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Escapism: Words + Photos
This is a story about love and loss. This full-color book is a collection of poems and landscape photographs--all written, shot, and arranged by the author.
Composed in the style of a memoir, she shares her experiences through words and photos. This window into her emotions reveals the dark side of love as it narrates the journey through relationships, friendships, it's-complicated-ships, and self-identity. But really, it's a story about finding beauty in pain through growth.
Note from the author:
"Everybody hurts. But not everyone is willing to share their pain from weak moments. It's difficult to put it all out there. I believe, these are the moments that mark beginnings of transformation. I hope this book helps people feel a little less lonely and a little more inspired. We all feel it."
Photographs include: Yosemite NP; Antelope Island SP; Anza-Borrego Desert SP; Death Valley NP; Glacier NP; Grand Teton NP; Lake Tahoe, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Olympic NP; Pacific NW beaches; Provincetown, MA; Saguaro NP; Saratoga Springs, UT; Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP; Sierra Nevadas; White Sands NM; Yellowstone NP; and more.
Composed in the style of a memoir, she shares her experiences through words and photos. This window into her emotions reveals the dark side of love as it narrates the journey through relationships, friendships, it's-complicated-ships, and self-identity. But really, it's a story about finding beauty in pain through growth.
Note from the author:
"Everybody hurts. But not everyone is willing to share their pain from weak moments. It's difficult to put it all out there. I believe, these are the moments that mark beginnings of transformation. I hope this book helps people feel a little less lonely and a little more inspired. We all feel it."
Photographs include: Yosemite NP; Antelope Island SP; Anza-Borrego Desert SP; Death Valley NP; Glacier NP; Grand Teton NP; Lake Tahoe, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Olympic NP; Pacific NW beaches; Provincetown, MA; Saguaro NP; Saratoga Springs, UT; Sequoia & Kings Canyon NP; Sierra Nevadas; White Sands NM; Yellowstone NP; and more.
- GenresPoetry
160 pages, Paperback
Published September 30, 2016
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About the author
Candice Lee
1 book46 followersCandice Lee is a photographer and writer from Los Angeles, California. "Escapism" is a poetry/photography book and is her first publication. As an avid hiker and nature enthusiast, she frequently ventures off into the wilderness where she shoots and writes most of her work.
Instagram: escapismphotos
Instagram: escapismphotos
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
October 27, 2016
This is a story of a life, of struggles and finding self and the beauty of life - and nature. For when Lee needs to think and heal most, she heads to nature, specifically, to our national parks and other outdoor spaces. A poet, photographer, a phenomenologist digging deep, Lee beautifully shares her life.
This is everything - about life, about growing and relationships and change, about finding solace in nature - paired with extraordinary photos that show us the grace of our world.
Wherever you are in your life, in both inner and outer journeys, this book will help you illuminate your own journeys. Highly recommended.
Read our author interview: https://www.wanderingeducators.com/be...
This is everything - about life, about growing and relationships and change, about finding solace in nature - paired with extraordinary photos that show us the grace of our world.
Wherever you are in your life, in both inner and outer journeys, this book will help you illuminate your own journeys. Highly recommended.
Read our author interview: https://www.wanderingeducators.com/be...
March 3, 2021
I wasn't sure what to expect from Candice Lee's book, Escapism: Words + Photos. I'd never heard of the author, and purchased the book because of the sub-title, "Words + Photos." Fortunately, this turned out to be one impulse buy that I do not regret.
Straight off, I really loved the photography. Every image was beautiful and added value to the whole. The images were well composed and authentic. Not fake, or manipulated as so much is today. Take the image of the horse grazing in front of the house with mountains in the background (it accompanies the poem "Pressure"), there is a power line/telephone line running diagonally through the image. Aesthetically, this isn't ideal, but it is authentic. I have always preferred the world as it is to some manipulated and idealised fantasy, especially when the medium of record is photography. Other photographs in the book were downright gorgeous! The one that immediately comes to mind was almost all sky in subtle grades from blue at the top to pink at the bottom with hills and a sunlit monolith occupying the lower sixth of the frame. It's a very beautiful image, but it isn't uniquely beautiful in the context of Escapism.
Like the images, I also found myself enjoying the poetry. The words didn't feel earth shattering in their form, structure, or content, at least initially, but they shared the authors journey in the way a good story would. Also, like the photography, Lee's poetry felt authentic--not contrived. It was compelling enough to keep me interested, reading, and looking forward to more. It offered the depth one would hope for, while exploring relationships, and the emotions they engender. The more I read, the more her poetry seemed to take on a cadence and rhythm. There was even rhyme in places, but it was not regular, or expected. At some point in the read, I realised that I was hearing her words with an, almost, rap-like rhythm. The poem Passive is an example of a straight forward, tell it like it is, piece of poetry/prose. It was, like the author's photography, straight up--honest.
The author's work is not selfish. It is deeply thoughtful. Take the poem "Final Parting Words," I love how Lee takes a personal betrayal and frames it as a betrayal of "us." This is not superficial. Lee understands how a person's actions don't just affect the people they are directed at. They also affect the person delivering them, and everyone party to them. This is well considered work, with a depth worth noting.
I also like how the book concluded. I won't spoil it here, but I will say that it felt like something of an epiphany. There was a sort of resolution in understanding the nature of the game, or of life, perhaps--not explained but sensed.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It told a story, in many ways beautifully, while never rejecting hope or possibility. It didn't embrace a judgmental feeling, and it wasn't self defeating. It was, ultimately searching, and compelling. Escapism: Words and Photos is a solid four stars for me.
Straight off, I really loved the photography. Every image was beautiful and added value to the whole. The images were well composed and authentic. Not fake, or manipulated as so much is today. Take the image of the horse grazing in front of the house with mountains in the background (it accompanies the poem "Pressure"), there is a power line/telephone line running diagonally through the image. Aesthetically, this isn't ideal, but it is authentic. I have always preferred the world as it is to some manipulated and idealised fantasy, especially when the medium of record is photography. Other photographs in the book were downright gorgeous! The one that immediately comes to mind was almost all sky in subtle grades from blue at the top to pink at the bottom with hills and a sunlit monolith occupying the lower sixth of the frame. It's a very beautiful image, but it isn't uniquely beautiful in the context of Escapism.
Like the images, I also found myself enjoying the poetry. The words didn't feel earth shattering in their form, structure, or content, at least initially, but they shared the authors journey in the way a good story would. Also, like the photography, Lee's poetry felt authentic--not contrived. It was compelling enough to keep me interested, reading, and looking forward to more. It offered the depth one would hope for, while exploring relationships, and the emotions they engender. The more I read, the more her poetry seemed to take on a cadence and rhythm. There was even rhyme in places, but it was not regular, or expected. At some point in the read, I realised that I was hearing her words with an, almost, rap-like rhythm. The poem Passive is an example of a straight forward, tell it like it is, piece of poetry/prose. It was, like the author's photography, straight up--honest.
The author's work is not selfish. It is deeply thoughtful. Take the poem "Final Parting Words," I love how Lee takes a personal betrayal and frames it as a betrayal of "us." This is not superficial. Lee understands how a person's actions don't just affect the people they are directed at. They also affect the person delivering them, and everyone party to them. This is well considered work, with a depth worth noting.
I also like how the book concluded. I won't spoil it here, but I will say that it felt like something of an epiphany. There was a sort of resolution in understanding the nature of the game, or of life, perhaps--not explained but sensed.
All in all, I enjoyed this book. It told a story, in many ways beautifully, while never rejecting hope or possibility. It didn't embrace a judgmental feeling, and it wasn't self defeating. It was, ultimately searching, and compelling. Escapism: Words and Photos is a solid four stars for me.
August 10, 2017
Full review on my blog: Caffeinated Bibliophile.
I love the photography in this book, and I enjoyed a fair bit of the poetry. It didn't blow me away, or affect me the way I expect poetry to affect me, but I think it might have if I'd more recently experienced a breakup.
I hate reviewing poetry like this because you can tell it’s so personal to the poet, but, because it’s so personal, not all if it will work for everyone else. The poetry wasn’t general, exploring heartbreak broadly, but quite specific. I think that’s why I had such a difficult time relating to it.
So, I did like this poetry book, but I was definitely not the target audience. Still, I did highlight a few parts that spoke to me.
I received a free copy to review from a goodreads giveaway
I love the photography in this book, and I enjoyed a fair bit of the poetry. It didn't blow me away, or affect me the way I expect poetry to affect me, but I think it might have if I'd more recently experienced a breakup.
I hate reviewing poetry like this because you can tell it’s so personal to the poet, but, because it’s so personal, not all if it will work for everyone else. The poetry wasn’t general, exploring heartbreak broadly, but quite specific. I think that’s why I had such a difficult time relating to it.
So, I did like this poetry book, but I was definitely not the target audience. Still, I did highlight a few parts that spoke to me.
I received a free copy to review from a goodreads giveaway
July 28, 2017
*I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads first reads*
This book is beautiful; great quality. I really enjoyed the varying layouts of the photographs and most of them were quite stunning. I'm giving this only three stars because, although deeply personal, the actual poetry sounded very juvenile and I just couldn't connect with anything written. I feel like poetry should summon at least SOME emotion and this just didn't for me.
This book is beautiful; great quality. I really enjoyed the varying layouts of the photographs and most of them were quite stunning. I'm giving this only three stars because, although deeply personal, the actual poetry sounded very juvenile and I just couldn't connect with anything written. I feel like poetry should summon at least SOME emotion and this just didn't for me.
June 15, 2017
This is a beautiful book, inside and out! I found it inspiring and have passed it on to a friend who is going through a difficult time. I received this beautifully inscribed book through a goodreads giveaway, which did not affect my review. A word of caution: the slightest trace of natural skin oils leave marks on the white cover. So, if you have a criminal record... ;)
July 14, 2017
This book was beautifully written and gracefully depicted with the authors photographs. You can discern your feelings with the writer as she expresses her loss and love through her relationships and her own self. Loved the rawness and vulnerability expressed in this book. Let's us feel like we're not alone.
July 16, 2017
I received a free advance review copy of Escapism: Words + Photos by Candice Lee through a goodreads giveaway. This does not effect my review. Escapism is book of poetry and photography that is beautifully compiled. The poems are a glimpse into the authors soul as she experiences growth through love and the pain of loss. She wonderfully shares feelings many of us have a hard time expressing.
July 28, 2017
I won this book from Goodreads. The book was well-written and the poems were interesting, but I found them very depressing. They resulted from relationships and breakups. I hope that the author has some happier times ahead. The pictures were beautiful and blended very well with the writings. I can see where this work would be very cathartic.
July 19, 2017
~Disclaimer I received this book for free~
The photos in this book are lovely. Makes you want to visit some of the locations.
The poetry is good too. It's about breakups and emotions. Something I think most everyone can relate to. If you like poetry and photography give it a try.
The photos in this book are lovely. Makes you want to visit some of the locations.
The poetry is good too. It's about breakups and emotions. Something I think most everyone can relate to. If you like poetry and photography give it a try.
April 3, 2019
I like the simple elegance of the poetry. I've felt most of what the author has felt. The poem on page 109, really stood out to me. I am that person as well. I don't really see the connection between the photos and the writing. They are beautiful photographs though and I enjoyed looking at them.
May 31, 2017
Great book
April 2, 2019
Between the words coming from the heart & photographs....job well done!
My absolute favs were Fractals & Piano Man ❤️
My absolute favs were Fractals & Piano Man ❤️
April 18, 2019
Escapism is all about a love that was thought to be forever and how the author never got over the breakup and the hurt she felt.
September 24, 2021
Phenomenal. Beautiful.
May 21, 2017
My copy was provided via a Goodreads FR giveaway. It is a book focused on poetry and complemented by photographs taken by the author. The book is full of imagery by focusing on certain persons who made an impact in the author's life. The accompanying photos brought the author's words in 'color' and shaped the mental images that reading the author's poetry gave me. Not to say that all imagery were positive, but even the 'darkness' experienced by the author brought 'life' to them.
I enjoyed reading the author's poetry and appreciated the photos within the book. Definitely a four-stars rating from me!
I enjoyed reading the author's poetry and appreciated the photos within the book. Definitely a four-stars rating from me!
December 12, 2019
This book left me feeling disconnected and a little lost. Many of the poems were vague and open to interpretation, meaning that a lot of the narrative got broken and distorted on the journey through the book.
As a result, I struggled to understand the aim of the poetry, and therefore the collection as a whole. Much of the poetry felt samey and, in all honesty, a little childish. It's also clear to see that the process of creating this book must have been very cathartic for the author, yet it also felt very personal - to the extent that I felt a little awkward reading it!
My favourite aspect of Escapism was the photography. Candice Lee is clearly a skilled landscape photographer, and her style of photography lends itself very well to the bleak, melancholic nature of her poetry. I felt the two art forms went hand in hand brilliantly, yet I also enjoyed looking at the photos on their own merits, too.
I finished Escapism left in a rather reflective and melancholic mood, brought on by the sadness seeping from between the pages of the book.
As a result, I struggled to understand the aim of the poetry, and therefore the collection as a whole. Much of the poetry felt samey and, in all honesty, a little childish. It's also clear to see that the process of creating this book must have been very cathartic for the author, yet it also felt very personal - to the extent that I felt a little awkward reading it!
My favourite aspect of Escapism was the photography. Candice Lee is clearly a skilled landscape photographer, and her style of photography lends itself very well to the bleak, melancholic nature of her poetry. I felt the two art forms went hand in hand brilliantly, yet I also enjoyed looking at the photos on their own merits, too.
I finished Escapism left in a rather reflective and melancholic mood, brought on by the sadness seeping from between the pages of the book.
January 2, 2020
This is a perfectly nice book but I personally wouldn't say anything beyond that.
My main issue with it was the fact that I felt disconnected from it, when I felt that that was the whole point of the book.
The single quote on the back reads:
"We all feel it."
I would have liked to know more, more about her relationships so that they didn't all merge into one and more about the pictures she chose because they too all seemed sort of similar to me.
However, I think it's also fair to say that I'm really young and I haven't experienced as much in terms of relationships and maybe that's why the book didn't make as much of an impression on me as it has on others.
My main issue with it was the fact that I felt disconnected from it, when I felt that that was the whole point of the book.
The single quote on the back reads:
"We all feel it."
I would have liked to know more, more about her relationships so that they didn't all merge into one and more about the pictures she chose because they too all seemed sort of similar to me.
However, I think it's also fair to say that I'm really young and I haven't experienced as much in terms of relationships and maybe that's why the book didn't make as much of an impression on me as it has on others.
November 8, 2016
3.5 stars
Review to come soon
Review to come soon
July 9, 2018
Lovely little book with poetry and photos that clearly show the author’s heart.
April 22, 2017
Escapism: Words + Photos by Candice Lee is a enthralling collection of poems and photography. Each piece is filled with the writer's emotions as she gives her readers a piece of herself. Each photograph is breathtaking and almost otherworldly.
April 26, 2017
I received an advance review copy through Goodreads Giveaways.
I appreciated that this collection was assembled with a lot of intention, from the layout to the quality of the paper itself. The book was filled with beautiful photographs, and a lot of the poetry is rich in imagery and resonance. I'll enjoy rereading this in the future.
I appreciated that this collection was assembled with a lot of intention, from the layout to the quality of the paper itself. The book was filled with beautiful photographs, and a lot of the poetry is rich in imagery and resonance. I'll enjoy rereading this in the future.
May 11, 2017
Received a copy from a goodreads giveaway.
This book is absolutely gorgeous. I really enjoyed it.
This book is absolutely gorgeous. I really enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews