This was initially difficult for me to read but as I got into it slowly I could appreciate the haphazard nature of the book. I'd recommend it to people who like modern poetry and music. It was not my type of book but I'm glad I got to experience something new. Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC of the book.

Rhyming isn't just for greeting cards and children's books. With the right tough, rhythm and rhyme can be a fascinating way of expressing an idea. In Picasso on a Napkin, David Simmonds takes a careful approach to rhythm and rhyme for the greatest impact on the reader. The collection mixes the whimsical and the serious, the mundane and the otherworldly elements of life. It is a quick read, though you may want to read it more than once to take it all in.

Picasso On a Napkin is a collection of lyrical prose poems where the reader is encouraged to read them out loud.
I really enjoyed this collection and especially enjoyed the poems in context of real world issues such as climate change.
Overall a very enjoyable reading collection.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in return of an honest review.

This collection of metrical poems is fantastic and takes you on a rhythmic journey. The author suggests reading the metrical verse out loud to "reveal the music in the words and give them voice". I highly recommend this method of reading as it brings the verse to life. This is the first time I have interacted with a book in this way and it really enhanced the reading experience. I found the lyrics to be uplifting with humor while capturing difficult themes as in The Poems of Sunlight & Shadows. This book grabs you from the beginning with the famous story of Picasso and the napkin sketch and continues to take you on the roller coaster of human nature. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection as it provides an opportunity for the reader to "express yourself" in a way that is fun and light-hearted.

If you like to read poetry out loud and you are up for a bit of silliness, you might want to try this book. I did not find it very deep, but it was fun to read aloud with my older nieces. I will not recommend it for book clubs; this is more for personal use if you like the sound of your voice.

David Simmonds finds words and ideas in all manner of places — and then arranges them in masterful ways. This is what poetry is made of. #inspired

Picasso On a Napkin by David Simmonds is a truly unique collection of lyrical prose that will entertain, amuse, and pose a challenge to conventional thinking, all in equal measure. Absorbing and reflecting on this collection was a delight from start to finish, and I was quite sorry to reach the final page. I took up the suggestion to read the verses aloud and, as promised, doing so enriched the experience even further. While the collection is certainly quirky and offbeat, it offers sharp observations on the state of the world and a shrewd take on the human condition. 4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read this ARC.