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Masquerade
Non-binary poet Cyrus Parker returns with an all-new collection of poetry and prose dedicated to those struggling to find their own identity in a world that often forces one into the confines of what’s considered “socially acceptable.”
Divided into three parts and illustrated by Parker, masquerade grapples with topics such as the never-ending search for acceptance, gender identity, relationships, and the struggle to recognize your own face after hiding behind another for so long.
Divided into three parts and illustrated by Parker, masquerade grapples with topics such as the never-ending search for acceptance, gender identity, relationships, and the struggle to recognize your own face after hiding behind another for so long.
176 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 19, 2020
3.75 stars
I quite enjoyed this collection, I was not surprised considering I enjoyed Parker's last collection as well. Masquerade is beautiful and deals with so many touching and important topics. Such as self-esteem, non-binary topics, dysphoria, fear, pain, witchcraft a bit, etc. Overall I was really impressed, I read this with my boyfriend and we both enjoyed the beautiful writing and metaphors. The illustrations were also a perfect touch. Looking forward to whatever Parker releases in the future!
I quite enjoyed this collection, I was not surprised considering I enjoyed Parker's last collection as well. Masquerade is beautiful and deals with so many touching and important topics. Such as self-esteem, non-binary topics, dysphoria, fear, pain, witchcraft a bit, etc. Overall I was really impressed, I read this with my boyfriend and we both enjoyed the beautiful writing and metaphors. The illustrations were also a perfect touch. Looking forward to whatever Parker releases in the future!
December 17, 2021
I loved this book of poetry! Some of the poems did hurt though and I feel bad for hurting because they were poems about them and their wife and I lost my husband early this year, and just stuff I don't have anymore but i'm happy for them. I won't go into all of it because it's personal.
This book has quite a range imo. I felt these poems deep in my soul. The author is nonbinary (as am I) and that's explored but so are other things. Some of them I literally went "I know this isn't about autism but my nonbinary and autistic ass felt that in both ways". I think a lot of people could relate to at least some of it. There's also themes of abandonment and more. And it's so very accessible. I highly recommend it!
This book has quite a range imo. I felt these poems deep in my soul. The author is nonbinary (as am I) and that's explored but so are other things. Some of them I literally went "I know this isn't about autism but my nonbinary and autistic ass felt that in both ways". I think a lot of people could relate to at least some of it. There's also themes of abandonment and more. And it's so very accessible. I highly recommend it!
November 18, 2019
”I’ve tried digging up the corpses,
and piercing their bones back together
and spitting out their skeletons, but
I kept choking on the graveyard dirt.”
This was pretty good! I picked it up out of the blue and enjoyed it.
It’s very personal, and the writing style was lovely. There were some of your run-of-the-mill modern poetry clichés, but overall it was a strong collection!
and piercing their bones back together
and spitting out their skeletons, but
I kept choking on the graveyard dirt.”
This was pretty good! I picked it up out of the blue and enjoyed it.
It’s very personal, and the writing style was lovely. There were some of your run-of-the-mill modern poetry clichés, but overall it was a strong collection!
April 24, 2019
If you read one poetry book, I’d recommend this one.
Normally with poetry it’s always a struggle with rating and reviewing because it’s so personal and it can be hard to feel like you’re connecting with what the author is saying. But this one was an instant connection with me. I absolutely love Cyrus’s way of writing. They have this instant way of sucking me in and truly making me feel as if I’m going through it with them. This entire time I was actually nodding my head in agreement and saying “YES YES THIS!!!!” which is a totally new experience for me. I actually got supper emotional at the end because of how much this book really moved me. This touches on identity, self love, family, love, and so much more. It felt really well rounded and I think everyone could find at least one poem in here to relate with. Cyrus is definitely being added to my list of autoread authors, and I can’t wait to see more from them in the future.
Normally with poetry it’s always a struggle with rating and reviewing because it’s so personal and it can be hard to feel like you’re connecting with what the author is saying. But this one was an instant connection with me. I absolutely love Cyrus’s way of writing. They have this instant way of sucking me in and truly making me feel as if I’m going through it with them. This entire time I was actually nodding my head in agreement and saying “YES YES THIS!!!!” which is a totally new experience for me. I actually got supper emotional at the end because of how much this book really moved me. This touches on identity, self love, family, love, and so much more. It felt really well rounded and I think everyone could find at least one poem in here to relate with. Cyrus is definitely being added to my list of autoread authors, and I can’t wait to see more from them in the future.
March 20, 2019
*received an ARC on netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This collection is so real, so honest. It went above and beyond my expectations, and each poem touched me. Cyrus is an amazing poem, and I will continue to support their work. The writing is beautiful, and I could not get enough. Highly recommend this to all poetry fans.
This collection is so real, so honest. It went above and beyond my expectations, and each poem touched me. Cyrus is an amazing poem, and I will continue to support their work. The writing is beautiful, and I could not get enough. Highly recommend this to all poetry fans.
August 21, 2019
What a beautiful book inside and out.
These poems are so relatable and understandable to me as a person and so many others around me.
So many of the poems within this book have reached inside me an embraced my heart in a hug that says - see your not alone.
Thank you for such a beautiful, deeply moving book of poems, I will re-read this book for a very long time.
These poems are so relatable and understandable to me as a person and so many others around me.
So many of the poems within this book have reached inside me an embraced my heart in a hug that says - see your not alone.
Thank you for such a beautiful, deeply moving book of poems, I will re-read this book for a very long time.
September 14, 2022
Ahh fresh emotionally-impaling-makes-your-chest-heave poetry! Whats not to love?
September 9, 2023
I would love to thank Cyrus Parker, Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a good -but not excellent- poetry book. I didn't find myself in all of the poems, but there were some that were amazing. Let me show you:
These are some of the poems I love from this book. This author really understands how it is to be marginalised by comunity. 3 solid stars for this book!
This is a good -but not excellent- poetry book. I didn't find myself in all of the poems, but there were some that were amazing. Let me show you:
misplaced
I was a piece of a puzzle
lost in the box of another.
no matter where you tried to put me,
which way you tried to turn me,
there wasn't a place for me in the big
picture, and i got tired of trying to fit
into places i didn't belong.
bigger
if they tell you to change who you are,
be yourself but even louder.
the kind of games
the jester made himself a crown
and called himself a king,
and that made all the difference.
to us
she sips rose and i sip whiskey,
and i can't help but think about
how perfectly that describes us:
her, a slow, sweet burn, and me,
a little too much all at once.
the moon's resistance
the sun tells the moon
that her place is at night
with the stars,
but still she hangs
defiantly
in the midafternoon sky,
refusing
to have her place dictated
by another's expectations.
These are some of the poems I love from this book. This author really understands how it is to be marginalised by comunity. 3 solid stars for this book!
May 15, 2019
It really was important for me to read these poems, I needed to hear these things and I hope lots of other people will want to pick this book and connect with it like I did.
April 10, 2019
Cyrus Parker’s Masquerade is a collection of inspiring vulnerability. Broken down into three parts, Parker focuses on issues of childhood, discovery of self, gender dysphoria, relationships with family, exes, their current relationship, and finally, societal expectations. I love this framework. We go from very introspective, very personal, and slowly zoom out to others and then society. The vulnerability sucks you in and the need to understand keeps you going as a reader.
Parker’s own drawings are used throughout the collection. From my perspective as a reader, they laid out an extra beat, some kind of extra emphasis that I really enjoyed. Furthermore, the images added to an atmosphere that felt like a journal. Coupling this with Parker’s mention of their own journals, I thought this was deliberate and well done. The drawings just added to the realness that permeates this collection.
Were I to give one criticism, I thought that the poem The Final Masquerade could go at the end. When I came to it, it felt like a natural end to me as a reader. However, it was just a shift into the true final part of the collection. With this in mind, I completely loved the true ending and the flow of the collection as a whole.
There were two poems I really appreciated: expanse and fault lines. Both spoke to me deeply and I really appreciated Parker’s vulnerability in these moments. Purely as a reader, and not as a reviewer, I adored the words they said. I needed those words as a person and I am grateful for that.
I have to say I enjoyed this collection even more than Cyrus Parker’s first collection. I think they have only grown as a writer since then and I am awaiting the next poetry collection. Overall, I would recommend Masquerade to fans of Amanda Lovelace, Nikita Gill, Rupi Kaur, and anyone who has even the slightest interest not just in poetry, but in vulnerability.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Parker’s own drawings are used throughout the collection. From my perspective as a reader, they laid out an extra beat, some kind of extra emphasis that I really enjoyed. Furthermore, the images added to an atmosphere that felt like a journal. Coupling this with Parker’s mention of their own journals, I thought this was deliberate and well done. The drawings just added to the realness that permeates this collection.
Were I to give one criticism, I thought that the poem The Final Masquerade could go at the end. When I came to it, it felt like a natural end to me as a reader. However, it was just a shift into the true final part of the collection. With this in mind, I completely loved the true ending and the flow of the collection as a whole.
There were two poems I really appreciated: expanse and fault lines. Both spoke to me deeply and I really appreciated Parker’s vulnerability in these moments. Purely as a reader, and not as a reviewer, I adored the words they said. I needed those words as a person and I am grateful for that.
I have to say I enjoyed this collection even more than Cyrus Parker’s first collection. I think they have only grown as a writer since then and I am awaiting the next poetry collection. Overall, I would recommend Masquerade to fans of Amanda Lovelace, Nikita Gill, Rupi Kaur, and anyone who has even the slightest interest not just in poetry, but in vulnerability.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 6, 2019
-received an ARC on netgalley-
Cyrus Parker's Masquerade poetry collection, is inspiring and honest! I enjoyed reading it so much and I feel priviledged that I had this opportunity! It is a very well written collection and it touched me deeply. A lot of times I felt like he was in my head writing about things I could not find the right way to talk about. I hope I will read more of his work in the future.
"they will be missing the bits of me that you took"
Favorite poems: skull kid, misconception, fixer-upper, the king of games, linked, the collector, you are what you fear, dawn of the final day, the countdown, goodbye is a lie
"time is a two-faced mistress
in the way she both heals
things and destroys them"
I could not recommend it more!
Cyrus Parker's Masquerade poetry collection, is inspiring and honest! I enjoyed reading it so much and I feel priviledged that I had this opportunity! It is a very well written collection and it touched me deeply. A lot of times I felt like he was in my head writing about things I could not find the right way to talk about. I hope I will read more of his work in the future.
"they will be missing the bits of me that you took"
Favorite poems: skull kid, misconception, fixer-upper, the king of games, linked, the collector, you are what you fear, dawn of the final day, the countdown, goodbye is a lie
"time is a two-faced mistress
in the way she both heals
things and destroys them"
I could not recommend it more!
June 5, 2019
actual rating: 4.5 stars!
this is the first poetry collection by cyrus parker that i've read, and i'm so glad that i finally read something by them! some of these poems are very relatable for me, while others are very thought-provoking. nonetheless, i enjoyed them all.
this is the first poetry collection by cyrus parker that i've read, and i'm so glad that i finally read something by them! some of these poems are very relatable for me, while others are very thought-provoking. nonetheless, i enjoyed them all.
April 3, 2019
This is a raw, heartbreaking and tender poetry collection I wish a lot of people should read. I also liked the illustrations.
August 6, 2019
Completely superb follow up to DROPKICKromance. Omg. The beautiful savagery and honesty. Just thank you.
April 25, 2020
"writer's block" hit me hard, and "5:30 a.m." is probably one of the sweetest things I've ever read.
May 11, 2021
I love the theme of masking/unmasking. So very relatable. I especially loved the poem titled “the cleansing” (because holy shit, I’ve experienced that exact thing). Thank you for this lovely masterpiece. 4.5 stars.
March 25, 2020
Another great collection from Cyrus Parker. I'm once again glad this pro-wrestler tunred to poetry!
May 21, 2019
the glow UP is REAL!
April 13, 2025
If I could I'd give this book thousand stars because five ain't enough.
I've been reading and loving modern poetry for quite some time now, and I've read enough modern poetry so I can say this with 100% certainty, I've never in my life felt a poetry book as I've felt this one. I was never left with so many emotions, thoughts and feeling as I was while reading this book.
So many times in my life I've felt lost, I didn't know who I was, who I am or who I'm even supposed to be. I was bullied and I was super insecure. I hated myself and everything I did.
And even though now I'm doing way better, way happier and a little less lost, and a little more confident I really needed this book and reading these poems meant the world. I wish I had this book in my teens. I wish this book existed when I was lost and hurting. I cried reading this, both for the author and myself.
I've loved Cryus's "Dropkick romance" so I was quite excited for this one too, however I've never expected it to mean so much to me. This book topped every poetry book I've ever read and in one aftwrnoon climbed at the top, place no.1, of my recommendation list.
The raw emotions Parker put into these poems honestly left me speechless. If I were to give you highlights, I'd have to quote the whole book. I've felt everything he felt, but not because I was personally struggling too, but because his writing and words made me feel both his and my pain.
So if you're struggling with confidence, loving yourself, figuring out who you are — give this book a chance.
I've been reading and loving modern poetry for quite some time now, and I've read enough modern poetry so I can say this with 100% certainty, I've never in my life felt a poetry book as I've felt this one. I was never left with so many emotions, thoughts and feeling as I was while reading this book.
So many times in my life I've felt lost, I didn't know who I was, who I am or who I'm even supposed to be. I was bullied and I was super insecure. I hated myself and everything I did.
And even though now I'm doing way better, way happier and a little less lost, and a little more confident I really needed this book and reading these poems meant the world. I wish I had this book in my teens. I wish this book existed when I was lost and hurting. I cried reading this, both for the author and myself.
I've loved Cryus's "Dropkick romance" so I was quite excited for this one too, however I've never expected it to mean so much to me. This book topped every poetry book I've ever read and in one aftwrnoon climbed at the top, place no.1, of my recommendation list.
The raw emotions Parker put into these poems honestly left me speechless. If I were to give you highlights, I'd have to quote the whole book. I've felt everything he felt, but not because I was personally struggling too, but because his writing and words made me feel both his and my pain.
So if you're struggling with confidence, loving yourself, figuring out who you are — give this book a chance.
September 4, 2019
this is one of those books i had to stop myself from highlighting every single passage. i felt this book in the depths of my lost little soul.
April 2, 2019
[Thank you for NetGalley for providing the advance ebook in exchange for an honest review]
Book 2 of poetry for April Poetry Month (I want to see how many books of poems I can read this month)
Poetry: 5 stars
Drawings/images: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars
I came across this book and read the description and thought that it would be a very interesting book to read for the topic because of the way that the topic is changing for even students (and I have been in the work place with students who have had different changes occurred in middle school). This book was very real and filled with emotions. You could feel the author’s emotions coming off the page throughout all of the poems in the collection.
The artwork was a little more on the iffy and I was not overall impressed by it. I could have honestly done without the images in this book because the poems were so powerful without them.
Poems that I saved as reading:
Misplaced
I was a piece of a puzzle
Lost in the box of another.
No matter where you tried to put me,
Which way you tried to turn me.
There wasn’t a place for me in the big
Picture, and I got tired of trying to fit
Into places I didn’t belong.
Bigger
If they tell you to change who you are,
Be yourself but even louder.
Better late than never
The problem with me has always been that I waste too much
Time looking for the validation of others, when the only
Validation I needed was my own. I might not be all the way
There yet, but one day, I will be, and so will you.
Unapologetic
I will not
Fit myself into a box
To meet your expectations.
I will not
Twist myself into a knot
To earn your appreciation.
Book 2 of poetry for April Poetry Month (I want to see how many books of poems I can read this month)
Poetry: 5 stars
Drawings/images: 3 stars
Overall: 4 stars
I came across this book and read the description and thought that it would be a very interesting book to read for the topic because of the way that the topic is changing for even students (and I have been in the work place with students who have had different changes occurred in middle school). This book was very real and filled with emotions. You could feel the author’s emotions coming off the page throughout all of the poems in the collection.
The artwork was a little more on the iffy and I was not overall impressed by it. I could have honestly done without the images in this book because the poems were so powerful without them.
Poems that I saved as reading:
Misplaced
I was a piece of a puzzle
Lost in the box of another.
No matter where you tried to put me,
Which way you tried to turn me.
There wasn’t a place for me in the big
Picture, and I got tired of trying to fit
Into places I didn’t belong.
Bigger
If they tell you to change who you are,
Be yourself but even louder.
Better late than never
The problem with me has always been that I waste too much
Time looking for the validation of others, when the only
Validation I needed was my own. I might not be all the way
There yet, but one day, I will be, and so will you.
Unapologetic
I will not
Fit myself into a box
To meet your expectations.
I will not
Twist myself into a knot
To earn your appreciation.
April 12, 2019
One thing that I absolutely adore about Cyrus Parker is that they list content/trigger warnings for their readers. As someone who has gone through some of the the events detailed, it's important to know whats coming. Masquerade is noted to contain the following (but it is possible that there are more triggers): abandonment, alcohol use, death, gender dysphoria, harassment, and intimate partner abuse.
After reading about ¼ of Cyrus' latest poetry collection, I could tell just how much they had grown since the publishing of their first collection, which I felt a slight disconnect from. When it comes to Masquerade, that it not the case - I felt so seen at times that I almost felt stripped bare. I think that was Cyrus' intentions, for an "unmasking" if you will.
Some of my favorite poems from Masquerade are: "better late than never," "fault lines," "hate/hate relationship," "i am become," and "space." In "hate/hate" relationship," I saw myself. I truly saw myself, like I was looking in a mirror and was watching myself be dissected. I've always dealt with body image issues, and this particular poem hit home.
*The poem "hate/hate relationship" is included in my blog post, I didn't include it here in case readers wanted to experience the collection entirely for themselves.
I can't wait to see what projects Cyrus is working on next (I know that this collection hasn't technically come out yet, but the publishing industry moves quickly - what else can be said). I'll definitely be picking up more of their working in the future.
http://laurenhope.co/2019/04/12/masqu...
After reading about ¼ of Cyrus' latest poetry collection, I could tell just how much they had grown since the publishing of their first collection, which I felt a slight disconnect from. When it comes to Masquerade, that it not the case - I felt so seen at times that I almost felt stripped bare. I think that was Cyrus' intentions, for an "unmasking" if you will.
Some of my favorite poems from Masquerade are: "better late than never," "fault lines," "hate/hate relationship," "i am become," and "space." In "hate/hate" relationship," I saw myself. I truly saw myself, like I was looking in a mirror and was watching myself be dissected. I've always dealt with body image issues, and this particular poem hit home.
*The poem "hate/hate relationship" is included in my blog post, I didn't include it here in case readers wanted to experience the collection entirely for themselves.
I can't wait to see what projects Cyrus is working on next (I know that this collection hasn't technically come out yet, but the publishing industry moves quickly - what else can be said). I'll definitely be picking up more of their working in the future.
http://laurenhope.co/2019/04/12/masqu...
May 3, 2019
I really enjoyed this poetry collection! It was such a pleasant surprise! I've slowly been getting into poetry because of the creative writing course I took at uni all about it, so I was really excited to pick this up. Which reminds me, I got access to an ARC of this thanks to NetGalley!
One of the things I really enjoyed about this collection was the author's voice. Their voice came across as so soft, almost understated, yet at the same time powerful. Each poem felt like a small, soft punch. I was really into it.
A second thing I thought was great about this collection were the line breaks. If you read poetry like me, i.e. respecting the line break as a small pause, then the reading of these poems is greatly enhanced! I felt like the author was really smart about where they made their line breaks.
If I have one "complaint"about this collection it's that the last third of it felt a little too simplistic. The poems in this sections read a lot like motivational quotes, geared toward building self-esteem, self-love, and self-understanding, and they were a bit lackluster. Their message was sweet and reassuring, but I was left wanting more from them. Nevertheless, it wasn't a major problem for me.
P.S. The poem "the severed limb of the family tree" was relatable af. It painted a pretty accurate picture of my relationship with some of my relatives. I appreciated that.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was a good time. I can't wait to continue delving into the world of poetry!
One of the things I really enjoyed about this collection was the author's voice. Their voice came across as so soft, almost understated, yet at the same time powerful. Each poem felt like a small, soft punch. I was really into it.
A second thing I thought was great about this collection were the line breaks. If you read poetry like me, i.e. respecting the line break as a small pause, then the reading of these poems is greatly enhanced! I felt like the author was really smart about where they made their line breaks.
If I have one "complaint"about this collection it's that the last third of it felt a little too simplistic. The poems in this sections read a lot like motivational quotes, geared toward building self-esteem, self-love, and self-understanding, and they were a bit lackluster. Their message was sweet and reassuring, but I was left wanting more from them. Nevertheless, it wasn't a major problem for me.
P.S. The poem "the severed limb of the family tree" was relatable af. It painted a pretty accurate picture of my relationship with some of my relatives. I appreciated that.
All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this. It was a good time. I can't wait to continue delving into the world of poetry!
April 18, 2019
I don't read a lot of poetry, and this was probably the first time I really fell in love with a book from the genre. Masquerade was everything I don't expect poetry books to be for me.
Reading it, I could feel a frisson of what the poet must've felt while writing them. The pain, the desperation, the hurt...it was all so real. So raw.
I want to applaud the poet for sharing this amazing collection with us. Reading it, I can imagine how personal it must be to them. It takes a lot of courage to share something that personal with the world.
I loved all of the poems, but some of them especially stood out to me. Like, Smokey Eyes...it was so inspiring, so uplifting. And I could practically feel the desperation in Graverobber and I could also relate to it a lot because I'm no stranger to not being able to say what's on the tip of my tongue. i am become, 5:30 a.m. and the final masquerade were all pretty darn amazing too.
Now I'm going to go check if I can afford a paperback copy of this book. I'd recommend you to do the same and order an eBook if you can't afford the paperback because you need to read this one!
Reading it, I could feel a frisson of what the poet must've felt while writing them. The pain, the desperation, the hurt...it was all so real. So raw.
I want to applaud the poet for sharing this amazing collection with us. Reading it, I can imagine how personal it must be to them. It takes a lot of courage to share something that personal with the world.
I loved all of the poems, but some of them especially stood out to me. Like, Smokey Eyes...it was so inspiring, so uplifting. And I could practically feel the desperation in Graverobber and I could also relate to it a lot because I'm no stranger to not being able to say what's on the tip of my tongue. i am become, 5:30 a.m. and the final masquerade were all pretty darn amazing too.
Now I'm going to go check if I can afford a paperback copy of this book. I'd recommend you to do the same and order an eBook if you can't afford the paperback because you need to read this one!
April 13, 2019
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley. This in no way influences my review; all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
This was a really powerful poetry collection for me. Divided into three parts, it deals with gender dysphoria, toxic family, love, and finding yourself. Several of the poems in the first part really hit me, especially “dysphoria i” and “dysphoria ii.” I loved the poems in the second part around Amanda (guessing/assuming) because the love in them was wonderful. I liked the themes of support and being there in those poems. Cyrus has some in the beginning of part ii about sharing their name with father and grandfather, and page that said “your name is not my name” meant a lot to me though not for same feelings around my name. Overall, this was a great poetry collection that really meant a lot to me to read and I hope to see more from Cyrus in the future~
This was a really powerful poetry collection for me. Divided into three parts, it deals with gender dysphoria, toxic family, love, and finding yourself. Several of the poems in the first part really hit me, especially “dysphoria i” and “dysphoria ii.” I loved the poems in the second part around Amanda (guessing/assuming) because the love in them was wonderful. I liked the themes of support and being there in those poems. Cyrus has some in the beginning of part ii about sharing their name with father and grandfather, and page that said “your name is not my name” meant a lot to me though not for same feelings around my name. Overall, this was a great poetry collection that really meant a lot to me to read and I hope to see more from Cyrus in the future~
April 18, 2019
I believe that including Poe’s lines in the very beginning is a brilliant stroke in itself. In hindsight, it really says a lot about the poetry the reader will be delving into as she flips the pages.
The poems deal with various topics such as abandonment, alcohol abuse, death, gender dysphoria, harassment, as well as intimate partner abuse, lost innocence, identity, chasing your dream, and the masks that people wear. Self-care also is explicitly stated by the poet to be practiced after reading the poems and it was real advice, because I did have to do it in the end. The reason behind this, I believe, is that the poems are so real and vivid and so reflective of our own lives that it is impossible for a reader not to find atleast a couple of poems with which she can absolutely relate. The poems are raw and poignant, and that furthers this cause. Moreover, the illustrations also provide a nice yet related break.
I enjoyed the poems and I rate this collection a 4/5 stars!
The poems deal with various topics such as abandonment, alcohol abuse, death, gender dysphoria, harassment, as well as intimate partner abuse, lost innocence, identity, chasing your dream, and the masks that people wear. Self-care also is explicitly stated by the poet to be practiced after reading the poems and it was real advice, because I did have to do it in the end. The reason behind this, I believe, is that the poems are so real and vivid and so reflective of our own lives that it is impossible for a reader not to find atleast a couple of poems with which she can absolutely relate. The poems are raw and poignant, and that furthers this cause. Moreover, the illustrations also provide a nice yet related break.
I enjoyed the poems and I rate this collection a 4/5 stars!
March 20, 2019
Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this poetry collection!
Title: Masquerade
Author: Cyrus Parker
Rating: 4 stars
Rep: non-binary author
Trigger/content warnings: right at the start of the book.
Themes: finding yourself and being true to yourself, discovering who you are, abandonment, family, love and relationships, acceptance and identity.
Favourite poems: Misplaced, Normalise, Smokey Eye, Recovery, Nonlinear Equations and October 24, 2017.
Most of the poems centre around the idea of hiding behind a mask and no longer recognising the person you have become and how to fully accept yourself when the world tells you what/who you should be.
Illustrated throughout by the author, these poems were emotional and thought-provoking. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys poetry, especially poetry that focuses on the self.
Title: Masquerade
Author: Cyrus Parker
Rating: 4 stars
Rep: non-binary author
Trigger/content warnings: right at the start of the book.
Themes: finding yourself and being true to yourself, discovering who you are, abandonment, family, love and relationships, acceptance and identity.
Favourite poems: Misplaced, Normalise, Smokey Eye, Recovery, Nonlinear Equations and October 24, 2017.
Most of the poems centre around the idea of hiding behind a mask and no longer recognising the person you have become and how to fully accept yourself when the world tells you what/who you should be.
Illustrated throughout by the author, these poems were emotional and thought-provoking. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys poetry, especially poetry that focuses on the self.
May 24, 2019
This collection of poetry is deeply personal and strikingly honest, and a really lovely mix of dark and light. Parker does a beautiful job of covering some heavy topics (see the book’s content warning for specifics), and does so with a frank, genuine energy that gets you emotionally invested. The sketches throughout help build the feeling of intimacy, as if you’re reading Parker’s notebook. There are a few running themes throughout ‘Masquerade’- most obviously, the mask- and Parker skillfully walks that fine line of using reoccurring metaphors without getting stuck in them. There’s a really gorgeous variety of imagery all through the book, and though each of the three segments has a clearly different vibe, it’s still a solidly cohesive piece of work in a wonderfully unique voice.
Thanks again to @andrewsmcmeel for my copy- it was a pleasure to read! 🖤
Thanks again to @andrewsmcmeel for my copy- it was a pleasure to read! 🖤
January 18, 2020
This is the first poetry collection I've read in a very long time. I use to HATE poetry, I loathed it. But as part of my reading goals for this year I wanted to give it another shot since it's been a while. I also didn't want to count it out when I know there is good poetry out there. I picked up this collection on a whim and I was not disappointed. This collection is filled with beautiful, heartwrenching poems. I read many of these poems aloud to my boyfriend because they were just that good! I said on multiple occasions throughout the collection, "Wow. That hit me in the gut". The theme's in this collection hit so close to home for me. It held a mirror up to me and forced me to recognize inner thoughts I've always had, while also filling me with so much hope and strength. This collection is well crafted and I'm so so glad I decided to take a chance on it!
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March 20, 2019"you were always meant to be your own universe."
Cyrus Parker explores the struggle of being unapologetically yourself in a world that seeks to mold you into a more acceptable image. Pretending to be someone you are not will never change who you ultimately are. Masquerade shows the journey Cyrus went through to accept himself for who he is. This was my first experience with this author's work and I requested this one because I am a fan of the writer's wife, Amanda Lovelace. I definitely look forward to reading more of Cyrus Parker's poems. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Cyrus Parker explores the struggle of being unapologetically yourself in a world that seeks to mold you into a more acceptable image. Pretending to be someone you are not will never change who you ultimately are. Masquerade shows the journey Cyrus went through to accept himself for who he is. This was my first experience with this author's work and I requested this one because I am a fan of the writer's wife, Amanda Lovelace. I definitely look forward to reading more of Cyrus Parker's poems. Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
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