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Dancing With Elephants
427 pages, Paperback
Published December 11, 2019
16 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
February 22, 2020
3.5 out of 5
Find my full review with reactions on my blog, Simply Arden.
**MILD SPOILERS :) **
Quick Review
- Overall I got the impression that this is group of poems about finding oneself, relationships describing love lost and found, and travel.
- There are serious wanderlust and hopeful vibes throughout.
- I was able to find and mark a few favorite poems from the start, and all the way through to the end.
- I found the lack of pagination and poem titles a little frustrating.
- Overall I enjoyed the idea of the book and the intention more than the actual real-life execution.
In Depth Review
This collection of poems will take you on a journey of love lost and found, of a person finding out who they truly are, and of someone discovering a lust for travel and adventure. The poems feel very vulnerable, raw, and heartfelt.
If I had to describe this book in two words: hopeful journey.
Book Look
NOTE: I read a paperback copy of the book that I purchased from Amazon.
- Large paperback size, slightly smaller than a composition notebook, but thick like a paperback novel.
- Cover is a standard weight paperback cover that is a matte black with white print and lettering with a star-field background.
- Pages are a nice medium weight, bright white paper with a good tooth that is easy to grip.
- The pages are NOT numbered and most of the poems do not have titles which makes it really hard to share your favorites with friends.
- There is a variety of fonts throughout the book from script, serif, and san-serif, that would normally be fine for a poetry book. However a few of the fonts are very hard to read, especially the script font used to open each chapter, while others are printed so small they are almost impossible to read.
- The poems are sectioned into nineteen chapters (19 for 2019?) that are marked off throughout out the book with a title page containing artwork, the title in a heading font, and a short opening poem in a script font.
- Most spreads in the book have limited text, one page of artwork, and many blank pages. Most pages have a speckled star background, the reverse of the cover with the stars a light grey.
- I do not love the illustrations, they feel like loosely related clip-art graphics quickly thrown together for an overall effect that is still nice, but lacking any real style or finesse.
Favorite Quotes
“Happiness is not a permanent state, but wholeness and wellness can be.”
“Forgive the moment for not being what you hoped it would be, and then being again.”
“You’ll spend a lifetime
waiting to feel better
if you keep putting off
all the things
you know will
make you feel better”
Musical Suggestions
I recommend enjoying this book with some moody instrumental indie rock. ESSENTIAL: read with a hot cocoa and cream candle, a real steaming hot chocolate, and read at sunsets and sunrises. I enjoyed this book while listening to the playlist “Winter Lofi Hours” on Spotify by tomplayzgames.
View all my reviews
Find my full review with reactions on my blog, Simply Arden.
**MILD SPOILERS :) **
Quick Review
- Overall I got the impression that this is group of poems about finding oneself, relationships describing love lost and found, and travel.
- There are serious wanderlust and hopeful vibes throughout.
- I was able to find and mark a few favorite poems from the start, and all the way through to the end.
- I found the lack of pagination and poem titles a little frustrating.
- Overall I enjoyed the idea of the book and the intention more than the actual real-life execution.
In Depth Review
This collection of poems will take you on a journey of love lost and found, of a person finding out who they truly are, and of someone discovering a lust for travel and adventure. The poems feel very vulnerable, raw, and heartfelt.
If I had to describe this book in two words: hopeful journey.
Book Look
NOTE: I read a paperback copy of the book that I purchased from Amazon.
- Large paperback size, slightly smaller than a composition notebook, but thick like a paperback novel.
- Cover is a standard weight paperback cover that is a matte black with white print and lettering with a star-field background.
- Pages are a nice medium weight, bright white paper with a good tooth that is easy to grip.
- The pages are NOT numbered and most of the poems do not have titles which makes it really hard to share your favorites with friends.
- There is a variety of fonts throughout the book from script, serif, and san-serif, that would normally be fine for a poetry book. However a few of the fonts are very hard to read, especially the script font used to open each chapter, while others are printed so small they are almost impossible to read.
- The poems are sectioned into nineteen chapters (19 for 2019?) that are marked off throughout out the book with a title page containing artwork, the title in a heading font, and a short opening poem in a script font.
- Most spreads in the book have limited text, one page of artwork, and many blank pages. Most pages have a speckled star background, the reverse of the cover with the stars a light grey.
- I do not love the illustrations, they feel like loosely related clip-art graphics quickly thrown together for an overall effect that is still nice, but lacking any real style or finesse.
Favorite Quotes
“Happiness is not a permanent state, but wholeness and wellness can be.”
“Forgive the moment for not being what you hoped it would be, and then being again.”
“You’ll spend a lifetime
waiting to feel better
if you keep putting off
all the things
you know will
make you feel better”
Musical Suggestions
I recommend enjoying this book with some moody instrumental indie rock. ESSENTIAL: read with a hot cocoa and cream candle, a real steaming hot chocolate, and read at sunsets and sunrises. I enjoyed this book while listening to the playlist “Winter Lofi Hours” on Spotify by tomplayzgames.
View all my reviews
January 10, 2020
Dancing with elephants 3.75⭐️
Wake up.
Stand up.
Take a deep breath.
Take it all in.
This is it.
This is what you’ve been waiting for.
When I run from my darkness I run from my light to.
Wake up.
Stand up.
Take a deep breath.
Take it all in.
This is it.
This is what you’ve been waiting for.
When I run from my darkness I run from my light to.
June 26, 2020
"I made my world so small when I let it revolve around you."
I was really excited to read this book when I got it in the mail because I absolutely LOVE Kalyn. However, this book ended up being kind of disappointing. It seems as though she rushed to finish it to meet her deadline and didn't bother to edit her work properly. There are so many misspelled words like "because" which was written as "becuase". Very small mistakes that could have been avoided if she got a better editor. It just seemed like the book was a little rushed. I couldn't find myself connecting with it, except for a couple of her pieces (which is why I'm going to do it justice and give it 3 stars). Moreover, this doesn't have anything to do with her writing particularly but the whole outline of the book just seemed really off to me. The text was so small and wasted an entire page for it. Such a big book with a bunch of pages, but very few words on them. She could've done a better job at it rather than wasting pages to add a small piece of writing (that could have easily fit into less if you tried).
I was really excited to read this book when I got it in the mail because I absolutely LOVE Kalyn. However, this book ended up being kind of disappointing. It seems as though she rushed to finish it to meet her deadline and didn't bother to edit her work properly. There are so many misspelled words like "because" which was written as "becuase". Very small mistakes that could have been avoided if she got a better editor. It just seemed like the book was a little rushed. I couldn't find myself connecting with it, except for a couple of her pieces (which is why I'm going to do it justice and give it 3 stars). Moreover, this doesn't have anything to do with her writing particularly but the whole outline of the book just seemed really off to me. The text was so small and wasted an entire page for it. Such a big book with a bunch of pages, but very few words on them. She could've done a better job at it rather than wasting pages to add a small piece of writing (that could have easily fit into less if you tried).
December 31, 2019
I really wanted to love this more than I did. There were a few poems that were amazing but with most of them I just didn’t feel like they had a story behind them. They were just words that sounded pretty together, if a bit confusing.
I love Kalyn and watch her videos religiously but her writing just isn’t for me.
(Please don’t kill me)
I love Kalyn and watch her videos religiously but her writing just isn’t for me.
(Please don’t kill me)
December 29, 2019
This is a work of art. Every poem was captivating, I read it twice to try and put myself in your frame of mind. You know you’re reading something magical when you can’t put it down, and when you do you can’t wait to get back into it. So proud of you 💕
December 9, 2024
I enjoyed the variety in formatting, fonts, and art in this poetry book, but I couldn't connect to as many of the poems as I would've liked. They probably could've been pared down to include the strongest ones that packed the most punch, because the ones that did made me feel something.
January 6, 2020
I’ve followed Kalyn for years and the progress she has made as a writer still astounds me. She beautifully captures such a delicate and intimate parts of her soul that most people wouldn’t even dare write about, let alone publish. There is such truth spoken in the words she has written in these pages that it’s so refreshing to finally read something that someone has so lovingly manifested and printed., something that strikes a chord in the deepest parts of my soul I didn’t even know were there. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to read something that will center them and resonate with certain experiences they might have had. Or anyone who loves poetry. Period. I can’t wait to see what she publishes next!
December 24, 2019
Kalyn, I am so proud of you.
When I met you right after your Thailand trip, you were just starting to write this book. I devoured the whole thing in an hour, I feel like I know the behind the scenes of every poem and there’s so much growth in it. I loved it so much.
When I met you right after your Thailand trip, you were just starting to write this book. I devoured the whole thing in an hour, I feel like I know the behind the scenes of every poem and there’s so much growth in it. I loved it so much.
September 7, 2020
Poems were Very confusing to read. Didn't make sense of what the author was trying to say. Also poems were all different fonts and sizes and some so small could hardly read it. Also I hate how some poems, you had to turn the book sideways just to read them.
June 12, 2025
A number of the poems in this book sound like they were consciously written to inspire her audience — based not on personal wisdom, but judgements she makes on them.
So many of the poems sought to inspire hope, but instead of reaching within, she seems to be projecting what she assumes her audience is struggling with. I felt it quite odd to read stories about drowning from inaction, given how publicly active Kalyn is and has been ever since she was in high school.
As with Catcher, I feel she is synthesizing patterns from other media sources (books, music, movies, video games) and regurgitating them instead sharing from her own heart.
So many of the poems sought to inspire hope, but instead of reaching within, she seems to be projecting what she assumes her audience is struggling with. I felt it quite odd to read stories about drowning from inaction, given how publicly active Kalyn is and has been ever since she was in high school.
As with Catcher, I feel she is synthesizing patterns from other media sources (books, music, movies, video games) and regurgitating them instead sharing from her own heart.
February 25, 2020
I’m not a huge lover of poetry as I often don’t get it so I don’t tend to read it but I will always read anything Kalyn puts out into the world. She really has a way of stringing words together that make you feel something and enjoy. I started by flying through the book reading everything and then went through again and took my time and just read a few every few days to really let it sink in more.
Congrats on another published book Kalyn
Congrats on another published book Kalyn
October 6, 2020
I was wary about this, as I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this or not, and I wanted to because I love Kalyn. I’m pleased to report that I loved this, and I found it truly resonated with me. I have put hundreds of tabs in it, and I will probably reread it many times. The illustrations were an added bonus.
My only critique would be that there are spelling and grammatical errors in this, and I would very much like for those to be fixed. Aside from that, I’ll give this a 5/5.
My only critique would be that there are spelling and grammatical errors in this, and I would very much like for those to be fixed. Aside from that, I’ll give this a 5/5.
June 8, 2020
I probably would have finished this in one sitting if I hadn't been so tired. I loved the poems and the authors thoughts. There were times that I was annoyed with the formatting of the book because it caused so many extra pages. Overall would recommend it, if you are looking for writings and poetry that are more loose and modern.
May 26, 2020
I love Kalyn so much and will always read anything she puts out into the universe, but the style of poetry in this book wasn't for me. That being said, I definitely tabbed up a few poems and I am still very proud of her for putting out a more vulnerable, private side of her for the world to see.
January 4, 2024
It takes courage to put one’s work out there. Especially poems. Lovely title. A few great poems I’ll take with me. Should I be crushing a book of poems or reading a few a day and thinking on them? I don’t know…
April 16, 2025
Amazing Book by an amazing person whom is also an amazing writer. it's so precise and I have uncountable marks I made. it's a book to return to and read again and again and be emotional about it's wise messages and little to big Truths. I recommend it to everyone who loves poetry.
January 29, 2020
Loved it so much!! Thank you, Kalyn!💟☺️
November 16, 2020
Lovely writing. Lovely art. Could’ve easily been a 5 if not for the incredible amount of distracting grammatical errors.
December 7, 2020
she has a way with words. damn.
December 21, 2020
Un bellissimo libro di poesie, con una grafica davvero speciale
February 19, 2021
This was filled with so many beautiful poems!! I couldn’t put it down. Kalyn’s words felt so relatable, especially coming out of a breakup.
February 28, 2021
i’ve followed kalyn for years, so i may be a little biased but i absolutely loved this book. it is filled with so many beautiful poems! i can’t wait to see what she publishes next ♡
June 8, 2022
Kalyn did a great job capturing the rawness of what it means to not only be a human, but to be a girl and I loved it!!
October 4, 2022
Light and easy. Perfect for young adults
February 9, 2024
I kept builiding windows
to watch the world pass by
faces soaking in the daylight
while I'm tucked away inside
I wondered with my silhouette
why I always had to hide
glass reflecting my mind's eye
of all the pretty panneled lies
I built to rid myself from trying
Wow. This book is basically a colletion of thoughts expressed in pretty words along with some simple but pretty illustrations. And it's incredible. Kalyn has such an interesting and beautiful mind and clearly a gift to express herself through words.
I will say that some of these little texts were so flowery written that I had trouble finding a meaning. But for the most part, it really made me think, feel, reflect and it was overall a very relaxing and enjoyable read. A great company to a saturday afternoon and something that I will definitely come back once in a while.
to watch the world pass by
faces soaking in the daylight
while I'm tucked away inside
I wondered with my silhouette
why I always had to hide
glass reflecting my mind's eye
of all the pretty panneled lies
I built to rid myself from trying
Wow. This book is basically a colletion of thoughts expressed in pretty words along with some simple but pretty illustrations. And it's incredible. Kalyn has such an interesting and beautiful mind and clearly a gift to express herself through words.
I will say that some of these little texts were so flowery written that I had trouble finding a meaning. But for the most part, it really made me think, feel, reflect and it was overall a very relaxing and enjoyable read. A great company to a saturday afternoon and something that I will definitely come back once in a while.
May 18, 2022
“would you believe that there might be energy already tied to your own”
I wanted to read a poetry book but was unsure whether I’d enjoy it. I decided to try out dancing with elephants because I am a follower of Kalyn’s and love her content (as I’m sure most reading this book are!)
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not only was it a beautiful example of another one of Kalyn’s talents, but the poems themselves were thought provoking. I loved that they are grouped into themes.
The book itself is stunning, with cursive fonts and pretty illustrations throughout.
I wanted to read a poetry book but was unsure whether I’d enjoy it. I decided to try out dancing with elephants because I am a follower of Kalyn’s and love her content (as I’m sure most reading this book are!)
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. Not only was it a beautiful example of another one of Kalyn’s talents, but the poems themselves were thought provoking. I loved that they are grouped into themes.
The book itself is stunning, with cursive fonts and pretty illustrations throughout.
January 19, 2020
My favorite favorite YouTuber has released yet another book and I am in looooove❤️ this is the first poetry book I’ve ever read, and it will honestly probably be the last, but not because of Kalyn’s wonderful writing at all. I loved the poems (I actually did!!). Each page was magic and filled with tales of finding oneself and love. I loved the way this book was laid out by the chapters and I enjoyed the different fonts, layouts and pictures. Overall, although poetry is not ultimately my cup of tea, I thoroughly enjoyed Kalyn’s work. Bravo👏🏼❤️
September 18, 2022
Amazing book!
It is a beautiful and stunning poetry book.
The poetry is really emotional and honest, so it really touches your heart.
The whole design of the book, with the beautiful cover and very creative pages in the book is so inspiring.
Words can't describe, how much I enjoyed this book and I'll read it again for sure.
But I'll think it would be a great gift for a friend, too.
I hope the write will publish a second poetry book soon! ♡♡♡♡
It is a beautiful and stunning poetry book.
The poetry is really emotional and honest, so it really touches your heart.
The whole design of the book, with the beautiful cover and very creative pages in the book is so inspiring.
Words can't describe, how much I enjoyed this book and I'll read it again for sure.
But I'll think it would be a great gift for a friend, too.
I hope the write will publish a second poetry book soon! ♡♡♡♡
December 21, 2019
I’ve watched Kalyn’s YouTube channel for years and I love her but to be honest I was not prepared for how absolutely beautiful this book was. This is definitely going to be something I read and reread over and over again.
January 18, 2022
I didn’t expect to like this collection as much as I did. I was really able to relate to a lot of the poems and I enjoyed the word choice and formatting. Would especially recommend if you’re new to poetry and want something a little more straightforward.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews