Attic Rain

by Samantha Jones

Genres: Poetry

87 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2024

Reviews

[Laura Frey (Reading in Bed) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea what these poems were about. Turns out they are about living with OCD focused on things that can go wrong in the home, like floods and fires. The fourth poem was about the exact thing that happened to me (fire that started in the kitchen) and all the things you could check before leaving to prevent it (that I didn't check!) After I got over that shock, I liked the variety of forms, including illustrations, the author uses to portray her thought patterns.

[Redfeather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book of poetry -from the written poems to the drawn ones, to the cool notes section and acknowledgments. I enjoyed all of it. I know I will reread this many times.
I

[Ann Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calgary-based writer and earth scientist Samantha Jones describes the poems in this collection as “autobiographical works that explore obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD),” based on her own lived experience.

The poems — and the accompanying illustrations that are sprinkled throughout the book — document the experience of obsessive thinking: the repeated spiralling around worries that may change or evolve but that never seem to go away; how it feels to be “stranded / in your own catastrophe,” as she puts it. The result is a remarkably creative collection that will resonate with anyone who has ever wrestled with oversized worries at 3 a.m.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really liked this collection. I thought it was raw, empowering, impactful. I felt like I was being seen for the first time, for doing things I hadn't really been able to articulate.

Some poems had stylistic choices I didn't love, but that's probably me more than anyone else.

[Reagan Kapasi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked: "I'm okay the way I am" sentiment throughout. Disliked: songs.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry written about OCD, often using forms that echo the actual experience of having OCD.
Well done!

[SadyeReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection I will revisit as I possibly come to terms with me maybe having OCD .

[Strawberry Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does a person navigate through daily life with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)? Samantha Jones gives you the chance to step into her shoes as she navigates through time and space within her home and the workplace.

You will find that this poetry style is lyrical in collaboration with drawings of a physical space. The style of writing reflects the mantra repeated after certain activities. One of the sections called ‘Incantations’ is exactly that. Repeating a collection of actions to ensure that the proper procedure is taken before leaving a space. Each poem in this section represents a room in the house or a commonly visited space like a Cafe. As someone who doesn’t have OCD and knows limited information about it, I never considered how disruptive vacations are. Samantha also shares the interconnections between OCD and self-compassion which is represented through less lyrical poems and charts (as seem in the drawing collection called “R2”).

This has been on my tbr for way too long and I wish I had gotten to this sooner. The poetry language is easy to follow and you can tell how much time was spent into this collection. Every detail leaves an impression that stays with you weeks after you finished reading the entire book. I think it’s fair to say that being welcomed briefly into someone’s mentally internal home is a honour not many of us encounter.