Growth

by Karin Cox

If the poet's job is to provide a reflection of an entire world in a single teardrop, Karin Cox's haunting anthology, "Growth," does so admirably.This collection of her finest poems—some previously published in anthologies around the world, others new; some rhyming, some free form—delivers beautiful sentiments, melancholy moments and some delightfully lyrical figurative language, all the while charting the poet's personal growth over several years.While introspective, Karin's work avoids self-obsession by interspersing political and broader global themes with the personal. What results is a whimsical anthology that brings to mind the challenges of just being human and fitting into a world that sometimes feels like a tight squeeze.A must-read for lovers of the English language and a wonderful gift for poetry aficionados, "Growth" will continue to bloom in the reader's mind long after the last page has been turned.

Genres: Poetry, Ebooks

39 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2011

About the author

KARIN COX is an Australian author who writes in her “spare time” while being a fulltime mum to two precocious girls and a black cat with the improbable name of "Ping Pong." She is the author of more than 50 trade-published titles, including children’s and adult fiction, biographies and travel guides, and Australian natural and social history texts, several of which are award-winning. Being so busy hopping from one genre to another, she runs almost wholly on white wine and insomnia, which could account for the cray-cray, but probably doesn’t.

Her poems and short stories have been published in anthologies worldwide, and her novels and anthologies GROWTH, CAGE LIFE, CROWS AND OTHER BEASTS, CRUXIM, CRECHE, CREED, DARK GUARDIANS and WHAT THE SEA WANTS are available from all good online distributors and bookstores. Titles in Karin’s bestselling DARK GUARDIANS trilogy have several times topped best-seller charts for gothic romance and dark fantasy.

FACEBOOK: http://smarturl.it/KCfacebook (approx. (www.facebook.com/KarinCox.Author)
TWITTER: http://smarturl.it/KCtwitter
(https://twitter.com/Authorandeditor)
WEBPAGE: http://smarturl.it/karin (www.karincox.com)
PINTEREST: http://pinterest.com/authorandeditor/
iGoogle: https://plus.google.com/u/0/

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got this for free from amazon a while back when my mother-in-law told me about it as the free book-of-the-day. I have gotten 3 or 4 poetry books in Kindle editions like that.

I enjoyed it.

[Veronica Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It feels like art

This poetry feels like art, it feels like the author really opens her soul and pours them on the pages. Although its a bit different than what I normally read, I definitely enjoyed this short poetry book.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karin Cox's Growth is a contemporary, eclectic collection of 30 poems that range in theme from scenes of everyday life, work, and England to Italian market shopping, childhood and memories of lovers. Cox is able to paint colourful images using descriptive language and plays on sound. Her short, powerful stanzas on nature and remembered love were among the most poignant: "Adriatic" and "Summer Picnic" were among my favorites of the collection. The sensuality in "Carnivorous" also made it a standout. The poem that will speak most directly to the experience readers will have with Cox's writing, and worth quoting, is this one:
Reader
You read my tale, your eyes relate
to heaven's hand of hieroglyphic stars.

[Jen Minkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a wonderful collection of poetry this is. I enjoyed reading this very much, although some of the poems seem to be so personal I cannot quite grasp what they are about. But some of them really struck a chord with me. The way you never truly let go of an ex-lover in your heart in 'Old Photo'. The way the poet reminds us of our smallness and life cut short in 'Immortality.' The sensual way she describes making love in 'Carnivorous'. I highly recommend this poetry book!

[Jordan · Rating 1 out of 5]

There were a few sentences I enjoyed within this book but for the most part I didn’t find myself moved by the poems. Not my cup of tea, though I usually love poetry— I just couldn’t connect to this writing style.

[Tehnehn Kaijaah Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

I just didn't connect with the poems. They were not bad but also did not move me in any way. I would have stopped reading it halfway but its so short and I hoped it would get better. I only reached to one line in the work. Its just not my cup of tea.

[Maryann Gestwicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I read a book by this author. I got free through Amazon. There were quite a few lines that were electric & twisted, scattered throughout this collection of poetry, that I had to reread them because are inspiring to reread. the list of poems that liked: Writer's Block, On Wishing I Could Draw, Through The Wall, Surrey Winter, The Adriatic, Playthings, Reader, In Sari, I love this line: 'They washed your sins clean with dreams.'

[Megan Diedericks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growth is a stunning read!

There were many beautiful, and hard-hitting, standout lines—I think Karin Cox's poetry in this collection is very authentic and raw.

Some of my favorite pieces are: Just a Word, Writer's Block, Old Photo, and Cancer.

“A stranger
I walk among you,
translucent as a spirit,
dead as the Dreaming.” (from Homecoming)

[Briar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked a couple of the poems in this short collection, but it wasn't really for me. I think I picked this up free at some point and just found it again while going through my ancient Kindle orders. Back when I got it, I probably would have enjoyed it more, but I've changed since then and so has my taste in poetry.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

While some of Cox's poetry is not typical of what I would seek out, I found her poetry both lovely and honest in the poet's beliefs. It was lovely to have read her poetry and branch outside of the writings I had grown accustomed and comfortable with. Her poetry was skillfully designed and most certainly should be worth more than the $0.00 you can get it for on Amazon.

[Gary Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, amusing and effectively passionate ... I'll be reading these again.

A collection of 30 short, quite readable poems, with varied line length and occasional rhyme. Her phrasings are refreshing, seemingly based on real-world observation, and quite satisfactory in the interactions of making love. Particularly recommended is that named "Carnivorous".

[Tyler Hill · Rating 1 out of 5]

“There’s nothing more to life than but to smile.
Smile constantly, for others and yourself.
Smile prettily and force your eyes to dance.
Smile for loss of hope and joke of chance.
When you’re sobbing inside, force a grin.
When you feel like screaming, make a joke.
Smile until your head aches; laugh until you choke.”

I didn’t like this one, forced my way through it.

[Ashley (pagesofhorror) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sort of like the last book of poetry I read, i enjoyed some of the poems but not all of them. This one was better to me though. I liked a few more of the poems, and I thought they were lovely. Edited to add that my rating is 3.5 instead of 3.

[Kassandra Philogene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetic Delivery at its Best!

I really like reading the poems. The poem that really touched me the most was Cancer. It definitely makes you look at how a person can smile through this sickness while fighting it head on and not letting it defeat him or her.

[Alyssa Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I did have some poems stick out to me but forgot to actually highlight them. But I can see myself re-reading this book in the future. I found myself connecting to some of the poetry as well as the writing style. I enjoyed it.

[Denyse Springs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uncommon

I didn't relate to this set of poems like I do other ones but I still enjoyed the ride of the writes stories and words. Poems are supposed to make you think an d I might've not been able to relate that doesn't undermine the words being read.

[Anne (Angel Anne Reviews) Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a amazing short of poems by one of my long time favorite authors.

To be honest I forgot I had it on my Kindle until I came across the other night. I'm so used to reading her full length novels.

[Kate (The Bookaholic Blurbs) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'd like to say I enjoyed it but it isn't relatable. Maybe it's just me. Dunno.

[Mish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like some of the poems but majority didn't made an impact to me. But it was a good poetry book.

[Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous

Very well written and easy to this and read aloud. Lovely and beauty in prose nothing too over the head of for from reality.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

didn't care for this one

[KA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of the poems are not understandable because of the use of words.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The formatting wasn't bad, but the content was underwhelming and not unique.

[Yari Roncone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I love reading others poetry. I also write my own. Your poems are inspiring. Thank you for sharing them with us :)

[Zinzee Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the rhymes

It wasn't my favorite or things that I can relate to but I really enjoyed the rhymes. Continue doing what you does best.

[Chasity Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

I absolutely enjoyed reading the poems within this collection. Each poem an different story than the next. And beautifully written

[Angela Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice collection. Lovely poems that connect beautifully with real life.

[Momo · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me

DNF
I’m sure someone will enjoy this but it wasn’t for me personally. I love the cover though I think it looks really nice! :)

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt poetry

Beautiful words expressed from within. Can't exactly relate but I felt inspired while reading. Keep doing what you do.
All the best.