This is the first time I’ve reviewed poetry, and it was a great experience. I thoroughly enjoy poetry, but typically find myself ensconced in thriller novels, so this was a fantastic hybrid of the two.
As I flipped through the opening pages of All the Violent Memories, I must admit, I was expecting something akin to, “And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air.” This was not that.
I read through each poem at least twice, some more. Unlike a thriller novel, poetry takes a few reads to feel the full weight of the passage. Each pass, I found more and more depth to each line. Stevens’ words instill feelings of sadness, frustration, and relief. The poems hit you like a prizefighter, and once you’re down they don’t let up until the last line. The pain and struggle are palpable and the vivid imagery makes some of the poems incredibly difficult to digest. Not because of any poetic flaw, but because the content is so visceral, so intense, so realistic, that mental breaks are almost a necessity.
I feel J.B. Stevens’ emotions pulse through each line. This is a fascinating work of art. I applaud Stevens for being able to channel his feelings into a piece of poetry that is so incredibly moving.
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