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Fabric
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2012)A rich collection of poems that take the reader on a deep tour of the psyche. Charting and moving across politics of language, Bell explores love, pain, failure and redemption from a variety of angles. Most of the poems sit at the fragile threshold of instinct and meaning, using symbol and sensation to get to the shock of denouement. From 'Spandex' to the Greek kafeneion, there are unexpected juxtapositions and discoveries to be found in Jessica Bell's 'Fabric'. This voice is equally inspired by the quotidian, Greek jargon words, and the mythic figures of Echo and Narcissus, Aphrodite, and, of course, Euterpe, the muse of music and the lyric. The interstices of the so-called ordinary with the always larger dramas of feeling and its consequences are among the subjects this young poet explores in her vivid weave of language.
- GenresPoetry
78 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2012
About the author
Jessica Bell
73 books499 followersJessica Bell is a multi-award-winning author/poet and singer-songwriter who was born in Melbourne, Australia.
In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica.
She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves despite her consistently teaching by example.
For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com
In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica.
She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves despite her consistently teaching by example.
For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 17, 2012
In Julia Kristeva's New Maladies of the Soul, a question is posed about the relationship between the body and the mind; biology and representation. Kristeva suggests that it is in the play between an essentially female politic, emotional/physical pain, physical desire, and perception, where new meaning is created. This is the landscape of Jessica Bell's Fabric, a forthcoming collection of poetry. The book explores multiple identities and perspectives, some soft and maternal, and others harsh and vindictive. All of the poems go deep into the heart of emotion, charting a story of disappointment, longing, betrayal with a multi-sensual approach: seeing with fingers, knitting regret, and swallowing regret with pride.
Jessica Bell pulls no punches with her words that always seek to strip off surface veneer, sometimes literally, as in "Bandages":
The book is divided into four parts, each with seven poems, pivoting around the themes of "me," "you," "us," and "them." The tone of each section is slightly different, driven by the seven haiku, set sideways on the seven windows that precede each section.
Though written for English speakers, the poems are enriched by Greek words of endearment and respect like Yiayia and Papou (Grandma and Grandpa), of place - Monemvasia, of mythology - Euterpe, Echo and Narcissus and Athena, of scent and flavour with thick Greek coffee and Halva, and even of sarcasm and humour with Malaka (jerk). The book ends with an appendix that defines and clarifies the Greek words.
The more bittter poems hinge on relationships such as the sting in "Goat Skin Beer Holder":
or on poor parenting, such as disgust that underpins "Not Who I Thought You Were", the self-defeating rage of "Flesh", the moment's pause in "Postpartum", or the twisted regret of "Mama's Confession":
Not all of the poems in Fabric are angry. Some of best poems in the collection are tender: nostalgia mingling with regret. There were be few readers who couldn't relate to that sense of loss that underscores "Mustard":
Similarly, a grandmother's home-made halva creates a Proustian series of images that drive the reader towards the immortality of DNA, love and care:
Jessica Bell's Fabric is a rich collection of poems that take the reader on a deep tour of the psyche. Charting and moving across a politic of language, Bell explores love, pain, failure and redemption from a variety of angles. Most of the poems sit at the fragile threshold of instinct and meaning, using symbol and sensation to get to the shock of denouement. This is a significant collection that bears multiple readings, each time yielding something fresh.
Jessica Bell pulls no punches with her words that always seek to strip off surface veneer, sometimes literally, as in "Bandages":
Undress.
I want to see how you tear;
how She mummified
your intangible life. (14)
The book is divided into four parts, each with seven poems, pivoting around the themes of "me," "you," "us," and "them." The tone of each section is slightly different, driven by the seven haiku, set sideways on the seven windows that precede each section.
Though written for English speakers, the poems are enriched by Greek words of endearment and respect like Yiayia and Papou (Grandma and Grandpa), of place - Monemvasia, of mythology - Euterpe, Echo and Narcissus and Athena, of scent and flavour with thick Greek coffee and Halva, and even of sarcasm and humour with Malaka (jerk). The book ends with an appendix that defines and clarifies the Greek words.
The more bittter poems hinge on relationships such as the sting in "Goat Skin Beer Holder":
You smack your lips
to the rhythms you chew
and sniff your snot
like leftovers. (18)
or on poor parenting, such as disgust that underpins "Not Who I Thought You Were", the self-defeating rage of "Flesh", the moment's pause in "Postpartum", or the twisted regret of "Mama's Confession":
The old maid’s weapons
are blunt; brittle—painted
with layers and layers of pearl (7)
Not all of the poems in Fabric are angry. Some of best poems in the collection are tender: nostalgia mingling with regret. There were be few readers who couldn't relate to that sense of loss that underscores "Mustard":
You winked.
Your needles clicked.
But I saw scorn
and squinted at you,
sucking my tongue
to the roof
of my mouth,
thinking
you were trying
to outdo my knitting skills.
You were dying.
You didn’t tell me. (16)
Similarly, a grandmother's home-made halva creates a Proustian series of images that drive the reader towards the immortality of DNA, love and care:
Every day I’d watch
you press baked almonds
into the squishy centers
of the diamond-shaped
brown sweets.
You were granting them hearts.
And that’s when you’d bring out the sugar.
And a sieve.
And sprinkle your name all over my world. (12)
Jessica Bell's Fabric is a rich collection of poems that take the reader on a deep tour of the psyche. Charting and moving across a politic of language, Bell explores love, pain, failure and redemption from a variety of angles. Most of the poems sit at the fragile threshold of instinct and meaning, using symbol and sensation to get to the shock of denouement. This is a significant collection that bears multiple readings, each time yielding something fresh.
April 16, 2012
After reading Jessica Bell's first book of poetry, Twisted Velvet Chains, I was looking forward to delving into more of her powerful, lyrical poems. I certainly wasn't disappointed.
The interior of Fabric is beautifully formatted and arranged, luring the reader in as soon as you open the cover. Drawing heavily on Greek terminology and mythology, Bell's poems are an assault to the senses. This is writing that you cannot be neutral about. Bell demands a response and, in my opinion, demands to be read.
The interior of Fabric is beautifully formatted and arranged, luring the reader in as soon as you open the cover. Drawing heavily on Greek terminology and mythology, Bell's poems are an assault to the senses. This is writing that you cannot be neutral about. Bell demands a response and, in my opinion, demands to be read.
September 26, 2013
An interesting poetic style, strong and intense, making some of the poems dark-edged. Imaginatively set out and worth a second read, especially after the author's notes and glossary at the end. The concept of our imperfections being part of the fabric of our lives added clarity to some of more esoteric poems. As someone who did evolutionary astrology charts for many years before turning to writing, the discussion on the numerological significance of the number 7 was fascinating, as was the structure and content of this thought-provoking collection of poems.
April 17, 2012
In an appealing format with Greek text sprinkled throughout, Fabric is a beautiful new poetry collection from prolific musician and author, Jessica Bell.
I've always been jealous of poets. And more than that, those with such a lyrical ability to capture life on page in the same simplicity that I might take a breath. I'm jealous of people like Jessica Bell. In Fabric, page after page, she transcribes her life down to the simplest detail with an eye of grace. Each poem averages the length of one page, just enough to tell a story in a few seconds. She covers her life in Greece—little things like butter knives, women making baklava, flying scarves, skinny dipping in blue waters. She captures it all with her own style of femininity and a little touch of morbidness that sometimes equates to humor, sometimes sadness.
Perhaps because of her musical background, Jessica Bell has a lovely way with alliteration. Her words smack like bubble gum, and deliver the tiny intricacies of everyday life in flowing, beautiful form. It was a pleasure to read.
I've always been jealous of poets. And more than that, those with such a lyrical ability to capture life on page in the same simplicity that I might take a breath. I'm jealous of people like Jessica Bell. In Fabric, page after page, she transcribes her life down to the simplest detail with an eye of grace. Each poem averages the length of one page, just enough to tell a story in a few seconds. She covers her life in Greece—little things like butter knives, women making baklava, flying scarves, skinny dipping in blue waters. She captures it all with her own style of femininity and a little touch of morbidness that sometimes equates to humor, sometimes sadness.
Perhaps because of her musical background, Jessica Bell has a lovely way with alliteration. Her words smack like bubble gum, and deliver the tiny intricacies of everyday life in flowing, beautiful form. It was a pleasure to read.
June 7, 2012
Jessica Bell's new poetry collection, Fabric, is full of life. It reads like little stories in the lilt and cadence of her tone and voice with raw emotions ranging from anguish to giddyness to satire.
I am not a poetry reader, I really wish I were and that I had the ability to put words like that onto paper. I would love to let my inner self flow like that. But even though it's not my thing, I couldn't put Jessica's book down. I thought I would spend a few days, savoring a poem here or there. But I never stopped. And even after, I went back to taste again on a few of my favorites. I particularly love one called 'Once.' It goes forward and then takes the same lines backward - what artistry to make that happen, and then I found even more meaning behind it in the appendix. Stunning!
I am not a poetry reader, I really wish I were and that I had the ability to put words like that onto paper. I would love to let my inner self flow like that. But even though it's not my thing, I couldn't put Jessica's book down. I thought I would spend a few days, savoring a poem here or there. But I never stopped. And even after, I went back to taste again on a few of my favorites. I particularly love one called 'Once.' It goes forward and then takes the same lines backward - what artistry to make that happen, and then I found even more meaning behind it in the appendix. Stunning!
May 20, 2012
Very vivid, lyrical, well-woven words to describe scenes, feelings and emotions. I always get engrossed reading Jessica's poems..I get lost in her world, that I don't stop. Her first poetry book, Twisted Velvet Chains does the same to me each time I open it on my Kindle. Yes, I still read it, over and over.
Jessica's poetry always inspires. This one in particular is very engaging. Each page gets into different points in people's lives, making it so different from any other poetry books I've read so far. This is a book for people who love not just poems, but words, beautiful, lyrical, descriptive words about life. It's a book full of heart and requires to be read.
Jessica's poetry always inspires. This one in particular is very engaging. Each page gets into different points in people's lives, making it so different from any other poetry books I've read so far. This is a book for people who love not just poems, but words, beautiful, lyrical, descriptive words about life. It's a book full of heart and requires to be read.
October 29, 2012
Jessica Bell's second collection of poems takes a look at life from a peculiarly Greek perspective. Broken into four sections--me, you, us and them (each section containing seven poems prefixed by seven haiku)--she unravels the fabric of modern life. There are hermits, crazies, murderers, abusers, failed parents, needy people, Nazis, sick people, the suicidal, the depressed--as well as the odd, sweet grandchild. On her blog Jessica writes "if you read Fabric, you're not reading poetry, you're reading about people"
Read my full review on my blog here.
Read my full review on my blog here.
August 23, 2012
Good reads win: This was such a a well put together and lovely work of poetry. It's a first for me to be reading this author's work and I just have to say I became a fan. The poems are for the most part pretty dark and very personal. I have to say this will be one of my books that I will reread from time to time.
April 25, 2012
GORGEOUS!
Fabric reads like a series of snapshots of important scenes from different lives. Sometimes they're right when the thing happens, other times they're reflections. And then some are little stories told from a glance, like side-view images.
It's extremely accessible, so don't think, "Oh. Poetry." (Trust me on this.)
My favorites are the ones that look back on a situation the speaker misunderstood, like in the poem "Mustard," where the speaker's nemesis is not what she seems. POWERFUL.
I tend to miss critical moments when they happen, and upon reflection, I realize how I really felt about them. Bell captures that beautifully in 500 words or less.
FAVORITE LINES:
"I hope prison treats you better than I did."
"The gravel shines like clusters of black diamonds. It was summer. I wasn't afraid."
"You hold my hand as if holding heartache--careful."
Uhh! See what I'm saying?
In one, Bell uses a butter knife to trace a path, and in another she writes the same lines in and out--like the reflection on a lake ("Once"). And I just adored every word of "Spandex," and ... OK, this was supposed to be a short review.
Seriously, if you only have ONE collection of poetry, this should be it. It's like a tray of the best chocolate in the world sitting on your counter and any random moment, you can pick it up and read a poem and have this amazing experience.
