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DKMH

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A story of living, imagery from bursts of color and feelings, and hallucinations of our imagination.  Written by spoken word poet, podcaster, and  Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery, comes his debut collection of poetry  DKMH . 

Since its release as a small mixed-media podcast, DKMH has topped charts all over the internet. Written and produced by Stranger Things star Dacre Montgomery, the DKMH platform is expanding to print. This exciting debut collection of poetry and prose is an analysis of ego, love, anger, and anxiety. Each poem investigates our individual driving forces and how experiences shape us into the humans we are, deeply personal yet strangely familiar and universal. Consumable on a variety of platforms, DKMH is a constant battle between themes that explore the biggest life who are we, why are we, and what drives us?

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2020

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Dacre Montgomery

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114 (30%)
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60 (16%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
Profile Image for Reading_ Tamishly.
5,302 reviews3,463 followers
November 3, 2020
You know what?

If the book continued with the good writing with proper lines, description and expression as in the first few pages, it would have worked out like perfection. I really, really love the first few pages before the actual poetry and sketch contents started.

Well, the sketches (are those doodles?!) just didn't work for me. Nor do they seem like they expressed anything. They seem incomplete and yes, totally irrelevant.

And no, the poetry lines did not do much for me. I could totally connect with the mental health representation (again!) in the first few pages (which is an introductory part I guess).

Please do write more as such in the next book. They seem more genuine and relatable and more well written as compared to the actual poetry content.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Lilli.
155 reviews51 followers
April 12, 2022
This was fine, I just think that what I’m finding out this poetry month is that I don’t think I like poetry much. Unless it’s Shel Silverstein of course. More thoughts to come!
Profile Image for Alisa.
493 reviews36 followers
September 15, 2020
In the beginning of the collection there is an introduction piece, and man do I wish the rest of it would be in the same style. That introduction was amazing. I could relate to every line, in each confession I recognized myself. I don't even remember when was the last time that something effected me so deeply. So it was especially disappointing that the rest of this collection did not compare. The poems were disjointed and did not make much sense. I don't remember even one that impacted me, unfortunately.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jes Cunningham.
161 reviews5 followers
November 23, 2020
As I imagine you might see in other reviews, the introduction to this book, where Montgomery is simply speaking, might actually be the most interesting piece in this book. He has a way of speaking that feels friendly and personal.

However, I think it’s a mistake to discount the poetry itself. I am very much reminded of beatnik artists, dabbling in a variety of mediums. Even if you discover one is not your favourite, you miss part of the experience if you don’t embrace it as a whole.

While I could see myself keeping a written copy of this to flip through, I definitely recommend listening to an audio copy. Montgomery reads the work himself, and it’s no surprise that his voice suits it well.

As a final note, I followed this reading with checking out his podcast (also DKMH) and if you enjoy this collection, I suggest you check out the podcast as well.
Profile Image for Kat(ja).
414 reviews86 followers
October 29, 2020
I really enjoyed the opening section. It was a way to get to know Dacre on a different level and to realise what this collection of poems means to him. The recommended music section was also something I was really happy about as I'm always looking forward to discovering new (at least to me) artists.

Now, when it came to the actual poems, that's where I struggled a bit. I found very few that I could truly connect with. I'm sure they are all very personal, but sometimes to a point where you, as the reader, are just not in on the knowledge and can't get in on the emotions.

Lastly, the artwork! Art is something very subjective. I liked Dacre's collaboration with Sam Corlett (who you might recognise from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and have seen his work just recently when he collaborated on an Australian jewellery line. He explains the reasons behind choosing Sam as the illustrator for his work and it made sense to me.
Profile Image for Rachel.
200 reviews17 followers
November 18, 2020
Dude is writing from his heart and I dig it. I often find poetry unyieldingly pretentious but I didn’t feel that here. I could relate to a lot of what he was sharing and I appreciate his candidness about his mental health issues. Grateful to him for his part of ending the stigma.

Hearing him read his poetry - rather then me hearing my own voice read it in my head - was touching and hypnotic.

Thank you to Dacre Montgomery, Andrews McMeel Audio, and #NetGallery for an AudioARC of #DKMH in exchange for an honest review. Review will be posted on NetGallery, Goodreads, and Facebook.
Profile Image for Nicholas Tamouridis Poet.
81 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2022
Dacre’s collection is the most underrated collection of poetry today! And not to mention, his introduction is one of the most impressive prologues/introductions I’ve read from a young poet! Let me tell you why. From reading the reviews, most people don’t seem to pay attention to the themes that drive each poem. I suggest a great place to start when reading each poem, is to keep in mind that the book is split into 4 parts/themes - Fear, Love, Anxiety and Spirit, and to pay attention to the associated emotion in his words and the associated theme behind each poem!

Dacre’s poems are so impressively unique and original, and I feel that this wonderful quality can just as easily scare a reader as much as it would allure a reader. In my case, I was very much allured! ☺️ A wonderful mix of real, genuine openness, with impressive depth and pathos, with a spice of innocence and nostalgia. I can feel the courage, strength, bravery and willpower behind the sharing of his words, I can feel the focus he put into conveying his message. Rather than comparing his poetry to my expectations or to that of other poets, I surrendered my clear mind and I was able to pay attention to all the lovely elements in this book. Well done Dacre, and well done to @andrewsmcmeel for taking this superstar on board!

Out of just under 60 poems in Dacre’s collection, I tried to narrow my favourites to a top 20 and dismally failed! Here are my top 27
in the 4 parts as seen in the book! ☺️
FEAR
• It’s always in bed
• That political stigma
• Hand to hand
• Pasted, jaded
• A vivid dream
• Whisper in my ear
• I close my eyes
LOVE
• Now, this I give to you
• Some moments
• I turned to you, put my hand on yours
• Like a sorcerer
• Tires stop
• We travel through the day
• Distance, in body but not mind
• The dreams I had about you
• My moon
ANXIETY
• God-given energy
• Under the skylight
• That flutter
• Words uttered before resounding the walls
• My distaste
• Some days I have a rose gold breastplate
• Looming over the edge
SPIRIT
• Take me back
• It is a thing
• “Don’t think about it?”
Profile Image for Louis C.
278 reviews7 followers
October 3, 2020
Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Discussions on mental health (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD)

“MY ENTIRE LIFE I FELT FRAGILE.”

DKMH is a collection of poems written by Dacre Montgomery. The collection is separated in four themes, fear, love, anxiety and spirit, which each a selection of poems that fit that theme. Throughout the book, you also find simple illustrations that kind of have to do with the themes of the collection.

Such with almost every poetry collection, there is this case in which there were some poems I liked and some that were a miss. Overall, I like the vibe of the collection; these poems are simple. It is clear the writer is emptying his mind, trying to collect his thought, and in some poems it worked better than others. I wouldn’t say I have a favorite theme nor poem since the poems in the themes weren’t that different from each other (the same lay-out, word use, etc). It would have been for fun if that was the case, so there was more visible variety, though it would limit the way one can write their thoughts down, which I think was the strongest point of this collection. It gives an insight in Drace Montgomery’s head; memories of the past.

Overall, I liked what I read and how fast I read it (in one sitting, which is rare for me), and though I wished there was more variety that could tell when one theme started and ended, I did feel like the poems brought the emotions out of them.
Profile Image for Rachel.
891 reviews14 followers
April 5, 2021
Important Note: This reviews the audio, which can make all the difference in poetry. The narrator is the author, however, so the expectation is this collection is presented in audio format as the author intends.

There is an incredible introduction describing why Montgomery writes; it is lyrical, powerful, and moving. A playlist is provided for those who want to hear the music he writes to before he presents his work. His poems cover such topics as love, grief, and anxiety - aspects of the human experience.

On the audio, there are no significant breaks to indicate when one poem ends or begins. As Montgomery reads, it becomes a steam of consciousness. Life is spewed out and use of such literary devices like repetition and simile becomes trite, instead of impactful, as it’s something employed often. In some instances, his unceasing rendering of poems, as with anxiety, succeeds. In others, it feels like an unyielding hammer. Often, though, the poems feel like clay still left on the table; sculptures of promise that need editing and work.

This may be a work that shines in print, but after listening to it twice, it isn’t something I can recommend on audio. Montgomery certainly has a beautiful ability to write, as evident in his introduction. However, poetry is about essence - claiming the essential core, wheedling away that which doesn’t matter, using the right words to score the best “punch.” Montgomery is still finding his way there.

Thank you to Libro.fm for providing an audio of this work.
Profile Image for Chris.
603 reviews
January 1, 2021
This is a really interesting and personal set of poems. The opening pages give a really good insight into Montgomery as a person and an artist, how he struggled with certain issues but was able to turn them into advantages using his writing. It was surprising, but very welcome, to see a young actor being so open.
Although these poems are deeply personal they are in the true tradition of beat poetry and demand to be shared, performed and even yelled. There is an energy within the words just waiting to burst forward.
As with most collections some poems are better than others but I think this is a sign of the writer growing into his talent. Some are clearly less well developed and even clunky in places where as others remind me of Ginsberg at his peak.
I have read all the poems at least twice but some much more. Each time I think I’ve got them figured out I see other interpretations. One of my favourite things about this type of poetry is the ability for different people to see different things in them. These are really personal to Montgomery but we are able to interpret them in our own way which makes them universal to us all. The themes of love, life, music and even anxiety are things that we all share but in very different ways.
Profile Image for Manon (bookswithonno).
378 reviews72 followers
October 26, 2020
Sadly, this poetry collection was not for me. I'm a big fan of Dacre Montgomery's acting in Stranger Things but I found out that I am not a big fan of his poetry. The poems did not really make sense to me because it felt like random words were being strung together. Where the poems should've been deep and meaningful, I only found them very confusing.

Even though I did not enjoy the poetry, I did connect with the book's introduction wherein Darce Montgomery talks about his mental health issues. However, the poems that came after it didn't live up to the hopes I got after reading the introduction. I wish he'd write a non-fiction memoir about his experiences with mental health. I'd definitely read it if he does!

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Pretty Little Bibliophile.
842 reviews126 followers
November 15, 2020
I went in with great expectations knowing about Montgomery's intense visual allusion in his works on other media. And the introduction was a sure hit - very insightful and seemed to lay the stage for the greatness that could possibly ensue. While his works were a good enough effort, there was something missing. It had an overall, wonderful appeal for the scope of the imagination but somehow fell short. This is however a good foundation and there is a possibility that it will improve in his coming works. I look forward to more.

I do believe that the reader will benefit more if they listen to the audiobook (because his voice is heavenly and capable of catching and portraying all the myriad of emotions), along with actually reading the ebook. I think that the game of words that Montgomery puts at play here reflects well the bipolar-aspect he mentions in his introduction.
Profile Image for Lexi Vranick.
Author 4 books18 followers
January 30, 2021
It took me a little while to get into this book; I'm more accustomed to free-verse contemporary poetry, and the rhyme schemes in this collections took a little getting used to. Once I got acquainted, though, I loved it! I was also grateful to be able to attend Montgomery's virtual reading and Q&A with Strand Bookstore, and both hearing about his journey writing the book and hearing the pieces in his voice added a lot of depth to the book for me. There is some really beautiful imagery in his poetry, and you can feel the emotion poured into each line. I walked away feeling inspired to create, which always my biggest hope when I read a new poetry collection. This was a really good start, especially considering Montgomery has only recently gotten into poetry. I'm excited to see where he goes from here!
Profile Image for Fatima Anwar.
212 reviews18 followers
September 17, 2020
A wonderful collection of relatable and intimate poems and poetries. Each poem in this book is unique and original. The book is divided into four parts: Fear, Love, Anxiety and Spirit, each expressing a different part of herself. I found the illustrations in between the pages intriguing and they give a new perspective to the readers. The poetries contains analogy and metaphors throughout the pages. The poems are empowering and full of emotions.
The cover is interesting and piques the interest of the readers
Profile Image for Lieke.
213 reviews
October 9, 2020
I've never been a fan of poetry but liked the idea of listening to the author reading his own poems.
But I'm not sure if this was one long poem or it just went from one poem to the next, so maybe reading a poetry book myself would be better.
I did like the voice of the author for the narration, but I would need to read the poems to be able to say more about them.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Nair.
219 reviews31 followers
December 13, 2020
The Intro Poem was raw and emotional, it shed a light on the author's view of the world and it was relatable.
From then on, the writing was lazy, exaggerated use of imagery, and rhyme, and any of those initial emotions seemed forced.


Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for trufflebooks.
298 reviews116 followers
September 22, 2020
Not my cup of tea. None of the poems really struck with me, found a lot of the repetitiveness and the rhyme unnecessary. Some were plain confusing or just boring.

Best wishes for Dacre's poetry career!
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Emily.
1,325 reviews
May 13, 2023
*An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley, Thank you! Receiving said copy in no way influenced my review of this title.

When I first requested this book I didn't know who Dacre Montgomery was (though I did know who Billy Hargrove was), I saw a book of poems and thought "cool I like poems". I didn't know I was about to get an honest and raw look into this authors life experience. Montgomery is raw and writes from a place anyone ever experiencing any sort of mental health issues can understand and relate. And waiting to read this collection until after I learned who Dacre Montgomery really was, I feel I love and relate to this actor more. That and feel like he is a much more down to earth person that I previously thought- because he gets 'it'. A deep, yet quick, read that really exposes those often times hidden layers of our favorite actor.
Profile Image for Mileena.
661 reviews25 followers
January 29, 2025
“I obsessed… because I am obsessive over everything.”

DKMH
3.5/5 stars

There were a handful of these that were absolutely stunning and I agree with those who said the writing was great in the introduction, but a lot of this lacked substance. It felt mildly pretentious in parts and it’s disheartening because when he’s not doing that his heart shines through in some of them.

The saving grace of this was listening to the audiobook. I am in love with Dacre Montgomery. His voice makes me feel like I’m melting and so hearing this -especially the sensual romance poems- was super enjoyable and hell really sexy. It felt like he was monologuing in some play and it played out well.
Profile Image for Tamara.
66 reviews4 followers
October 21, 2020
2.5 stars

The first few pages were amazing and I was hoping it would continue that way, it didn't. It was still okay but I didn't discover new favorites. The illustrations didn't match the poems but I still liked the simplicity of them.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.
Profile Image for Norie.
163 reviews1 follower
February 16, 2023
i liked the introduction where he is explaining why he writes and where it all comes from. as far as the rest of the book… i think i’d enjoy it more if i listened to the audio version! :)
Profile Image for PageGoblin.
338 reviews11 followers
August 17, 2023
"Spaghetti, circle circle round circle"
Yes, this is exactly what I needed in the moment
Profile Image for Kim.
172 reviews1 follower
May 29, 2021
This poet has more reading to do before their work will say anything that doesn't hold the cliches of all the student poetry I've been immersed in as a teacher. I mean, I've read verse by a 13-year-old that's more poignant and fresh. Abandoned at 72%. (I kept expecting to find out why it was published.)
Profile Image for Haley The Caffeinated Reader.
849 reviews64 followers
February 23, 2023
'Trying not to idolize too much, swimming in your pool but not putting you on a pedestal"
-'Love' poem

3.5

The introduction was by far the most powerful part of it but I'm going to say there were enough lines that I fell in love with that I rated this at 3.5/rounded to 4. Sometimes it felt as if he were stuck with what words to proceed with but suddenly there was a line that would make me pause and it made me feel seen or it made me feel the emotion he was trying to convey.

I'll be rereading this when I get the physical format, I have a habit of wandering in my mind with audio but this did have quite a few lines that just pulled me back in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews

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