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Sunshine and Whiskey
A collection of poetry from the bumbling teenage years to the adult woman, still trying to find her place.
- GenresPoetry
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2020
9 people want to read
About the author
Lauren White
2 books12 followersedit biographydelete
Biography
How did I get here? I'm not sure.
My mother has always encouraged me to publish my poetry, but I suppose I never thought it was worth reading. It was only ever an outlet for the things I couldn't say, the emotions I couldn't adequately express. A sort of solace.
Now, here I am, sharing everything with you, poems from high school until now. Some, I hadn't read in years. Motivation? Perhaps, it was meeting my editor, Jeanette. Maybe, it was realizing that my Twitter followers look forward to reading my words. Or, more likely, it was time to get it all out.
My first collection, 'Sunshine and Whiskey,' is divided into five parts. What some of them are about is obvious. Others are not. The first is called, "Summer." It is a nickname I've had since the womb. Many didn't know my name was Lauren until my late teens and twenties. It is there that we start. I hope that every subsequent part shows another facet of me, through growth and experience.
Inspiration? A little of everything. Whole I enjoy ekphrastic art and random inspiration, it is not at my core. I write my raw heart. I don't know if that's art, but it is me and all I can gift you. In that you'll find the most obscure of references and widest variety of muses, whether they be spiritual, sexual, pragmatic, scientific, or pure pop culture. In any case, here I am, naked before you, saying in so many ways, that I crave love and connection.
Be well. Love hard. Live long. Prosper.
The second collection, 'Innocently Devious,' is in progress!
*****
I grew up in Bowie, Maryland. I have been described as quirky and weird, which is maybe not surprising, given my dualistic nature. By day, I am an engineer, having earned my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park and my M.S. in Systems Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School. Free time is spent writing poetry, exploring music (especially that with no words), trying new whiskies, and being an avid Star Trek fan. I currently reside in Orlando, Florida, where it's warm.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 18, 2020
Sunshine and Whiskey is a self-published poetry collection by Lauren White. The book is a personal poetry collection by the author and had come to light to the readers because of the beliefs of her friends and herself that her words and experiences are worth-sharing. This book had me when I read the famous quote of Mary Oliver, “Tell me what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Reading upon, I know I am reading a great book.
The book is divided into 5 parts which are Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened, and Boldly. Having the parts laid down, I see the collection roller-coaster of emotion, happiness, and pains by the author. What I like more about this book is how the author is clear and honest about certain situations she has in. I know many readers would relate to her experiences. Not only that she really can picture reality of human feelings and experiences. Her entry Love and Robots is one hurting reality.
I love the part of Awakened. Aside from quoting Mary Oliver in the first chapter, I love the author even more when she quote, Lana Del Rey’s NFR for I know this chapter be is another great read. I must agree that this is. This chapter is brave and daring and honest. Her words allude love, passion, and begging at times which one way or another a reader had experiences them too. Reading all her words are like whiskey on a sunshine.
Over-all, this is a great read in a cozy weather for women who are either in love, alone, happy, independent, and bold. Lauren White is gifting her readers, that no matter what, we should take life in sunshine and whiskey.
The book is divided into 5 parts which are Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened, and Boldly. Having the parts laid down, I see the collection roller-coaster of emotion, happiness, and pains by the author. What I like more about this book is how the author is clear and honest about certain situations she has in. I know many readers would relate to her experiences. Not only that she really can picture reality of human feelings and experiences. Her entry Love and Robots is one hurting reality.
I love the part of Awakened. Aside from quoting Mary Oliver in the first chapter, I love the author even more when she quote, Lana Del Rey’s NFR for I know this chapter be is another great read. I must agree that this is. This chapter is brave and daring and honest. Her words allude love, passion, and begging at times which one way or another a reader had experiences them too. Reading all her words are like whiskey on a sunshine.
Over-all, this is a great read in a cozy weather for women who are either in love, alone, happy, independent, and bold. Lauren White is gifting her readers, that no matter what, we should take life in sunshine and whiskey.
May 25, 2020
Sunshine and Whiskey
It is a collection of a spectrum of poems covering the author's life from her teen year to adulthood. It is divided into 5 parts- Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened, Boldly. These are poems of complaints, broken hearts, frustration, despair, love, lust, composing oneself in the time of growing years.
The poems are of length both short and long. To me short one fared better in the definition of the poem and were really capable of picturing the beautiful ideas especially in the second part. The personification of nature fared well in general in comparison to other poems.
Of all, I liked most is 'Lauren', the second part. And my favorites of all poems are 'Solace, Staircase part 2'. Others like "Summer, Leaves, Twilight, Swan at Crossroads, No footprints, Masterpiece, Conflicted, When I think of Italy' etc.. were equally good.
Some lacking-
Some poems were stretched too much beyond a points and most of them were ending in the same theme of despair. Some poems like Sidewalk started with beautiful learning but ended with some kind of deficiency.
I personally did not like the Broken (I think too much emphasis is given on this) and Awakened part, I found these parts very immature like a raw diary of a teenager full of lust and sexual fantasies. To me these two parts bring down the book, there is a need to re-weight them in the book. And there is definitely a need to filter good poems scattered in the book and refine the book more.
A very generous 2.5
It is a collection of a spectrum of poems covering the author's life from her teen year to adulthood. It is divided into 5 parts- Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened, Boldly. These are poems of complaints, broken hearts, frustration, despair, love, lust, composing oneself in the time of growing years.
The poems are of length both short and long. To me short one fared better in the definition of the poem and were really capable of picturing the beautiful ideas especially in the second part. The personification of nature fared well in general in comparison to other poems.
Of all, I liked most is 'Lauren', the second part. And my favorites of all poems are 'Solace, Staircase part 2'. Others like "Summer, Leaves, Twilight, Swan at Crossroads, No footprints, Masterpiece, Conflicted, When I think of Italy' etc.. were equally good.
Some lacking-
Some poems were stretched too much beyond a points and most of them were ending in the same theme of despair. Some poems like Sidewalk started with beautiful learning but ended with some kind of deficiency.
I personally did not like the Broken (I think too much emphasis is given on this) and Awakened part, I found these parts very immature like a raw diary of a teenager full of lust and sexual fantasies. To me these two parts bring down the book, there is a need to re-weight them in the book. And there is definitely a need to filter good poems scattered in the book and refine the book more.
A very generous 2.5
July 20, 2020
Sunshine and Whiskey is a self-published collection of poetry about love, loss, longing and lust. At rare moments, the poems would be about self love or escaping toxic relationship. I would like to thank the poet, Lauren White, and BookTasters on Twitter for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. And that being said, I will be fully honest with my words.
This review is rather hard for me to write, because I had to DNF this book. I have never DNF-ed a review copy before, but I could not force myself to continue reading Sunshine and Whiskey, because I might end up disliking it. I'd hate for that to happen, because although I only read the book halfway through, there are good points about it, and if I were to continue, I would feel forced.
The book is divided into five parts—Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened and Boldly. I only read until the Broken part, and I still do not see the point of these parts? It might be personal to the poet, perhaps when she had written these poems, those were the categories she thought of. But to me, they seemed rather meaningless, as the poems do not seem to be categorised at all. At one moment, I would be reading about a poem where the persona was longing for the person that she loved, and the next moment she would hate the person and wanted to move on, but the next poem would be about longing again.
I personally think it would have been better if the poet categorised her poems into sections, maybe starting with falling in love, and then falling out of love, continued with longing and lastly moving on. It can be arranged in any way, but it would definitely be easier to read if they were categorised together, instead of being thrown altogether.
I am aware that this book is self published, so maybe the poet had no editor to check on her work, but I think it's better for me to still point this out. I found several grammatical errors and typos, which is not too glaring, but as a reviewer, I do think it's quite noticeable. One of it is the wrong use of "your" and "you're". Please note that "your" means belonging to you, while "you're" is the shortened version of you are. There were occasional times when the word "I" was written in lowercase, which is wrong, (unless it was written like that with a purpose).
And correct me if I'm wrong, but the word "mine" means belonging to me, but if you were to refer to something yours, you would say "my", not "mine". An example of it was in one of the poems (forgive me, but I forgot which one), where the poet wrote "mine ears". I would think that it should have been "my ears". As for the format too, I think each new poem should start on a new page. I'm not sure if the e-book I was given had an error in its format, but there were some poems that started at the end of a page, with one stanza, before continuing at the next page. I think it doesn't look neat, and rather distracting. I'm not trying to be smart about any of this, but I believe that if the poet is to ever continue writing, she deserves to know these.
Apart from that, certain poems seem to be very lengthy. I actually do not mind long poems, but the topic of the poems seemed to be repetitive, and when some poems started right after a poem ends instead of at a new page, it felt like reading a paragraph without a full stop. It was difficult for me to stay focus. I also think that some of the poems should have a trigger warning for them? I found two poems that mentioned self-harm, which can even be considered as a suicide attempt. Maybe it felt personal to the poet, and perhaps some readers didn't mind them, but I think that it's rather unwise to mention about self harm so vividly in a poetry book. A short trigger warning would be appreciated.
I know that it seemed that I consider Sunshine and Whiskey to be full of negative points, but that would be wrong. There are several poems that I truly love, such as Her Lovely Face, Your Loss, Open the Door, Mordant and Forgotten Things. Other poems also have some paragraphs or stanzas that are beautifully written.
The words chosen by the poet are mostly beautiful, and she even used many extravagant words to title her poems. At first I felt overwhelmed by the number of words that I've never heard of, but I had fun learning them. Some of the words include resplendent, rambunctious, vociferous, de rigueur, mordant and many more. I also think that the poet writes good sensual poems, without making them sound cringeworthy or dirty. It would suit best for adult readers that enjoy poetry about love.
Although Sunshine and Whiskey are obviously not meant for me, I do believe that other poetry lovers may love it. To the poet, Lauren White, I wish the best for you in the future if you ever continue writing poetry, and congratulations for your success in publishing this poetry collection on your own ❤️
This review is rather hard for me to write, because I had to DNF this book. I have never DNF-ed a review copy before, but I could not force myself to continue reading Sunshine and Whiskey, because I might end up disliking it. I'd hate for that to happen, because although I only read the book halfway through, there are good points about it, and if I were to continue, I would feel forced.
The book is divided into five parts—Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened and Boldly. I only read until the Broken part, and I still do not see the point of these parts? It might be personal to the poet, perhaps when she had written these poems, those were the categories she thought of. But to me, they seemed rather meaningless, as the poems do not seem to be categorised at all. At one moment, I would be reading about a poem where the persona was longing for the person that she loved, and the next moment she would hate the person and wanted to move on, but the next poem would be about longing again.
I personally think it would have been better if the poet categorised her poems into sections, maybe starting with falling in love, and then falling out of love, continued with longing and lastly moving on. It can be arranged in any way, but it would definitely be easier to read if they were categorised together, instead of being thrown altogether.
I am aware that this book is self published, so maybe the poet had no editor to check on her work, but I think it's better for me to still point this out. I found several grammatical errors and typos, which is not too glaring, but as a reviewer, I do think it's quite noticeable. One of it is the wrong use of "your" and "you're". Please note that "your" means belonging to you, while "you're" is the shortened version of you are. There were occasional times when the word "I" was written in lowercase, which is wrong, (unless it was written like that with a purpose).
And correct me if I'm wrong, but the word "mine" means belonging to me, but if you were to refer to something yours, you would say "my", not "mine". An example of it was in one of the poems (forgive me, but I forgot which one), where the poet wrote "mine ears". I would think that it should have been "my ears". As for the format too, I think each new poem should start on a new page. I'm not sure if the e-book I was given had an error in its format, but there were some poems that started at the end of a page, with one stanza, before continuing at the next page. I think it doesn't look neat, and rather distracting. I'm not trying to be smart about any of this, but I believe that if the poet is to ever continue writing, she deserves to know these.
Apart from that, certain poems seem to be very lengthy. I actually do not mind long poems, but the topic of the poems seemed to be repetitive, and when some poems started right after a poem ends instead of at a new page, it felt like reading a paragraph without a full stop. It was difficult for me to stay focus. I also think that some of the poems should have a trigger warning for them? I found two poems that mentioned self-harm, which can even be considered as a suicide attempt. Maybe it felt personal to the poet, and perhaps some readers didn't mind them, but I think that it's rather unwise to mention about self harm so vividly in a poetry book. A short trigger warning would be appreciated.
I know that it seemed that I consider Sunshine and Whiskey to be full of negative points, but that would be wrong. There are several poems that I truly love, such as Her Lovely Face, Your Loss, Open the Door, Mordant and Forgotten Things. Other poems also have some paragraphs or stanzas that are beautifully written.
The words chosen by the poet are mostly beautiful, and she even used many extravagant words to title her poems. At first I felt overwhelmed by the number of words that I've never heard of, but I had fun learning them. Some of the words include resplendent, rambunctious, vociferous, de rigueur, mordant and many more. I also think that the poet writes good sensual poems, without making them sound cringeworthy or dirty. It would suit best for adult readers that enjoy poetry about love.
Although Sunshine and Whiskey are obviously not meant for me, I do believe that other poetry lovers may love it. To the poet, Lauren White, I wish the best for you in the future if you ever continue writing poetry, and congratulations for your success in publishing this poetry collection on your own ❤️
June 29, 2020
Sunshine and Whiskey is a collection of poems by Lauren White. I was very kindly gifted an ebook of this book in return for an honest review, so all opinions expressed here are my own. As you might already know from previous posts, I have been reading a lot of poetry recently so I have lots of poetry books to review!
A bit about the author: Lauren White grew up in Maryland, and she is an engineer. She earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park and her M.S. in Systems Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School. In her free time she likes trying new whiskies, writing poetry and Star Trek.
I have mixed opinions about Sunshine and Whiskey, which is split into several sections such as Summer, Lauren and Broken. That is not to say any of the poetry is bad; in fact most of the poems were simple and well-written. I really enjoyed the rhyming White used in her poems and the mood she evoked in some of the poems was wonderful, with little details that really immersed me in the scene. There were some cliche lines, but these were accompanied by some cool original imagery.
The poems were predominantly long and free form, made up of short lines. They often had really obscure words as titles which I loved, because I am obsessed with finding out new words so I really enjoyed looking up what these meant. I was less a fan of the random pop culture references such as X-men, as I tend to prefer timeless poetry, but the self confidence shown in some of the poems was very inspiring.
As for the subjects of the poems, there was a variety. My favourites were the ones White wrote about herself, so it was rather disappointing that the majority of the collection were about relationships. The poems about heartbreak just seemed to go on forever and became a bit repetitive, definitely for more mature readers because lots of them focused on someone leaving her and her lying in bed remembering them having sex and touching. None of the poems were graphic in that sense, but it just got boring when every poem was slightly different ways of describing the same thing.
In conclusion I would recommend this collection if you are interested in reading lots of poems about love, heartbreak and missing someone. The ones White writes about herself and any other topic are more engaging, however they are sadly dwarfed by the sheer volume of poems focused on unnamed partner(s).
A bit about the author: Lauren White grew up in Maryland, and she is an engineer. She earned her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland, College Park and her M.S. in Systems Engineering from Naval Postgraduate School. In her free time she likes trying new whiskies, writing poetry and Star Trek.
I have mixed opinions about Sunshine and Whiskey, which is split into several sections such as Summer, Lauren and Broken. That is not to say any of the poetry is bad; in fact most of the poems were simple and well-written. I really enjoyed the rhyming White used in her poems and the mood she evoked in some of the poems was wonderful, with little details that really immersed me in the scene. There were some cliche lines, but these were accompanied by some cool original imagery.
The poems were predominantly long and free form, made up of short lines. They often had really obscure words as titles which I loved, because I am obsessed with finding out new words so I really enjoyed looking up what these meant. I was less a fan of the random pop culture references such as X-men, as I tend to prefer timeless poetry, but the self confidence shown in some of the poems was very inspiring.
As for the subjects of the poems, there was a variety. My favourites were the ones White wrote about herself, so it was rather disappointing that the majority of the collection were about relationships. The poems about heartbreak just seemed to go on forever and became a bit repetitive, definitely for more mature readers because lots of them focused on someone leaving her and her lying in bed remembering them having sex and touching. None of the poems were graphic in that sense, but it just got boring when every poem was slightly different ways of describing the same thing.
In conclusion I would recommend this collection if you are interested in reading lots of poems about love, heartbreak and missing someone. The ones White writes about herself and any other topic are more engaging, however they are sadly dwarfed by the sheer volume of poems focused on unnamed partner(s).
November 24, 2021
I don't typically read poetry. However, I found this title quite inviting.
I found the blend of poetic styling within the title to be very well balanced. The poetry was very reflective of real-life, referencing both heavy and light themes and experiences. The poetry has a nice flow, and I found it easy to read large chunks in one sitting. The book is a perfect length, giving enough to leave you satisfied, but not so much that you become weary trying to get through it. I could easily recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of poetry. This book is great for someone exploring poetry for the first time. I can easily give this book four out of five stars, reserving a five-star rating for genres I have extensive knowledge of and have read extensively.
I found the blend of poetic styling within the title to be very well balanced. The poetry was very reflective of real-life, referencing both heavy and light themes and experiences. The poetry has a nice flow, and I found it easy to read large chunks in one sitting. The book is a perfect length, giving enough to leave you satisfied, but not so much that you become weary trying to get through it. I could easily recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of poetry. This book is great for someone exploring poetry for the first time. I can easily give this book four out of five stars, reserving a five-star rating for genres I have extensive knowledge of and have read extensively.
January 13, 2021
Her collection of poems are her way of telling her stories. The poems are relatable, in such a way that when you read them, they speak directly to what your mind might be going through. I might say that we might have experienced the same, because I can totally relate with it! She maybe is telling her stories, but her stories are what we somewhat have gone through.
I found the "Broken" section as the best part of her book.
I found the "Broken" section as the best part of her book.
June 6, 2020
First off, this is not your mama's poetry. This is real life. If you've ever known the heartache and ups and downs that come with love, then these poems will definitely be something you can relate to. The gut wrenching truth of the highs and lows of relationships, and how that can play on self-esteem and feelings of worth. I could recall having so many of these familiar feelings as I read, and the words flowed off the page. Sometimes I could hear them within a rap song, and at other times they simply told a story. Regardless, they never stopped entertaining me throughout the book. Word of warning, there is colorful language, so if that offends you in any way, you should be aware of that up front. But I would highly recommend this as a creative outlet to anybody who needs to feel as if they are not alone in the world, and perhaps even encouragement to start writing your own poems to express feelings. I believe these started out as a journal for the author, and builds up into her more adult relationships, and the series of poems, the way they are ordered, tells a great story.
May 6, 2020
I received a free copy of this book from the author via Booktasters in exchange for an honest review.
This collection is emotive and honest - like a journal kept for decades, containing all the feelings and thoughts that simply will not be unheard.
The author's journey from adolescence to adulthood includes many relatable experiences. These poems will surely be enjoyed by anyone who's been through dark, lonely times and has felt the need to express their thoughts, some fleeting and others obsessive.
The more recent poems embody raw sensuality with a sense of empowerment.
A few of my favourites:
Dying Rose, Nameless, Insane, Staircase part 1, Sandman, and Flutter.
This collection is emotive and honest - like a journal kept for decades, containing all the feelings and thoughts that simply will not be unheard.
The author's journey from adolescence to adulthood includes many relatable experiences. These poems will surely be enjoyed by anyone who's been through dark, lonely times and has felt the need to express their thoughts, some fleeting and others obsessive.
The more recent poems embody raw sensuality with a sense of empowerment.
A few of my favourites:
Dying Rose, Nameless, Insane, Staircase part 1, Sandman, and Flutter.
June 27, 2020
This book is good because it has a very diverse range of topics. It touches most aspects of life. And the fact that it was about the writer's life shows and the experiences feel authentic and relatable.
But most of the poems themselves, were not very captivating to me in the way they were put down, and some of them spoke too much of being hurt and broken and that was just not something that kept my attention as I was reading it. But it was all in all a good experience.
But most of the poems themselves, were not very captivating to me in the way they were put down, and some of them spoke too much of being hurt and broken and that was just not something that kept my attention as I was reading it. But it was all in all a good experience.
April 30, 2020
I have only read a handful of poetry collections (outside of literary journals), but after reading "Sunshine and Whiskey" by Lauren White, I definitely want to get into this genre. The fact that White includes poems she wrote from high school and college and her adult life is one of my favorite aspects about this collection. We get to see her growth as both a person and poet. With topics ranging from heartbreak to doubting self-worth and overcoming depression and other challenges in life, there are a number of poems I felt deeply connected to. "Cognitive Dissonance," "Soft," and "Sandman" are three of my favorites. (There are just too many to list!) Furthermore, the imagery is stunning. "To Daylight" (pg. 74) has some of my favorite lines in the entire collection.
June 24, 2020
I was given this book by the author and booktasters for an honest review. I read some poetry but books like this remind me I should read more because I really enjoy it. It’s divided into sections and is a collection that follows the growth of the author from high school to womanhood. My personal favourites were Solace, Stitches, Pussy Cat and Missing Me. A couple just hit me right where I live. It’s True and Invisible Woman touched parts of me that needed to be soothed. I recommend this book without reservation.
January 5, 2021
I liked everything about this book. To begin with the cover is super awesome, it sets you right on the thinking course.
The collection itself is quite amazing. It is a personal memoir and it has been put so poetically. The poems are written in free verse and quickly grab your attention.
The book itself is divided into five major parts: Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened and Boldly, all of which have a new perspective to offer. All the poems will take you through a quagmire of emotions. What I liked most while reading the poems was that they reflect honesty of thought and expression.
My favourites would be Insomnia and Solace . Even though some of the poems are lengthy they are written using short sentences which holds your attention. Some poems are hard hitting, heart breaking and many give a sense of empowerment. The language too is powerful. Other poems that left a deep impact on me are The Daylight, Glass heart and Unconditional Love.
I recommend the book whole heartedly. It's great for reading with a cup of coffee sitting by the fireside.
The only downside I found was the theme of heartbreak becoming repetitive.
All in all it's a great work with a variety of poems for everyone
The collection itself is quite amazing. It is a personal memoir and it has been put so poetically. The poems are written in free verse and quickly grab your attention.
The book itself is divided into five major parts: Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened and Boldly, all of which have a new perspective to offer. All the poems will take you through a quagmire of emotions. What I liked most while reading the poems was that they reflect honesty of thought and expression.
My favourites would be Insomnia and Solace . Even though some of the poems are lengthy they are written using short sentences which holds your attention. Some poems are hard hitting, heart breaking and many give a sense of empowerment. The language too is powerful. Other poems that left a deep impact on me are The Daylight, Glass heart and Unconditional Love.
I recommend the book whole heartedly. It's great for reading with a cup of coffee sitting by the fireside.
The only downside I found was the theme of heartbreak becoming repetitive.
All in all it's a great work with a variety of poems for everyone
June 3, 2020
Sunshine and Whiskey by Lauren White from her teenage years to her adulthood, is actually my first book of poetry that I have read fully. For some reason , I had the impression that poetry” just wasnt for me” , even though I was drawn to it when I as younger…how wrong I was as I enjoyed it thoroughly.If anyone else like myself has never taken the plunge either, this is the perfect book to read, full of down to earth poems, in all styles, written very honestly. The author reflects on the experience they are having while they are having it which encourages self-scrutiny.
Several stood out to me personally , although it may depend on your mood/experience at the time of reading.
I loved Sandman but who could not? Drivel was perfect for me as a friend is just coming out of a relationship and after I have shouldered much of their hurt I would have loved to have related this to the ex! Pamphleteer is how I associate social media-so true…Mordant , I actually laughed out loud at the end and had to explain why..and Where the sidewalk ends,revisited,part 2 is how I feel on many an occasion!
Thank you to Booktasters and Lauren White for providing me the opportunity to explore the world of poetry through your experience, for opening a new world to me!
Several stood out to me personally , although it may depend on your mood/experience at the time of reading.
I loved Sandman but who could not? Drivel was perfect for me as a friend is just coming out of a relationship and after I have shouldered much of their hurt I would have loved to have related this to the ex! Pamphleteer is how I associate social media-so true…Mordant , I actually laughed out loud at the end and had to explain why..and Where the sidewalk ends,revisited,part 2 is how I feel on many an occasion!
Thank you to Booktasters and Lauren White for providing me the opportunity to explore the world of poetry through your experience, for opening a new world to me!
December 11, 2020
Lauren White's Sunshine and Whiskey has depth, sensuality and traverses the complexities of love, life and self. The length of the book was a bit daunting and I immediately felt I wouldn't fully appreciate all the pieces if I grew impatient to finish it. That did not however stop me from finding favorites in every section. Summer was to me going back to the truth of one's self and the pondering on hopes and uncertainties of love. I deeply fell for Nostalgic, 'I know what you are doing, always do. You think no one knows you but you're not so complicated' and Forget Me, 'Forget the way I tasted when you ravaged every part of me left open to you because I wanted you to'. In Lauren, Momma talked of unfulfilled dreams and an all too familiar cycle. Solace was so sentimatal and I absolutely loved the opening quotes in every section of the book. Broken was pieces of oneself everywhere like the shards of a broken glass. In childhood memories, past lovers and friends, in lists that never got done. Awakened was highly sensual, explosive and was my overall favorite. It was an interplay of raw, vulnerable, crude desire. 'She's waiting for the touch of hands hardened by skill, of lips tamed in the sensual.' 'Bold was an arrival, 'she knows her light, she's enchanted.'
This is a book to take your time with, it's worthwhile.
This is a book to take your time with, it's worthwhile.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2020
This is a really beautiful collection. Totally worth getting.
The Author has a very clear and distinct voice. All of the poems scan well and hit the reader, perfectly. They all feel sincere and real, as if the writer is speaking/writing from the heart. You can easily feel what the poet is feeling, since they do a great job using the medium of poetry to convey their real emotions. Without spoiling too much, the first and last poems in the collection do a great job of telling their story. If you need something to pick yourself up when you're down, or if you want to study poetry, this book is right up your alley!
The Author has a very clear and distinct voice. All of the poems scan well and hit the reader, perfectly. They all feel sincere and real, as if the writer is speaking/writing from the heart. You can easily feel what the poet is feeling, since they do a great job using the medium of poetry to convey their real emotions. Without spoiling too much, the first and last poems in the collection do a great job of telling their story. If you need something to pick yourself up when you're down, or if you want to study poetry, this book is right up your alley!
September 9, 2020
I love poetry and I could not stop myself from not reading this amazing book by Lauren White. It was no doubt lengthy and time taking but I loved reading every word of this book. The book is divided into 5 parts- Summer, Lauren, Broken, Awakened, Boldly and they are poems on complaints, broken hearts, frustration, despair, love, lust and the growing years. 426 pages of awesome content, though there were very lengthy poems, I appreciate the way they have been written. Huge respect to Lauren for attempting poems on very daring topics. it was a very exciting read for me and really wish to read more from Lauren.
Read
July 28, 2020If you're into relatable poetry, this is the book for you! The poems, in a sense, were simple and down to earth. Some painted a picture but one stood out for me in particular: Insomnia. Thank you book tasters and Lauren for this splendid read.
July 10, 2022
You may have read an autobiography or memoir in the form of collection of stories but how about reading in form of poems?
Sunshine and Whiskey is a recollection of poems that the author Lauren White, wrote with time about her journey through life, since high school and afterwards – from being shattered to being strong, her emotions, her perception. As author in her own words states,”… here I am, naked before you, saying in so many ways, that I crave love and connection.”
It’s powerful and empowering. It has pain. It has hope. It has life. It has rediscovery.
The entire book is divided in five parts, each containing several poems that take you into the life of author, as you turn over pages gradually.
What’s special about this? There is something for every type of reader. Most of you may feel his/her a personal connection with any of the poems whether you’re struggling, alone as in Insomnia in Lauren, successful, searching yourself in dark, in love as beautifully described in It Could Be Us in Summer or about family.
Whether you’ve lost someone as in Blue Eyes (Summer) or Loss in Broken, discovered yourself as in The Edge (Broken) or tired of pretending as in Insane in Lauren.
This collection has touched almost every aspect that you can think of life.
This isn’t going to be old. You can read it whenever and as many times you want.
Lauren White
Sunshine and Whiskey
Sunshine and Whiskey is a recollection of poems that the author Lauren White, wrote with time about her journey through life, since high school and afterwards – from being shattered to being strong, her emotions, her perception. As author in her own words states,”… here I am, naked before you, saying in so many ways, that I crave love and connection.”
It’s powerful and empowering. It has pain. It has hope. It has life. It has rediscovery.
The entire book is divided in five parts, each containing several poems that take you into the life of author, as you turn over pages gradually.
What’s special about this? There is something for every type of reader. Most of you may feel his/her a personal connection with any of the poems whether you’re struggling, alone as in Insomnia in Lauren, successful, searching yourself in dark, in love as beautifully described in It Could Be Us in Summer or about family.
Whether you’ve lost someone as in Blue Eyes (Summer) or Loss in Broken, discovered yourself as in The Edge (Broken) or tired of pretending as in Insane in Lauren.
This collection has touched almost every aspect that you can think of life.
This isn’t going to be old. You can read it whenever and as many times you want.
Lauren White
Sunshine and Whiskey
December 30, 2020
Having known Lauren for over a decade, I have had a glimpse of her creative writing ability. Now, after seeing this complete work, I am impressed by her skill at capturing such a variety of emotions throughout her life. I am also proud of her for summoning the courage to publish!
January 24, 2021
I heard that people say we interpret the poems we read based on our current emotional states. As for now I am so empty and absent minded, not knowing how to feel. Reading this made me feel pretty depressing, because I’m already depressed I guess. But somehow, the narrative the poet tried to deliver, for me was quite average but I didn’t really find a poor one. Thank you for the copy!
June 22, 2021
Thank you Booktasters for offering such great books!
I love this book. When I started reading, I fell for the words hard, they describe emotions feelings and are so realistic for me. It is recommended for those who like poetry and like to wonder about life and feelings.
I love this book. When I started reading, I fell for the words hard, they describe emotions feelings and are so realistic for me. It is recommended for those who like poetry and like to wonder about life and feelings.
March 12, 2021
Wonderfully true poetry.
Sunshine and Whiskey is an enjoyable collection of poems written by Lauren White. Before you continue reading, I have to say that I don't normally read a lot of poetry so I do not possess great knowledge of rhythm or prose and all that jazz but this has been pleasant to read.
The book is divided into several sections where the author displays emotions going from pure joy to melancholy and sorrow due to different situations she portrays to the reader.
As I mentioned before, I don't usually read poetry and something I noticed is that some poems are simple and longer however, they evoked emotions with all the details she included in each one.
What I love the most about this book is how the author is completely honest about how she feels and sees certain situations. I am 100% sure many readers would relate to her experiences as well as I did because she can show real human feelings through words. Words not all of us can use neither written nor verbally to express how we truly feel.
My favorite poems were the ones the author wrote about herself because you can see how she grows and shows herself how she is. The poems where she misses her lover somehow got very repetitive but, again, I think we all go there at some point.
I must say, I found myself reading it and it was difficult for me due to work but once I was done, it is worth it. I also found myself going to the dictionary to look up some unfamiliar words but I loved the challenge because finding out and learning new words is something I enjoy.
To sum up, I would recommend this collection if you are interested in reading lots of poems about self-love, love, passion, heartbreak, craving someone, and else. I am sure, at least, one of the poems will engage you!
Sunshine and Whiskey is an enjoyable collection of poems written by Lauren White. Before you continue reading, I have to say that I don't normally read a lot of poetry so I do not possess great knowledge of rhythm or prose and all that jazz but this has been pleasant to read.
The book is divided into several sections where the author displays emotions going from pure joy to melancholy and sorrow due to different situations she portrays to the reader.
As I mentioned before, I don't usually read poetry and something I noticed is that some poems are simple and longer however, they evoked emotions with all the details she included in each one.
What I love the most about this book is how the author is completely honest about how she feels and sees certain situations. I am 100% sure many readers would relate to her experiences as well as I did because she can show real human feelings through words. Words not all of us can use neither written nor verbally to express how we truly feel.
My favorite poems were the ones the author wrote about herself because you can see how she grows and shows herself how she is. The poems where she misses her lover somehow got very repetitive but, again, I think we all go there at some point.
I must say, I found myself reading it and it was difficult for me due to work but once I was done, it is worth it. I also found myself going to the dictionary to look up some unfamiliar words but I loved the challenge because finding out and learning new words is something I enjoy.
To sum up, I would recommend this collection if you are interested in reading lots of poems about self-love, love, passion, heartbreak, craving someone, and else. I am sure, at least, one of the poems will engage you!
January 14, 2021
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
As this is a autobiographic collection of poems, I don't think it should be labelled as "good" or "bad", because I don't think this is meant to be read with any kind of expectations; it's just someone's take on life and their experiences put in paper, so I think taht's the way it should be conceived.
That being said, some of my thoghts about this are as follows:
What I liked: as you read, you can tell how personal the poems are, and the heavy meaning behind them. I like that it's written in free form style, it sounds more natural and quotidian (as in reading it almost feels like having a casual conversation with the author), and I like the variety in length, and meaning and topics; some poems are simple and straightforward, while other have a deeper meaning and tell a broader story. It's also interesting how the themes mature as the poemary advances, as it reflects the personal growth of the writer.
What I didn't like: you could say the "poetry" could be better, but, again, I don't think it needs to be, as this is more of a memoir than a book of poetry.
All in all, I think "sunshine and whiskey" is easy to read and easy to enjoy if you approach it with an open mind.
As this is a autobiographic collection of poems, I don't think it should be labelled as "good" or "bad", because I don't think this is meant to be read with any kind of expectations; it's just someone's take on life and their experiences put in paper, so I think taht's the way it should be conceived.
That being said, some of my thoghts about this are as follows:
What I liked: as you read, you can tell how personal the poems are, and the heavy meaning behind them. I like that it's written in free form style, it sounds more natural and quotidian (as in reading it almost feels like having a casual conversation with the author), and I like the variety in length, and meaning and topics; some poems are simple and straightforward, while other have a deeper meaning and tell a broader story. It's also interesting how the themes mature as the poemary advances, as it reflects the personal growth of the writer.
What I didn't like: you could say the "poetry" could be better, but, again, I don't think it needs to be, as this is more of a memoir than a book of poetry.
All in all, I think "sunshine and whiskey" is easy to read and easy to enjoy if you approach it with an open mind.
January 24, 2021
Sunshine and Whiskey by Lauren White is a wonderful collection of poems divided into 5 parts.. This collection could be summed up by the author in the following lines
"here I am, naked before you, saying in so many ways, that I crave love and connection.
Each part successfully explores loneliness, separation, loss and existentialism in simple yet complex forms. At the heart of her work is a sense of finding oneself. The.pleasure of metaphors and nature makes one appreciate the importance of simple things in life.
Some poems like Solace, Nostalgia and Diametrically stands out and we recognize nothingness and the loneliness of relationships and the departures. The free verse style is quiet modest and at the same time evocative. In all it shows Lauren's intensity of the lived experiences.
Loved the epigrams and the one liners by Lauren.
Diametric
My deepest wishes
Diametrically opposed
Dipolar
To any reality
Featuring you
Science couldn't explain us
Love wasn't enough
For a reader of poetry, the book is pretty long and the poems need trimming and conjuring rather than everything put as black and white.
Thank you Booktasters for the sending the book.
In all it is a goodread!
"here I am, naked before you, saying in so many ways, that I crave love and connection.
Each part successfully explores loneliness, separation, loss and existentialism in simple yet complex forms. At the heart of her work is a sense of finding oneself. The.pleasure of metaphors and nature makes one appreciate the importance of simple things in life.
Some poems like Solace, Nostalgia and Diametrically stands out and we recognize nothingness and the loneliness of relationships and the departures. The free verse style is quiet modest and at the same time evocative. In all it shows Lauren's intensity of the lived experiences.
Loved the epigrams and the one liners by Lauren.
Diametric
My deepest wishes
Diametrically opposed
Dipolar
To any reality
Featuring you
Science couldn't explain us
Love wasn't enough
For a reader of poetry, the book is pretty long and the poems need trimming and conjuring rather than everything put as black and white.
Thank you Booktasters for the sending the book.
In all it is a goodread!
Read
November 13, 2020Didn't want to rate my own book!
May 9, 2020
Sent to me for honest review
I haven’t read a lot of poetry and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The author has a way with words, I’ll say that and since this is poetry, there aren’t many things to note on.
It consists of poems divided into five parts starting at a point where the main character is in high school up until she is an adult. This made it a little harder for me to follow what age the character was at the time of a poem.
Two things made this not a four star rating for me: lack of connection to the voice and cringe moments. The cringe moments were very far and few between, but they were there and that might a personal thing but comparing two people to a ‘Hershey’s bar’ is something I could get as a reference point, but I felt it could have been described in a different way because some don’t know what that even is, but again personal preference.
The other thing was that I didn’t feel fully invested and connected to the voice, it felt a bit distant, I don’t know.
But if we're being honest, I am quite new to poetry so I might not know squat, and I did like this. I liked the story that was told and despite the above mentioned items, I do think that this is well worth your time. So enjoy and wiggle your way into poetry with this one because this one is a great place to start.
I haven’t read a lot of poetry and I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The author has a way with words, I’ll say that and since this is poetry, there aren’t many things to note on.
It consists of poems divided into five parts starting at a point where the main character is in high school up until she is an adult. This made it a little harder for me to follow what age the character was at the time of a poem.
Two things made this not a four star rating for me: lack of connection to the voice and cringe moments. The cringe moments were very far and few between, but they were there and that might a personal thing but comparing two people to a ‘Hershey’s bar’ is something I could get as a reference point, but I felt it could have been described in a different way because some don’t know what that even is, but again personal preference.
The other thing was that I didn’t feel fully invested and connected to the voice, it felt a bit distant, I don’t know.
But if we're being honest, I am quite new to poetry so I might not know squat, and I did like this. I liked the story that was told and despite the above mentioned items, I do think that this is well worth your time. So enjoy and wiggle your way into poetry with this one because this one is a great place to start.
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