Fabric reads like a series of snapshots of important scenes from different lives. Sometimes they're right when the thing happens, other times they're reflections. And then some are little stories told from a glance, like side-view images.
It's extremely accessible, so don't think, "Oh. Poetry." (Trust me on this.)
My favorites are the ones that look back on a situation the speaker misunderstood, like in the poem "Mustard," where the speaker's nemesis is not what she seems. POWERFUL.
I tend to miss critical moments when they happen, and upon reflection, I realize how I really felt about them. Bell captures that beautifully in 500 words or less.
FAVORITE LINES:
"I hope prison treats you better than I did."
"The gravel shines like clusters of black diamonds. It was summer. I wasn't afraid."
"You hold my hand as if holding heartache--careful."
Uhh! See what I'm saying?
In one, Bell uses a butter knife to trace a path, and in another she writes the same lines in and out--like the reflection on a lake ("Once"). And I just adored every word of "Spandex," and ... OK, this was supposed to be a short review.
Seriously, if you only have ONE collection of poetry, this should be it. It's like a tray of the best chocolate in the world sitting on your counter and any random moment, you can pick it up and read a poem and have this amazing experience.
April 20, 2012
This is the second of Jessica Bell's poetic compelations that I have had the pleasure to read.
As with 'Twisted Velvet Chains', Ms Bell's 'Fabric' commands your attention with her thought provoking and often knife edged observations and imagery.
'Fabric' draws upon Greek mythology, language and to some extent the country's political landscape. It is powerfully written and if I had to choose just one poem to highlight, it has to be 'Not Who I Thought You Were'.
Don't worry if you're not up on your Greek mythology etc. Ms Bell has included a comprehensive Appendix at the end of the book.
Definitely a poetry book designed to provoke/promote a response and worth reading, at least once.
As with 'Twisted Velvet Chains', Ms Bell's 'Fabric' commands your attention with her thought provoking and often knife edged observations and imagery.
'Fabric' draws upon Greek mythology, language and to some extent the country's political landscape. It is powerfully written and if I had to choose just one poem to highlight, it has to be 'Not Who I Thought You Were'.
Don't worry if you're not up on your Greek mythology etc. Ms Bell has included a comprehensive Appendix at the end of the book.
Definitely a poetry book designed to provoke/promote a response and worth reading, at least once.
June 1, 2012
While I read Jessica Bell’s FABRIC I was constantly amazed by her juxtaposition of words. Her word choice and style are beautiful and haunting. I found myself rereading the poems, and I’ll probably read this book at another time to dive back into Bell’s lyricism.
April 18, 2012
Absolutely loved and devoured this poetry collection.
May 14, 2012
I absolutely loved this collection! It only took a few lines for me to become engrossed in the world Jessica Bell has created in Fabric and I know for a fact I'll be reading it more than once.
October 31, 2012
Fearless, visceral, vivid, and gorgeous, Fabric is an emotional blockbuster. Jessica's poems make a reader truly feel, and will you draw you into their depths like a beautiful lover.
June 5, 2012
Although I'm not a poetry reader, there were some really unique poems.
December 28, 2020
Ich mochte es, obwohl mein beschränkter englischer Wortschatz wohl keine abschließende Beurteilung zulässt. Es sind einige schöne Bilder darin, die Gedankenwendungen oder Knoten verursachen.
February 20, 2021
Some poetry books I put down after a single read, or I donate. This one, I read over and over and I have favorites. It has life and flavor. It has femme and a certain vibration about it.
Wonderful book of fresh takes.
Wonderful book of fresh takes.
January 24, 2013
If you like modern poetry you will love this book. I did. This book was Nominated for Goodreads best poetry book 2012.
Charles Johnson Author of
Love Poems and More From the Heart and Soul of Man
Charles Johnson Author of
Love Poems and More From the Heart and Soul of Man
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November 22, 2012Hey, Everyone! Please check out my latest interview with Australian poet Jessica Bell as we discuss her second collection of poetry Fabric (Vine Leaves Press, 2011). Read it now on my TTQ Blog. http://thetorontoquarterly.blogspot.c...
March 13, 2015
Very intense and imaginative poetry by Jessica Bell. Though some parts are a bit hard to follow, it certainly deserves a second and third read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews