will fully resonate in a review but I share a sample of the tone and melody that makes one's soul sing.
"you loved me quickly,
like footprints in the snow."
"my body is in adeep sleep,
but mt heart still feels the ache
and I'm waiting for a dream
to shake the rest of me awake."
"I spend my days
leaving doors open behind me
hoping there is something you
might want to come back for;
KEYS ON THE TABLE,
RAINCOAT, COFFEE,


ME."
and finally...........................................
"like the sky , i'm always moving.

YOU DIDN'T WANT ME TO LEAVE,
BUT YOU NEVER ASKED ME TO STAY."

Words are a precious thing.
When presented in this way they have a magical quality only dreams can offer.
Wake up and enjoy reading: ' it's only words, but words are all i have, to take your heart away.'