Thank you to NetGalley and FSG for access to this digital ARC.

This is a curious review since I do find the subject matter--the intersection of science, philosophy, and spirituality--compelling. However, as other reviewers have mentioned, the sort of rambling almost stream of consciousness feel and occasional "lost in the weeds"-ness that struck often in the more historically concerned pieces pulled me out of my reverie.

I also wished, for all the lovely blank verse, to have an occasional stanza to break things up a bit more (they are there, albeit infrequently). There was a very consistent structure that I do wish could have been changed up a bit more here and there as every poem used the same layout, but perhaps that is a complaint more for me as a fellow poet who likes to experiment with style and structure.

If NG offered a way to give half stars, I would probably give this collection a 3.5. It's good at what it does best (existential musings about the universe and our relation to the ways we interact with it), but it may be too heady for some readers.

2.5 Stars

This was well written but I don't think I am the target audience for this style of poetry. The style felt overly scholastic and I didn't feel as connected to the material. I did apprieciate some of the philosophy and reflection throughout though.

This collection was so meaningful and beautiful to read. You can feel the poets yearning and desire to find more. I plan to read more poetry by the author as soon as possible.

Thankyou to Netgalley and John Koethe for the opportunity to read and review this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Cemeteries and Galaxies is a beautiful raw collection of poetry that will have you contemplating your place in the world and how small we are in the grand scheme of things.

It was beautifully written and I enjoyed it in one sitting, I'd happily review more by this author.

In Cemeteries and Galaxies, John Koethe weaves through childhood moments, long-ago conversations, and cosmic scale questions, always returning to that familiar mix of wonder and doubt.

I love anything that makes me think about how small we are in the scope of time and everything that came before us. This stuck with me: “It’s odd how each of us / Is everything, and yet there’s nothing there for us to talk about.” That quiet ache runs through the whole collection. These poems will be on my mind.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC.

I’ll start by saying this isn’t quite my kind of poetry collection. I tend to gravitate toward poems that stand on their own, each with a distinct voice or shape. In Cemeteries and Galaxies, many of the poems felt quite similar in tone and structure, often beginning with quotations from other sources—which just isn’t my personal preference.

That said, this is for someone!

Thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own!

This collection was an interesting and contemplative read. The poetry was meandering and philosophical and reminded me Louis MacNeice with a touch of Walt Whitman. Poetry can be so subjective, and I think I generally prefer something a bit more immediate and imagery-based, but Cemeteries and Galaxies interesting to dive into.

Oh, rating poetry is always so hard! I found John Koethe's poems both beautiful and complicated. He poses so many deeply philosophical questions, veiled in his own conversations with his artistic friends. It's a truly unique perspective! I found myself highlighting many lines to ponder deeper for myself and my own experiences.

I wanted to like this, but the poetry just didn’t work for me.
While the messages being explored are interesting, the style of writing wasn’t my personal favourite.
Overall, an interesting collection that will have you thinking.

Cemeteries and Galaxies was a poetry collection that I feel would have worked better for me if I heard the poetry recited rather than reading. I enjoyed most of the poems, but, personally, wasn't able to connect with them the way I would have liked. My favorite was "The Divinity Within," and the title poem "Cemeteries and Galaxies." I did enjoy the narrative structure of the poems and the reflections on existential questions they posed. I would recommend this title for anyone who enjoys poetry.

Thank you for NetGalley for an eARC.

An insightful and thought provoking collection. Whilst reading these I paused to really take in the words. So many relatable questions are put forth. Each poem leaves a lasting impression.

Loved how this was laid out! One of my first poetry books and I was honestly really into it. I enjoyed how I was able to feel the words