A Wild Book Review Appears . . .
- kianalinwriter
- Oct 17, 2024
- 3 min read
Yes, it's been a while. Yes, I've been slow in writing this year. Yes, whatever else you got. Honestly, I think I've needed to take time after a crazy few years. I'm not about the graceless rush to be an "accomplished" writer or simply for productivity's sake. My writing and publishing journey is supposed to be healing and a grace for myself, so I'm listening to my creative intuition and trusting my own timeline and process.
One good thing to come out of a break from publishing and a slower approach to writing is a higher rate of reading. It's been a joy to get lost in words and devour books this year. I've read a lot of meh books, DNF'ed plenty, and still found some jewels.
Some Days Are Sandstone by Abby Harding would be one such gem.
I've followed Abby Harding on Instagram for a while now, because we're both part of a writing group on Facebook (Moms Who Write) and her name pops up a lot over there. On Instagram, her posts and stories are always thoughtful and soothing, and I appreciate the break from the more chaotic elements of my feed. So when she sent out a request for ARC readers, I jumped at the chance. I read her book before the release date–and, yes, her first poetry collection is already available, so you could go grab it right this second–but life got in the way, so I'm a couple days late with this review. Which is why you've clicked this post, so here we go:
To start, the cover designer in me is in love with the outside of this book! I'm a minimalist by nature, and I'm so drawn to the delicate and elegant simplicity of this cover. And that warm, contemplative shade of blue? I'm a sucker for it. But, as you should expect, the cover isn't even the best part of this book.
Like I've stated before, I'm a picky and hard-to-please reader when it comes to poetry. I like work that is honest, thoughtful, accessible, and well-written. And Some Days Are Sandstone is all of those things. It's a collection of pieces that manages to feel cozy despite the themes of anxiety and mental health. While you feel the weight and even exhaustion behind some pieces, they are handled with a deftness that doesn't leave a reader feeling weighed down. There's a personable quality to each poem that makes the collective feel tangible instead of elusive.
I've read individual pieces by Abby Harding before, but it's clear from this collection that she is adept at using similes and metaphors. There's a natural and earthy beauty to her work that isn't quite like any poetry book I've read before. The poems are grounded in reality in such a way that the narratives and themes feel safe and like an intimate conversation. All in all, this would be an excellent read anytime, but I feel it is especially appropriate for the upcoming fall/winter.
Here's the blurb from Amazon, and a link to get your own copy:
"Following the flow of the seasons, Some Days Are Sandstone explores themes of self-discovery, mental health, and motherhood with grit and wit. This debut collection from Abby Harding draws on the natural world to produce insightful, confessional poetry that gently asks,
Who will I be tomorrow
because of the shape of today?"
If you're interested in following Abby Harding on Instagram, here's a link to her account:
Happy reading!
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