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Essence of An Age: A Collection of Poetry and Prose
Essence of An Age is the first poetry collection by Lydia Redwine and explores the depths of the heart, mind, and soul during the years where one is finding that they are growing up. Its emotional imagery will sweep readers into a world as real as their own, a world dealing with the dualities of life. The salt and sugar. All that is experienced in love and growth.
- GenresPoetry
115 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 15, 2019
As always, I’d like to point out how much I enjoy people reaching out to me and asking if I’d review their books. That’s why I’m very appreciative Lydia Redwine approached me to read her collection of poetry and prose. Before I get into the nitty gritty of why I rate this book 2 stars, I’d like to point out that these poems seem come from a traumatic place. Just because I rate this book quite low, this does not mean I’m discrediting the emotions of Redwine. I make reviews based on merit of the book I’m reading, not on the experiences of the author. So, I won’t be hypothesizing about what triggered these poems into existence but rather critiquing the structure of the book. So, let’s get started.
First and foremost, when I first received Essence of An Age by Lydia Redwine, I was impressed with the atmosphere she wanted to develop. It seemed airy and clean. Essentially, a good mood for telling a story about change. Still, when you read the poetry, the metaphors and imagery don’t match the tone overall book. In fact, the metaphor of “milk and honey”, is so overdone, it becomes a platitude and forced the author into creating some disturbing and often outlandish imagery. For example:
I took a polaroid of your mind
high on millennial milk
and melodies seen only in your eyes. I took a polaroid of your mind,
and you took one of mine,
but mine was a blurred battle of flesh and soul, a half empty bottle left on a 3 a.m. kitchen counter.
Look at the above text. I’m sure “millennial milk”, holds something profound in Redwine’s head. Yet the union between the words seems absolutely ridiculous to an outsider. I actually had to read this to my friends to make sure my theory was correct, and they too have a visceral reaction to the juxtaposition. Likewise, recurring words like sticky, spine, dripping, strains, often killed the mood and forced visceral reactions. Especially, since most people associate those words with horror. When I read the synopsis, I was expecting things with love and growth, not so much horror.
Still, there were some moments of the book that are really nice. Surely, if the target audience are Christians, they’d appreciate this liberal use of poetry. Personally, I found that “a thought on my pillow” was a lovely poem and offered some unique insight. I think, the main issue of Essence of An Age is its platitudes and the author being unsure of what theme to set. Surely, if Redwine works on creating a strong personal voice, she will be a great poet and writer. This may not be my favorite book, but I still had a fun time reading it. I highly encourage everyone to continue supporting this author.
First and foremost, when I first received Essence of An Age by Lydia Redwine, I was impressed with the atmosphere she wanted to develop. It seemed airy and clean. Essentially, a good mood for telling a story about change. Still, when you read the poetry, the metaphors and imagery don’t match the tone overall book. In fact, the metaphor of “milk and honey”, is so overdone, it becomes a platitude and forced the author into creating some disturbing and often outlandish imagery. For example:
I took a polaroid of your mind
high on millennial milk
and melodies seen only in your eyes. I took a polaroid of your mind,
and you took one of mine,
but mine was a blurred battle of flesh and soul, a half empty bottle left on a 3 a.m. kitchen counter.
Look at the above text. I’m sure “millennial milk”, holds something profound in Redwine’s head. Yet the union between the words seems absolutely ridiculous to an outsider. I actually had to read this to my friends to make sure my theory was correct, and they too have a visceral reaction to the juxtaposition. Likewise, recurring words like sticky, spine, dripping, strains, often killed the mood and forced visceral reactions. Especially, since most people associate those words with horror. When I read the synopsis, I was expecting things with love and growth, not so much horror.
Still, there were some moments of the book that are really nice. Surely, if the target audience are Christians, they’d appreciate this liberal use of poetry. Personally, I found that “a thought on my pillow” was a lovely poem and offered some unique insight. I think, the main issue of Essence of An Age is its platitudes and the author being unsure of what theme to set. Surely, if Redwine works on creating a strong personal voice, she will be a great poet and writer. This may not be my favorite book, but I still had a fun time reading it. I highly encourage everyone to continue supporting this author.
November 14, 2018
So I will be honest, I’m not much of a poetry person but I did offer to review this book. I’m really glad that I did. This is a touching collection of poems about a young girl growing up. I will be the first to say that it’s easy to forget what it was like to grow up but this collections of poems show how wonderful and dark that growth could be.
I have to say that the line that sticks with me is, “when monsters beneath my bed became a matter minuscule to monsters in my head.” Talk about hit home when you remember that cusp of becoming an adult. Just as you have happy, light times there are also dark times with this new world that you are growing in.
This is a great collections of poems and one that I recommend checking out. Like I said, I’m not a poetry person but this collection even made me remember the challenges of adulthood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I have to say that the line that sticks with me is, “when monsters beneath my bed became a matter minuscule to monsters in my head.” Talk about hit home when you remember that cusp of becoming an adult. Just as you have happy, light times there are also dark times with this new world that you are growing in.
This is a great collections of poems and one that I recommend checking out. Like I said, I’m not a poetry person but this collection even made me remember the challenges of adulthood.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
March 16, 2019
There is something very special about this little bouquet of thoughts. The first thing that grabbed me was how easy it is to read.
"I felt it when I saw my chest as a cello, / with too small of a sound for anyone to find profound."
Lydia Redwine's words are sweet even talking about despair and pain. Always with that aura of honesty that seems to bloom effortlessly from her.
I loved the little winks and the poetic licenses (my apologies for the redundancy) as little thoughts between some verses —or flashlights, like "the princess and the dragon", which let out a question that stayed in my mind: "why was the princess locked up in the first place?"
Redwine is brave and her writing strong. A little piece to enjoy, and read not once but a hundred times. As Oscar Wild said, “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
I'm a lover of poetry, but I'm very often disappointed. Lydia Redwine does not disappoint. She delivers a fresh, demolishing poetry that will leave several prints in your mind.
"I felt it when I saw my chest as a cello, / with too small of a sound for anyone to find profound."
Lydia Redwine's words are sweet even talking about despair and pain. Always with that aura of honesty that seems to bloom effortlessly from her.
I loved the little winks and the poetic licenses (my apologies for the redundancy) as little thoughts between some verses —or flashlights, like "the princess and the dragon", which let out a question that stayed in my mind: "why was the princess locked up in the first place?"
Redwine is brave and her writing strong. A little piece to enjoy, and read not once but a hundred times. As Oscar Wild said, “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
I'm a lover of poetry, but I'm very often disappointed. Lydia Redwine does not disappoint. She delivers a fresh, demolishing poetry that will leave several prints in your mind.
October 21, 2018
While I am not a poetry connoisseur by any means, I will say I really enjoyed this one!
Essence of an Age is a collection of poetry relating to growing up. That conflicting and emotional time in which one sheds their innocence to move on into the world of adulthood. It is evident that this collection is deeply personal to the writer; it is raw, heartfelt, and sometimes dark but always bears a relatable honesty that is striking and memorable.
A short read, at only 9,400 words it is one you will remember. Here are a few of my favorite passages:
“Her softness is powerful, like the whispering winds sending warning down chimneys”
“The princess and the dragon. The prince climbs through the window, and sees the princess with the dragon. A thousand questions drop from his mind, like his jaw to the floor. “Why is she laughing?” “Why is it that the princess and the dragon are best friends?” He forgets to ask: Why was the princess locked up in the first place?”
Definitely check this one out if you are fans of poetry- or if you’re like me and new to the poetry scene- you guys give it a try too!
Essence of an Age is a collection of poetry relating to growing up. That conflicting and emotional time in which one sheds their innocence to move on into the world of adulthood. It is evident that this collection is deeply personal to the writer; it is raw, heartfelt, and sometimes dark but always bears a relatable honesty that is striking and memorable.
A short read, at only 9,400 words it is one you will remember. Here are a few of my favorite passages:
“Her softness is powerful, like the whispering winds sending warning down chimneys”
“The princess and the dragon. The prince climbs through the window, and sees the princess with the dragon. A thousand questions drop from his mind, like his jaw to the floor. “Why is she laughing?” “Why is it that the princess and the dragon are best friends?” He forgets to ask: Why was the princess locked up in the first place?”
Definitely check this one out if you are fans of poetry- or if you’re like me and new to the poetry scene- you guys give it a try too!
December 9, 2018
I was asked to review this book; and not being one to read much poetry, I really did enjoy it! Not sure how people put so emotion into writing, but I love it, and appreciate it 💕
February 4, 2019
This book was wonderful!!!! I think it really shows the strength in people. ❤️ Not only that but it also shows the many paths people can go through. Definitely recommend checking it out.
January 24, 2020
This poetry book is the representation of youth. It is all about young love that blossomed and withered; the acceptance of changes and growth.
Read my full review here: https://viennanoreen.com/2018/12/23/b...
Read my full review here: https://viennanoreen.com/2018/12/23/b...
February 15, 2019
There is something raw here, a flare for language, flowery, imaginative, but unhoned and still needing some massaging and guidance. The collection is at its best when it’s achieves impact with brevity, when it employs structure, or when presented in straight prose. It struggles a bit when in free verse, devolving too frequently into stream of consciousness with too much disjointed and/or repetitive imagery. That being said, there are gems waiting to be found in the collection. Find some favorite passages below.
[Yellow]
The color of my thoughts
in a room where every face is a fragment
of what I am aiming to flee.
The color of my regrets
that I paint as sunshine
on a wall of plastered dreams.
The Sad Girl’s Society …
or also known as...
Depot of Damsels Distressing over Dreams!
and,
Society of Saturated Sinners
or sluts with unsown seams and,
Paintings praying
or prudes braying and,
Alabaster brides!
for the world to wed,
for monsters at the bottom of bottles to bed.
Her eyes are a palace,
spun of a silver dream
that she found beneath
her mother’s floorboards
[Yellow]
The color of my thoughts
in a room where every face is a fragment
of what I am aiming to flee.
The color of my regrets
that I paint as sunshine
on a wall of plastered dreams.
The Sad Girl’s Society …
or also known as...
Depot of Damsels Distressing over Dreams!
and,
Society of Saturated Sinners
or sluts with unsown seams and,
Paintings praying
or prudes braying and,
Alabaster brides!
for the world to wed,
for monsters at the bottom of bottles to bed.
Her eyes are a palace,
spun of a silver dream
that she found beneath
her mother’s floorboards
August 11, 2021
Lydia Redwine's poetry is some of the most beautiful I've ever read. She creates vivid scenes and emotions. I really like what she did with this poetry collection because it feels like a love letter to childhood as well as a goodbye. I'm only a few years older than the author and she summed up a lot of my sadness about my childhood being over, as well as the excited-but-scared feelings of growing up.
The book is a mix of poetry and photography, which I thought was really nicely done. And I read an ebook version, so I didn't even get the full effect. I really liked the collages from the author's journal. She's extremely artistic in more ways than just words.
The only reason it wasn't 5 stars for me is because many of the poems sound like they reference specific people or inside jokes that the author might have with her friends. This isn't a barrier to enjoying the poetry, but it did feel like I was missing things sometimes.
In conclusion, Lydia Redwine is an extremely gifted poet and I would highly recommend this collection, especially to anybody from 16-24 in that age of painful growing up. Not that anybody ever is completely grown up. :)
*The author was kind enough to provide me with a copy of the book at my request. All opinions are my own!*
The book is a mix of poetry and photography, which I thought was really nicely done. And I read an ebook version, so I didn't even get the full effect. I really liked the collages from the author's journal. She's extremely artistic in more ways than just words.
The only reason it wasn't 5 stars for me is because many of the poems sound like they reference specific people or inside jokes that the author might have with her friends. This isn't a barrier to enjoying the poetry, but it did feel like I was missing things sometimes.
In conclusion, Lydia Redwine is an extremely gifted poet and I would highly recommend this collection, especially to anybody from 16-24 in that age of painful growing up. Not that anybody ever is completely grown up. :)
*The author was kind enough to provide me with a copy of the book at my request. All opinions are my own!*
December 29, 2022
I thought this was a gorgeous collection of poetry! Each entry is filled with raw emotion that teleports you to that very time and place. You feel what the author feels and experience what the author experiences. Her words invoke all five of your senses and invite you to see the world through her eyes. I loved the way the book was written as a journey through her youth because those thoughts and emotions are ones we’ve all dealt with (and ones I continue to battle myself at times). I highly recommend this book!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews