Doll Shaker

by Casey Renee Kiser, Jasmyn Taylor Givens (illustrator), Anthony Eusanio (Contributor)

'Doll Shaker' is an exploration of one's identity crisis from the lingering effects of emotional abuse as a child and how it ties in later with sex and relationships.
Descend into a strange little world of isolation, imagination and confession, where souls have been sent into the void due to intense emotional abuse. CRK's tenth collection of poetry is, as usual, disturbing and perversely offbeat. 'Doll Shaker' is sure to capture you with its uncomfortable humor and an uncompromising perception of truth as a darkly poetic and vivid horror show. The metaphors overflow and the house is ready to blow. Take a peek, if you dare, it's just us dolls here...

“Casey Renee is totally out there on the edge. The poetry is part Mommie Dearest, part Whatever Happened to Baby Jane.” —Misfit Magazine

Genres: Poetry

30 pages, Paperback

Published January 17, 2017

About the author

Casey Renee Kiser, a.k.a. snail viXen,
is an American poet who tends to explore identity and suicidal tendencies in connection with emotional and psychological abuse, the journey to self-love, and healing from complicated relationships. Her style is quite lyrical; street-quirk confessional, while her humor is cunty and confrontational, often abrupt but always unsettling. She has written over 20 poetry collections and sprinkled the realm of indie-punk lit, transgressive small press and zines. Her latest collaboration with J.J. Campbell, Altered States of the Unflinching Souls is available now.

She is editor at RaVenGh o s+ Press and has appeared in Mad Swirl, Holy&Intoxicated Publications, The Legendary, Horror Sleaze Trash, Black Petals Lit, Villain Era, Pyre Publishing, Fevers of the Mind, Paper and Ink Literary Zine, 48th Street Press, Alien Buddha Press, Down in the Dirt Magazine, Disturb the Universe Magazine, and frequents HST Quarterly. ‘C. Renee is totally out there on the edge.’ —Misfit Magazine

diy artist support: https://www.redbubble.com/people/rvng...
RaVenGh o s+ Press books:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/14540097...
DOLL SHAKER: https://www.amazon.com/Doll-Shaker-Ca...
Madswirl Magazine: https://madswirl.com/author/crkiser/
Connect w/ me on allpoetry:
https://allpoetry.com/i_am_snail_viXen
My poem {Vision}:
http://scars.tv/dirt/dirt189nov21/A_D...
Support artist Jasmyn Taylor Givens:
https://www.patreon.com/Thevintagespirit
@snail_vixen / C. Renee Kiser

"Always go too far because that's where you'll find the truth." - Albert Camus

“Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape.” ― William S. Burroughs

Take Your Power Back and
Don't give anyone control over your perception.
The Snails recommend:
https://pairedlife.com/problems/Spot-...
A spiritual perspective on bipolar disorder:
https://www.youtube.com/c/bipolarorwa...

Reviews

[Arthur Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Renee is one dirty girl, and I'm not just talking about the foul mouth or sexual attitudes on display in this short book of poetry. Rather, like the dolls she writes about, she seems to have seen her share of wear and tear over the years, and this is evident in her verse. Even better, she wears her smears and stains like a patina of pride, with all her shattered bits and missing pieces in full view. We've all been kicked around, neglected, and ultimately thrown away and forgotten like so many broken toys, after all, but most of us probably don't write about it with such candor.

She might have a few loose buttons and torn stitches, but if she didn't, I don't think her poetry would be this good.

4.5 stars, rounded up for the lovely print copy the author was kind enough to provide.

[Janie · Rating 5 out of 5]

vacuum sucks up tsunami
emptiness cancels damage
isolation eyes
yearn
for a trust fall
release
and karma.

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, Casey, This was too beautiful. I love how you blend your talent for words with darkness and honesty so well.

[Harry Whitewolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second collection of poetry I’ve read by Casey Renee Kiser, and I’m suitably impressed. I loved the other book I read (Fade Out, Smile), but this one hangs together even better as a unified collection, where the themes are chiefly to do with sex, surviving life’s hard knocks, and the vulnerability of fragile emotive forces at play in Kiser’s head and heart.

These poems are both dark and playful (as well as humorous), and that’s perfect, ‘cos a lot of this verse is treading the line between childhood fantasy and adult sexual fantasy, where dolls, teddy bears and toys feature in abundance. Doll Shaker perfectly combines metaphor and straight-talking, and it’s a work you will want to spend time with; I read it three times before I felt able to review it – these are poems you want to let seep into you slowly.

I also want to mention Casey Renee Kiser’s style – she’s doing her own thing for sure, and I love the way she crafts her words and creates simplicity with plenty of depth.

Here are some quotes I liked:

“Premium glare of white noise-
Tragically prettier than the other toys
Undress her to be the talk of the room
Then throw her on the bed
and let the teddies have the boom”


“Simple men
steal my heart because
I
am
so
complicated

They are so beautiful
with organized minds,
convenient lack of
psychosis
No alternate personalities
to blame
I wear these men
like
jewelry”


“Misfit toys
don’t bring
Christmas joy
Shut up and unwrap
your shiny new identity crisis”


Doll Shaker is the perfect title, and I kept finding myself singing Hole’s Doll Parts along the way.

Casey Renee Kiser is a Babe in Toyland who isn’t afraid of expressing her basest emotions. Intelligent, sensitive, honest and enticing, this little big book is most certainly worthy of your reading time.

I should also mention how lovely this paperback edition is – it’s one of those books you definitely want to be holding in your hands – and it’s full of clever use of differing font types and some wonderful illustrations by Jasmyn Taylor Givens.

4.5 stars.

[Stephanie Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in love with these poems!!! Holy crap!! Casey writes with such passion. Her poetry is dark and raw. The book is small, on 22 pages, but oh dear God! These words will touch you in a place you never knew existed. I, myself, am rather dark so I completely understood her messages.

Poetry is a dying artform. More people need to create poetry. I truly love how she put her emotions out there for the world to see, and interpret them in their own way.

My favorite poem from this book is Stare.

"no bones to break
no expression to fake
I am doll shaker"

I freaking love it so much. That was just one stanza from the poem, but you get a little taste!

Go buy the book...you will not be disappointed!

[Casey Kiser]

A concept collection of poems written in my recovery from covert narcissistic abuse.
The effects of this type of emotional abuse are long-lasting as this manipulation can be very subtle and over a long period of time. Even deeper, it explores how it can affect sexual relationships as an adult and contribute to codependency. There are many different forms of emotional abuse and it can damage one’s nervous system and can cause countless mental health and general health issues. Emotional abuse creates scars unseen and problems with focus, memory and self-worth that can lead to addictions, crippling ocd, extreme feelings of guilt, shame and suicidal tendencies.

[Robin Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a signed print copy, from the author, in connection with another book she recently offered as a giveaway on LibraryThing and the following is my honest opinion.

This makes the third book of poetry I’ve had the pleasure of reading/reviewing. From this author. Once again, this author has successfully has created a wondrous dichotomy of elements in her poetry. On one hand they’re fairly lighthearted but on the other hand they’re gloomy. On one hand they’re childlike and on the other hand they’ve been written for adults.

As the bad saying goes, “Haste makes waste” and in reading these poems you can’t rush in reading any. You need to read them slowly, let your mind digest what it has read, before you’re able to fully comprehend the complexity of what you’ve read. For having once again given her readers thought provoking poetry, I’m happy to give Ms. Kiser 5 STARS

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through Library Thing in exchange for an honest review.
I am a big fan of Casey Renee Kiser. I love the unique style of her poetry. It is casual, but has so much feeling behind it. I really enjoy reading poems that take my breath away or make me really think, even if I'm not entirely sure what the poem is about. These are those kind of poems. Some have obvious meanings while others are a bit trickier to figure out. But they all have a uniqueness that I really enjoy.
I liked that this collection centered around the theme of toys and dolls. I also liked the use of size and style of text to emphasize different lines.
Another great collection of poetry by Casey Renee Kiser.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Casey Renee Kiser has bat cave eyes and sings a pretty song called Rot Away Renee. Her poetry is like a merry-go-round in a brothel, ringing in my ear like a heavy metal tribunal...she is Echo drowning Narcissus' head in the deep water, saying "if you love yourself more let the lake have you". Her poetry is like a burning candle with colored wax dripping all over your hand and scorching your fingers, from the cradle to the grave from the farm to the table from a whisper to a scream, Kiser's ghost town is no country for frightened men in darkened corners.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seduction, anger, humor, and isolation come together to form a slightly uncomfortable small collection of poems. 25 intense pieces that reach inside and tug at your emotions, making you see their subtext. Not for prudes, but not really explicit either just good poetry.

[Paige Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brick Wall Bitch is a cool phrase that sounds like a riot grrl song about a streetwalker smoking. Since I got the ebook and it doesn’t have breaks IDK if that’s a quote but there are 20ish poems.

Opens like an alliterative conversation to oneself about dragging the corpse of a relationship around. I was hoping to delve furthur into doll themes as I am a collector, or coming of age anger resurfacing you want to snuff out maybe or harness better, reminding me of Ashnikko’s song “Blow.” I’d rather the poems go on longer to play with the themes better. Like, it felt like rule of threes could have made the first poem sing better about jack in the box/bed springs if we’re keeping a creepy cute toy theme.

Rhymes that don’t feel so childish. Porcelain on Parade had interesting concept but was very confusing: a rape with witnesses? Are the teddies talking/taunting like a Marilyn Manson “Tainted” Love video? Let’s slow down and let the reader have more thread.

Luna See is a cute name like a Monster High doll would have. Playing w/ font size is good for urgency. There’s some word play with the form of pills. That poem feels like it could be vampiric or focus more on the “our dreams control the rain” bit. “Karmas kiss” is a nice phrase though bullies feels an off one.

The graveyardy “Edge” piece feels like a Taylor Swift interlude to “Anti-Hero” (that’s not a knock though I know many hate everything she does). “His eyes follow my hips to any corner they may collapse into” sounds like a like I wish I wrote. IDK why I’m relating this so musically but that poem feels pretty LDR. I’m gonna keep this theme cuz how can “Coin-Operated Boy” by the Dresden Dolls not endear me to the next piece? And speaking of dolls, I went into this cover and concept thinking of Melanie Martinez w/ the Dollhouse music vid. I like the line “love is precious—in a box” though the “I smile pretending it doesn’t eat me alive” felt too on-the-nose.

I’d like to know what the jumping off the balcony line meant. Like teenagers escaping their rooms? Saying their love was like suicide? Falling? The image of blindfolded owls is cute if a bit out of left field. I’m also pleased the poems show love as much as heartbreak so there’s a mix up. “Auroral as the suicidal stars” nice like “glorifying the morning.” The latter poem I don’t understand and yet I feel I tried to write one like it before and am envisioning a similar muse man.

I feel like the tone is serious most of the time and midnight pretty so the humor and clowns don’t land for me. Like the cursing feels vaguer or too modern than saying something specifically filthy that would have more staying power about lips and hips. “You will hate me…in pieces” not sure if I should take that as they only get a glimpse of her or they only hate her when she’s emotionally in pieces or some fusion.

I suppose “Dinner Guest” has my most fav concepts to work with. “Sylvia showed up in my Chardonnay” is a good phrase like the neck/train-wreck rhyme. Garbage Glam would be a good title for a sequel. Yard sales could be a bigger theme in that too. I know this is an old book and I read her much more modern stuff and will continue to.

[Susan Reyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: adult language.The poetry is well-written and seems to be the product of a cathartic experience by the writer; pouring her pain and anger out onto the page.

[Kent Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I enjoy Casey's poetry and struggle with the artwork. I have that issue.

I already posted some of the highlights of lines, but the little collection hangs together cohesively dealing with the loss suffered from a childhood destroyed too early.

[Sadie Forsythe]

Favorite were Stare and Spin. Guess I like them short and punchy.

[Emilija · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.

The poetry in this book is really good, and the way that fonts and word sizes are used to emphasise certain lines is used so effectively.
However, the main font used for the titles, the contents and the cover page is incredibly difficult to read. It's given me a headache.

[Havelock · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourites were Peep Show, Stare, and Keep My Man in the Attic. Not sure if I necessarily got some of the poems, but it's an interesting collection, and I like the theme of toys and dolls.

[Maria Ware · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dark and sad. Very imaginative not for children is an adult read.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are unique poems unlike any that I have read so far. This may contain explicit language.


won a copy through goodreads giveaway

[Krystle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The poems were very vivid, intriguing and dark. I understood some of them but not all. But one thing that I noticed was that it covered topics like seduction and pain.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection had a few poems that interested me, but they fell a little flat. I feel like rather than focusing on the quality of the work, there was too much focus on trying to shock the reader, and the shock value wasn't very shocking. There would often times be a break where it just didn't seem to fit, making an otherwise fine poem become clunky. And nothing is worse than a clunky poem. Out of the 21 poems in this collection; I can say confidently that I liked 5 of them. If I'm to be really kind I can say that I had a special amount of interest in 6 of them. I definitely saw potential in all of them, like I said, most just fell a little flat. But hey, maybe I just didn't get "It". After all, it wasn't too long ago that I was playing with dolls.

I received this in a giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doll Shaker from Casey Renee Kiser is a wonderful collection of poems. While on the dark and gloomy side they are not excessively so. I prefer this collection as a whole over the only other one I have read but that is because the other one was dragged down by her co-author.

What I found particularly interesting here with repeated readings was the manner in which I could connect with each poem. They speak to both internal struggles/battles but they also address the places where the personal has no choice but to interact with the public or societal. So while I always started from myself when relating to a poem in the collection I could sometimes move inward and sometimes outward.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the author via LibraryThing.

[Carrie-Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway. I've not really read much poetry but this sounded right up my ally - 'disturbing...perversely offbeat...uncomfortable humor' but unfortunately I didn't really enjoy most of the poems. Maybe I didn't 'get' them because I'm not an avid reader of poetry, a few stood out (Porcelain on Parade and Selfish Things) but most, even after several rereads, did nothing for me.

Also, there are pictures throughout the book, and I don't know why but they are terrible quality. I'm not talking about the actual images (although again, the style did nothing for me) but it looked as if they had been drawn really small, then blown up to fit the space. This made them slightly fuzzy and lose clarity.

[Tom Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a perspective on life. Her emotions just spill out on the pages. I would enjoy hearing her read her poetry. Good luck to you Casey, Tom.

[Mackenzie Mick · Rating 1 out of 5]

just not my cup of tea

[Tashfin Awal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways and have chosen to give my honest opinion about it.
An interesting read, although it's a bit too dark and a bit horrifically twisted, it was definitely different from most other poetry books I've read.

[Alisha Helton · Rating 2 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW: https://youtu.be/NctAVyMKUDg

Honestly, I really didn't like this collection of poetry. The poems lacked structure and they just didn't click with me. The theme was supposed to be dark, but I feel like the author tried too hard. Instead of aiming for quality, she settled for shock value. I hate that I didn't like it because I love poetry, but that's just how I feel.

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this in a giveaway and I knew what to expect based off the synopsis. I knew it’d be disturbing, it said it would be. I was still pretty interested in giving it a whirl though. However, it was a little too triggering for me personally. I should’ve taken more caution before diving into it. I felt gross reading the poems and that’s never a nice feeling to have while reading.

[Kally · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of poems was all over the place for me. I did have pretty high expectations, as the back description promised a lot. However, many of the poems were just raw. Too raw to fully bring alive their emotions for me. There were many moments where parts would jump out at me, but overall it fell flat.

I received this book as part of a free giveaway.

[Amber Megel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short book of poetry stated to be darkly poetic, with uncomfortable humor and an uncompromising perception of truth. The poems are supposed to be darkly sexual and tragic however that tone is downplayed by the almost musical approach to the writing. Overall a decent book of poetry, however, it seems to lack the ‘darkness’ and humor needed for many of the poems. The use of the word “and” is also a bit excessive.
The first poem “Stop Breathing” has an interesting message but I believe it tries too hard to incorporate big and small words together making it more satirical questions than actual poetry.
The poem “How to Be Empty” seems to be one of the best poems; it flows well and doesn’t overexpress the ideas behind it.
Finally, the formatting of the book is somewhat difficult to read around. There are breaks where there shouldn’t be breaks, new lines after a single word and limited punctuation. Sometimes that works but in most places, it is just confusing. The title fonts were hard to read and slightly too fancy/elegant for this type of poetry. I found that the darkness and the humor of the books were downplayed by the formatting. If I didn’t know better I would have to say that this book was written by a high school student as an English assignment. I think the concept is good however the execution is lacking.