Thank you so much to Finishinglinepress via netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of Glimmerglass girl by Holly Warlath. This will be released on August 3rd of 2018.

Glimmerglass girl ⭐️
This is a collection of poetry of sorts. Its not the typical collection. Its more like very short short stories.
There is artwork within and helps bring the shorts to life.

Favorite poems
In rejoice of kindred grief
Behind the glass
Elegy for a body
She leanrs how to disappear

Favorite quotes
“With sadness like no tomorrow”
“We talked about the future which seemed to end in may”
“I take up ashes like taking up space”
“I spilt myself apart”
“Human she is not quite”
“Our bones hollow fingertips into feather”

It was unique and beautiful. So many different concepts and points of view. This was not just one thing. It also has many different styles of poetry which was interesting to see.

A chapbook of feminine writings with tales of fragile emotions that stir a whirlwind of strength. If read by a male mind, he may feel closer to knowing the heart of a woman. When a woman reads these poems, she may feel they were written for her.

It was impossible for me to stop reading until I had finished the last poem. Then I was sorry to see it over. I truly wanted more of this writing style.

The author tells secrets. She dares to say it. Life expects us to play nice and these poems felt like an outlet. Each poem meant something very deep and very personal to me.

While reading, I was reminded of things I do not need and the things that mean the most. What should be cherished. What can be let go.

In this wonderful book of poetry, the mundane is art.

Taking a note from one poem in particular, “I AM GOING TO FIND THE UNICORNS”. The entire piece is surreal yet hits me. It screams and sets things straight with “Blood and horns and teeth.” It is a beautiful way to thumb your nose to the world and carry on as one may see fit.

This poetry is not typical. The art following each poem makes this book a beautiful illustration.

The stories are told quickly. Being short and to the point, the point is driven hard and deep.

Thank you, Finishing Line Press for the ARC copy of Glimmerglass girl by Holly Warlath.

This chapbook is daring, raw and everything poetry dealing with feminine identity should be. I had a hard time pausing in between poems because each left me wanting more. But these poems are meant to be tasted and savored. They do leave an aftertaste that takes a couple of minutes to wear off, but it is the kind that is exciting and invigorating.

I especially loved "I Am Going To Find The Unicorns." The imagery is strong and in-your-face.
"I will kneel in the dirt and read leaves like ruins. I
will put mud in my mouth to taste dwarves."

The concise nature of chapbooks brings out the true impact of poetry as strong as this. I would love to read more from Holly, she has a new fan.

Generally a very well-written collection of poetry, exploring themes of being a woman. Even though that isn't something I share with the author I still found the scenes and images to be evocative and relateable. As a whole, an enjoyable poetry chapbook.

As a short collection of poems, Glimmerglass Girl was a quick read for me. With delightfully lyrical language, impactful images, and a sophisticated flourish under her arsenal, Holly Lyn Walrath offers a myriad of layered female experiences in a very limited number of pages. While I greatly enjoyed most of the pieces, my five favorites were Espejitos, Behind the Glass, Woman, Two Hundred Fifty-Seven, and The Art of Loneliness.

I cannot think of a better title for this book because a lot of the imagery depicted in the poems was shockingly vivid, and at times, graphically violent and fascinatingly morbid – yet, in spite of this, these images were still presented in an almost delicate, poignant manner. Additionally, no matter how dark and ominous the tone became, an underlying thoughtfulness was still palpable. As I read, I found myself constantly startled but above all else, intrigued and wanting to read numerous passages over and over again.

I was not a fan of the complementary artworks that accompanied some of the poems because they made the text more difficult to read. In addition to this, none of them made a lasting impression on me nor were they value-adding to my overall reading experience. Nonetheless, I was immensely fascinated by the text. There were more than a handful of poems I could interpret in more ways than one, which was pretty interesting. Glimmerglass Girl is definitely a haunting yet captivating collection that can easily provoke readers into speculating on the lived experiences of women as well as underlying notions of femininity.

Glimmerglass Girl is a poetry collection that speaks to the modern woman and deals with many issues of the self. The collection is relatively short, so you have to sit with each poem to gain some insight into the meaning and emotion in conveys. Many of the poems are simple without much flowery language, so it is something that can be easily accessible for any type of poetry reader.

Fantastic prose! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves great poetry! It is so hard to stand out in the world of poetry where every line is a rhyme of simple words like you, do, too, and through! It was refreshing to find poetry that actually tells a great story! Thank you for allowing me early access to this ARC!

Glimmerglass Girl
by Holly Lyn Walrath
Finishing Line Press


Poetry
Pub Date 03 Aug 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Glimmerglass Girl through Fishing Line Press and Netgalley:

Poetry is one of the hardest genres to review because a poem can have a different meaning to every reader l:
In this short collection of poetry Holly Lyn Walrath explores love, marriage, abuse and self harm of the body, death and alcoholism through a woman's heart who has experienced them in on one way or another. It does this while taking the reader on a fantastical journey through the world of fairytales and unicorns. A world where feminity is both as powerful and delicate as a wing glassed beauty.


I give Glimmerglass Girl five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

Nice use of words and language in these moody and atmospheric yet very readable poems. I liked the incorporation of drawings and photographs as well. A good collection!

Glimmerglass Girl is a relatable collection with a lovely use of language. The verses are accessible and can take on a surreal quality, tinged with darkness many times throughout the collection. In particular, I am Going to Find the Unicorns was full of vivid, imagery that lingered long after the poem ended.

I also enjoyed the inclusion of the illustrations accompanying the poems, which generally can go either way for me, but was effective here and gave the verses another layer.

Will be checking out the poet’s other works on the back of this.

This was an ARC in exchange for an honest review, with thanks to Netgalley and Finishing Line Press.

This thin chapbook of poems seems at once light and dark, brilliant yet incomprehensible. I read through each offering twice and came away no wiser, despite preparing myself to find meaning in the words. A poem that begins “I am night and a thousand stars hurtle through/my skin, punching through the ether” sets the reader up for a powerful experience. It’s over a few short paragraphs later, a story not tied up neatly, only words and a mental picture that creates an unsatisfactory feeling. Not unsatisfactory in a bad way – just a longing for something more to grasp, a clearer picture of sorts.

The author does have a way with words, stringing them together like a delicate necklace that has its own beauty, yet doesn’t match with anything in the closet. That is not to say it is a wasted purchase -understand that these poems may not meet with your expectations. They are an acquired taste, revealing more each time they are read. Two particular poems became my favorites: I Swallowed the Moon and Blue Cadillac. I feel that Cadillac is the most mainstream work, easily understood, with fondness for the title character (?) shining through easily. I too, remember the classic cars with wistful nostalgia, as the poem notes:

And somehow in this memory of you/your massive lines like some primordial behemoth/long since dead and buried/in ice, the very blueness of you, I may have/remembered myself, another classic beauty.

It was so easy to conjure up big fins in the Texas heat as I absorbed this poem. Images formed freely in my head, unlike some of the author’s other writings in this book. Sometimes the final lines give off a hint of sarcasm, of impropriety or dismissal; other times the end is so far away from the beginning you don’t know what to think. There is a strong undercurrent of feminism and heartbreak in the words, and at times I wondered what experiences the author had, to describe in such a way.

All and all, not the worst way to spend time reading. Poetry is more resonant with people; either you love it or hate it. This little book was pleasant to read, despite the fact that I came away from most of it confused. Read it and let me know what you think.

I am new to poetry, new as a reader/reviewer, but my love for poetry is nothing new. I have been reading several new poets and I am blown away by this talented poet. I find myself reading certain poems over and over and each time I take away something different, that is a sure trademark of a great poet. Inspiring and very personal, exactly what I look for in a great book! I have a new favorite author, Holly Lyn Walrath. I have purchased the actual book and it is a favorite, I only buy hard copies of my favorite books! NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Glimmerglass Girl by Holly Lyn Walrath.