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Hollow: a Love Like a Life
A ghost spirit of dark's universe falls in love with a ghost spirit of light's universe, and while they cannot meet, for they wander around separate realms and spacetimes, they live their love through a secret and sacred interaction.
- GenresPoetry
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 19, 2020
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Jazalyn
16 books331 followersWith millions of impressions, half million engagements and 30,000 followers in social media, Jazalyn is among the most-promising newcomers authors-poets.
Her books have sold in 4 Continents and have been featured on prominent lists on Amazon US/UK/AU/CA/IN and more. Soon she will expand in every corner of the Earth.
Jazalyn attracts all cultures and traditions with an audience from all walks and stages of life as a consequence of the universal atmosphere that encircles her themes.
Her innovative and versatile writing style stemming from abstraction and absurdness captivates mystery and suspense with words swimming in surrealism and magical realism.
Her imaginative and inventive narration unites the philosophical with the psychological and the scientific elements of both fantasy and fiction that create and solve riddles and puzzles.
In what results as a contemporary genre of cinematic (epic) poetry in slice of life-vignette expression which provokes thinking and eyes new horizons.
Jazalyn's art is purposely colorful, geometrical and fashionable in its totality to match the aesthetics of a qualitative artfulness which expands the consciousness of an enlightenment painted in a kind of mysticism and spirituality that knows no boundaries.
Her latest books vViIrRuUsS, Rose, Hollow signify Jazalyn's transition towards literary magnificence.
Her books have sold in 4 Continents and have been featured on prominent lists on Amazon US/UK/AU/CA/IN and more. Soon she will expand in every corner of the Earth.
Jazalyn attracts all cultures and traditions with an audience from all walks and stages of life as a consequence of the universal atmosphere that encircles her themes.
Her innovative and versatile writing style stemming from abstraction and absurdness captivates mystery and suspense with words swimming in surrealism and magical realism.
Her imaginative and inventive narration unites the philosophical with the psychological and the scientific elements of both fantasy and fiction that create and solve riddles and puzzles.
In what results as a contemporary genre of cinematic (epic) poetry in slice of life-vignette expression which provokes thinking and eyes new horizons.
Jazalyn's art is purposely colorful, geometrical and fashionable in its totality to match the aesthetics of a qualitative artfulness which expands the consciousness of an enlightenment painted in a kind of mysticism and spirituality that knows no boundaries.
Her latest books vViIrRuUsS, Rose, Hollow signify Jazalyn's transition towards literary magnificence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
August 6, 2022
I don't read poetry, but I am always willing to try something new, so thanks to Jazalyn for sending me a kindle copy to read and share my thoughts. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
There are many individually titles poems about two ghosts that love each other, but can't be together because one resides on the dark side and the other on the light side.
I feel like it takes skill to be able to essentially write the same thing in many different ways. Each poem varies in wording ~ they can never meet, never get together, but just love each other from afar.
Overall, a quick and easy read that should appeal to poetry lovers that love love and to those that enjoy stories of what cannot be.
One of my favorite quotes:
"What I love in you
Is that I am half
Without you;
You are my soul's start
My heart's end
But who I really am?"
There are many individually titles poems about two ghosts that love each other, but can't be together because one resides on the dark side and the other on the light side.
I feel like it takes skill to be able to essentially write the same thing in many different ways. Each poem varies in wording ~ they can never meet, never get together, but just love each other from afar.
Overall, a quick and easy read that should appeal to poetry lovers that love love and to those that enjoy stories of what cannot be.
One of my favorite quotes:
"What I love in you
Is that I am half
Without you;
You are my soul's start
My heart's end
But who I really am?"
May 10, 2022
I'm glad to say I enjoyed Hollow: a Love Like a Life more than the previous one I read (Rose: Future Heart). The synopsis didn't give me exactly what I thought it would be but at least I liked the poetry more this time around.
The poems were all very easy to read, the book is a fast read that you can definitely finish in one sitting like I did. I feel like I didn't want anything to interrupt the flow of the poetry and my reading. The themes of the poems were obviously about love, unrequited love in particular.
This collection is still not my favorite poetry of all time but the writing is beautiful, something I admire very much. So I'm sure other people will enjoy it a little more than I did.
The poems were all very easy to read, the book is a fast read that you can definitely finish in one sitting like I did. I feel like I didn't want anything to interrupt the flow of the poetry and my reading. The themes of the poems were obviously about love, unrequited love in particular.
This collection is still not my favorite poetry of all time but the writing is beautiful, something I admire very much. So I'm sure other people will enjoy it a little more than I did.
May 20, 2022
Hollow is a collection of poetry centered around and inspired by spiritual, paranormal romance.
The poems presented here can be read on several levels, primarily that of unrequited love.
However, their subjectivity lends meaning to obsessive love, a new relationship, a break-up, and hidden/forbidden love. In its most exquisitely painful forms, love falls within the framework narrative of a light spirit and dark spirit who fall in love but cannot be together.
The poems have an airy, nebulous feel, whispering with the metaphysical, which is understandable given the otherworldly motivation. Nonetheless, they are accessible and carry a plaintive beauty. All are short, compact, and fairly free rhyming.
They flow nicely and, consequently read easily with some lovely understated, subtly expressed emotion. There is a clear sense of catharsis, albeit tormented, in a number of them and several achingly lovely, yet agonizingly heart-wrenching sentiments. Notwithstanding, I feel there could have been a stronger definition of telling the story of the two entities through the poetry.
The collection is separated into sections that chart the development of feeling and synergy between these two entities. Like the poems themselves, which are conveyed simply, it’s neat and precisely ordered.
Highlights for me include, “Love Hasn’t Died”, I liked the premise of a ‘secret shadow’. “My Most Dangerous Love”, we’ve all been in that thrilling yet undeniably toxic relationship. “I’m Loving Everything of You”, is just a charming poem that taps into the nascent days of being with someone special. “Shield In My Heart”, “(What) I Love In You”, and, “We Lose Our Love In “I Thought”” worked well and were delivered emotionally.
However, although Hollow is an absolute must-read for love that is essentially unable to be returned, there is a slight element of repetition. Some of the poems could have been joined, or absorbed into each other to produce a stronger interpretation of the themes. A touch more imagery would have also been good for visualization and consolidation.
Overall, a neatly considered, well-structured collection of wistfully lovely poems that gently vibrate with bittersweet longing and ethereal angst. Recommended.
The poems presented here can be read on several levels, primarily that of unrequited love.
However, their subjectivity lends meaning to obsessive love, a new relationship, a break-up, and hidden/forbidden love. In its most exquisitely painful forms, love falls within the framework narrative of a light spirit and dark spirit who fall in love but cannot be together.
The poems have an airy, nebulous feel, whispering with the metaphysical, which is understandable given the otherworldly motivation. Nonetheless, they are accessible and carry a plaintive beauty. All are short, compact, and fairly free rhyming.
They flow nicely and, consequently read easily with some lovely understated, subtly expressed emotion. There is a clear sense of catharsis, albeit tormented, in a number of them and several achingly lovely, yet agonizingly heart-wrenching sentiments. Notwithstanding, I feel there could have been a stronger definition of telling the story of the two entities through the poetry.
The collection is separated into sections that chart the development of feeling and synergy between these two entities. Like the poems themselves, which are conveyed simply, it’s neat and precisely ordered.
Highlights for me include, “Love Hasn’t Died”, I liked the premise of a ‘secret shadow’. “My Most Dangerous Love”, we’ve all been in that thrilling yet undeniably toxic relationship. “I’m Loving Everything of You”, is just a charming poem that taps into the nascent days of being with someone special. “Shield In My Heart”, “(What) I Love In You”, and, “We Lose Our Love In “I Thought”” worked well and were delivered emotionally.
However, although Hollow is an absolute must-read for love that is essentially unable to be returned, there is a slight element of repetition. Some of the poems could have been joined, or absorbed into each other to produce a stronger interpretation of the themes. A touch more imagery would have also been good for visualization and consolidation.
Overall, a neatly considered, well-structured collection of wistfully lovely poems that gently vibrate with bittersweet longing and ethereal angst. Recommended.
July 29, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive this book from the author. I hope the prospective reader will read this review fully before making any prejudgments on the book. I will give the book my thoughts. These thoughts are completely my own and not swayed in any way by anyone else’s reviews or opinions.
Read more reviews here: www.onreviewbysara.com
My Rating: I rate this collection 4 out of 5 stars. I believe that this is an excellent written collection. As someone who doesn’t like poetry, I must say that I may read more if they are written like this. I am hoping to see more of this incredibly talented author in the future.
Read more reviews here: www.onreviewbysara.com
My Rating: I rate this collection 4 out of 5 stars. I believe that this is an excellent written collection. As someone who doesn’t like poetry, I must say that I may read more if they are written like this. I am hoping to see more of this incredibly talented author in the future.
February 4, 2022
you can find my full review on my blog:
https://ohnobooks.wordpress.com/2022/...
https://ohnobooks.wordpress.com/2022/...
January 12, 2023
Why the medium reviews? This is brilliant writing and very clever, instead of writing a love story this person has put this into poetry which really works. Some of these did sound like songs or a musical, having grown up in France most pop songs are poetry can’t wait for the next
July 27, 2022
While the premise was very very good, there was a disjointed way the author wrote the poetry. It would have done better as an actual story as the again, the premise is very well thought out and very interesting.
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March 2, 2022Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Since I am not the biggest fan of poetry and barely read any, I will do my best to explain my feelings towards this collection, without rating it.
These poems are presented by the author as ones talking about ghosts, fantasy, and romance. If I hadn't known the presence of the first two elements, I could not have guessed they were here. However, love is present and is even the main topic as we are following one narrator who is experiencing the different states of love. Even if I found some passages a bit repetitive or cryptic, these poems remain quite accessible and the novice that I am still understood the majority of them. The thing that left the biggest impression on me is the quite efficient use of repetition allowing the author to mirror the human stream of consciousness. It emphasised the feelings expressed by the narrator and gave a nice rhythm to the poems.
In brief: I liked the fact that this collection was made of both poems easy to understand and others more far-fetched (plus the fact that it was a quick read!).
Find more reviews on my blog: https://abookbythefire.wordpress.com/
Since I am not the biggest fan of poetry and barely read any, I will do my best to explain my feelings towards this collection, without rating it.
These poems are presented by the author as ones talking about ghosts, fantasy, and romance. If I hadn't known the presence of the first two elements, I could not have guessed they were here. However, love is present and is even the main topic as we are following one narrator who is experiencing the different states of love. Even if I found some passages a bit repetitive or cryptic, these poems remain quite accessible and the novice that I am still understood the majority of them. The thing that left the biggest impression on me is the quite efficient use of repetition allowing the author to mirror the human stream of consciousness. It emphasised the feelings expressed by the narrator and gave a nice rhythm to the poems.
In brief: I liked the fact that this collection was made of both poems easy to understand and others more far-fetched (plus the fact that it was a quick read!).
Find more reviews on my blog: https://abookbythefire.wordpress.com/
July 13, 2022
(See also: reviews of "vViIrRuUsS" and "Rose: a Future Heart")
These three books come to us from Jazalyn, who styles herself an artist and a poetess. They consist of verse forms covering the young writer’s concerns with everything from her own love life to the fate of modern civilization. The stanzas bring to bear a nebulous energy and give one hope that a young artist can be clear-headed enough to be sobered by today’s world, but also approach healing it with a young person’s energy and belief in the future. While the verses don’t necessarily aspire to a polished form, they do come with a fresh and hopeful outlook, held by an intelligent and forthright artist. She strives to find her voice and to establish the cogency of her message, and in these, her effort is well worth our noticing.
These three books come to us from Jazalyn, who styles herself an artist and a poetess. They consist of verse forms covering the young writer’s concerns with everything from her own love life to the fate of modern civilization. The stanzas bring to bear a nebulous energy and give one hope that a young artist can be clear-headed enough to be sobered by today’s world, but also approach healing it with a young person’s energy and belief in the future. While the verses don’t necessarily aspire to a polished form, they do come with a fresh and hopeful outlook, held by an intelligent and forthright artist. She strives to find her voice and to establish the cogency of her message, and in these, her effort is well worth our noticing.
June 26, 2022
Hollow: A Love Like A Life by Jazalyn | Epic Contemporary Poetry
I feel unqualified to review this work of paranormal poetry. Poetry of any type is not within my field of expertise. That said, here are a few thoughts I had.
While I read the book, I found myself pondering individual stanzas, lines, and chapters. What does this passage mean to the author and to me, the reader?
I truly believe poetry is in the eye of the beholder. What I took away from the book today will not be the same tomorrow.
Certain passages filled me with darkness and longing, while others seemed to invoke the light.
Ultimately, only you can decide if this is the book for you. If it intrigues you, then you should definitely give it a try. You never know where you will find inspiration to guide your journey through life.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author or publisher to review. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
I feel unqualified to review this work of paranormal poetry. Poetry of any type is not within my field of expertise. That said, here are a few thoughts I had.
While I read the book, I found myself pondering individual stanzas, lines, and chapters. What does this passage mean to the author and to me, the reader?
I truly believe poetry is in the eye of the beholder. What I took away from the book today will not be the same tomorrow.
Certain passages filled me with darkness and longing, while others seemed to invoke the light.
Ultimately, only you can decide if this is the book for you. If it intrigues you, then you should definitely give it a try. You never know where you will find inspiration to guide your journey through life.
I received a digital copy of the book from the author or publisher to review. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
May 31, 2022
Hollow is a collection of poems about the forbidden love of two spirits. The poetry focuses on new love, distant relationship, hidden love, longing, and painful heartbreak.
It is the story of a ghost spirit that resides in the dark world and a ghost spirit of the light world who fall in love but are unable to be together. The journey of their unrequited love and emotional heartbreak is too deep in every space.
The poetry is written in straightforward, easily understandable language and carries a beauty to it. All are short, concise, and free of flaws, allowing them to be read in one sitting. The poems are painfully heartbreaking and pull at the strings of my emotions. I enjoyed reading this poetry book filled with yearning and angst.
OJ Reads
It is the story of a ghost spirit that resides in the dark world and a ghost spirit of the light world who fall in love but are unable to be together. The journey of their unrequited love and emotional heartbreak is too deep in every space.
The poetry is written in straightforward, easily understandable language and carries a beauty to it. All are short, concise, and free of flaws, allowing them to be read in one sitting. The poems are painfully heartbreaking and pull at the strings of my emotions. I enjoyed reading this poetry book filled with yearning and angst.
OJ Reads
June 4, 2022
Hollow: A Love Like A Life by Jazalyn is a story of an impossible and forbidden love between a ghost spirit of dark and a ghost of light as they live out their affections in secret spaces.
Told in verse and poems this book appealed to my sense of romance in the form on unrequited way. It gave me a sense of the strange balance we have in the universe where opposites attract and are needed separately to function as a whole. Loving You Spiritually was one of my favorites is one of my favorites. It is about loving someone's spirit in a spiritual way because they do not belong together.
This book will appeal to fans of Romeo and Juliet. The book also reminds me of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tv show and the love between Buffy and Angel characters. Anyone who has experienced that certain type of heartbreak when you discover your love is in a separate realm and therefore cannot be reached.
Told in verse and poems this book appealed to my sense of romance in the form on unrequited way. It gave me a sense of the strange balance we have in the universe where opposites attract and are needed separately to function as a whole. Loving You Spiritually was one of my favorites is one of my favorites. It is about loving someone's spirit in a spiritual way because they do not belong together.
This book will appeal to fans of Romeo and Juliet. The book also reminds me of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer tv show and the love between Buffy and Angel characters. Anyone who has experienced that certain type of heartbreak when you discover your love is in a separate realm and therefore cannot be reached.
March 29, 2022
Poetry isn’t exactly my favorite type of book to review. I find it hard to put my thoughts on the book to paper (or, in this case, screen). But, saying this, I have found myself honored to read and review Jazalyn’s poetry. She is a talented writer, and I look forward to her future work.
Hollow: A Love Like A Life was wonderfully written. It is the story of two opposite spirits (dark and light) who fall in love but can not be together.
The poems touched me. I got emotional reading them. I found myself rooting for each spirit and hoping that they got to see each other. I also understood what it was like to love like that, and honestly, it sucked.
I would recommend Hollow: a Love like a Life to anyone over 16. There is mild language.
Hollow: A Love Like A Life was wonderfully written. It is the story of two opposite spirits (dark and light) who fall in love but can not be together.
The poems touched me. I got emotional reading them. I found myself rooting for each spirit and hoping that they got to see each other. I also understood what it was like to love like that, and honestly, it sucked.
I would recommend Hollow: a Love like a Life to anyone over 16. There is mild language.
February 12, 2022
Two ghost spirits live their love despite being in different universes, in light's and dark's, through secret language filling them with sacred energy.
The author writes with an engrossing and powerful style with consistently vivid imagery and delightful word that nourish your soul. Those feelings and emotions are beautifully described!
A few of my favourite poems are Two Ghosts, Secret Language, Dark & Light, Infinity and Always.
This book is a compilation of poems covering unique themes & this diversification in themes is the real beauty of this book to enjoy all the poems by each bit. I read it all in one sitting.
The author writes with an engrossing and powerful style with consistently vivid imagery and delightful word that nourish your soul. Those feelings and emotions are beautifully described!
A few of my favourite poems are Two Ghosts, Secret Language, Dark & Light, Infinity and Always.
This book is a compilation of poems covering unique themes & this diversification in themes is the real beauty of this book to enjoy all the poems by each bit. I read it all in one sitting.
June 30, 2022
I liked this book better than the other two that the author sent me to review. It was still mostly disjointed poetry, but at least it was more optimistic about what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. The first few poems told an interesting story about two spirits from different sides of the universe before it went back to Jazalyn's usual routine of existential poetry about emotions and life. If you only read one book from this author, I'd recommend this one.
March 13, 2022
Thank you so much Jazalyn for entrusting your art with me! This is my favorite of yours so far. I absolutely loved it!
“You're a ghost for me And you're miles away But somehow I feel your presence Here with me” - this is one of my favorite lines of poetry I’ve ever read. The concept and execution of this was fantastic! I can’t wait to read more of your work!
“You're a ghost for me And you're miles away But somehow I feel your presence Here with me” - this is one of my favorite lines of poetry I’ve ever read. The concept and execution of this was fantastic! I can’t wait to read more of your work!
March 22, 2022
This was a fast, yet enjoyable read. Each poem was unique. Some were short, some were long. I like poetry, so this book was definitely for me. I really like that there is a mix of emotions. It just really speaks to me.
May 30, 2022
A unique style of writing combing prose with poetry to articulate a beautiful forbidden romance between a spirit of the light realm and a spirit of the dark realm.
Full review on www.bookjewel.blogspot.com
Full review on www.bookjewel.blogspot.com
September 17, 2022
Nothing is the same
In my life
Since we met
These words seem plain don't they? They're plain and monotonous and easy to the eye. But you see it's not always what meets the eye. The more you read them the better you know of their depth.
You play mind games
And my mind is vulnerable
And believes everything
And nothing
At the same time
And when it said -
But every time I believe in love
Love doesn’t believe in me
DUDE THAT'S ME!!!!
This was my first attempt with a poetry - novel and my my what an amazing one it was.
Generally, I'm not a fan of unfinished love or stories that end up kn cliffhangers. But this one? It was so damn good. It's sweet, stuffy, emotional and sooo many emotions my goodness. I was on the verge of tears because a part of it talks about unrequited love. And embarrassing and pathetic as it may sound, I've been there. And so pretty words I could quote them all in here. Thankfully I was reading it in the middle of the night so I was feeling too much feelings at the time.
It talks about love, restrictions, bindings, doubts, misunderstandings, the devastating "I thought" of relationships, realization, patience and dedication.
And these words?
You are my only consolation
My biggest inspiration
My absolute admiration
And I believe in you
Because my love for you heals me
These are so beautiful they nearly made me cry.
*My utmost gratitude to the author for trusting me with this amazing piece and sharing the book with me.
Happy Reading!!!!!
In my life
Since we met
These words seem plain don't they? They're plain and monotonous and easy to the eye. But you see it's not always what meets the eye. The more you read them the better you know of their depth.
You play mind games
And my mind is vulnerable
And believes everything
And nothing
At the same time
And when it said -
But every time I believe in love
Love doesn’t believe in me
DUDE THAT'S ME!!!!
This was my first attempt with a poetry - novel and my my what an amazing one it was.
Generally, I'm not a fan of unfinished love or stories that end up kn cliffhangers. But this one? It was so damn good. It's sweet, stuffy, emotional and sooo many emotions my goodness. I was on the verge of tears because a part of it talks about unrequited love. And embarrassing and pathetic as it may sound, I've been there. And so pretty words I could quote them all in here. Thankfully I was reading it in the middle of the night so I was feeling too much feelings at the time.
It talks about love, restrictions, bindings, doubts, misunderstandings, the devastating "I thought" of relationships, realization, patience and dedication.
And these words?
You are my only consolation
My biggest inspiration
My absolute admiration
And I believe in you
Because my love for you heals me
These are so beautiful they nearly made me cry.
*My utmost gratitude to the author for trusting me with this amazing piece and sharing the book with me.
Happy Reading!!!!!
August 22, 2022
This was a very different poem. It was very unique and written in a lonely kind of tone. It is basically about two lovers that can never be together. One is on the good side while the other is on the bad side. So, technically they are opposites. It is filled with sad love poems that talk about lonliness, being in love and not being able to be with the one you love.
I enjoyed reading it just like the other two poems by Jazalyn. She is an upcoming poet who writes incredibly. I recommend you check out her other poems!
August 2, 2022
Poetry is one of the most subjective genres to review for me.. This might have an inkling of why I don't do that so often.
It can mean so many different things to so many that putting into words if it's good or bad doesn't seem fair to me.
I tend to just go with what it makes me feel (which to be honest, it's kind of what I do with all my reviews)
In this case, I was intrigued about the premise of a paranormal romance between dark and light entities - a star-crossed lovers kind of thing, but that was not what I got.
The poems were impactful, they give you that desperate feeling of insecurity when it comes to the uncertainty of a relationship - Am I truly Loved or is it an unrequited affair?
This seemed like the most predominant theme in this book.. I didn't get the paranormal aspect of it nor the impossibility of the relationship.
I did give it a 4 star rating because the feelings I did get were very clear to me (the reader) as I said before, the despair, the insecurity, the questioning of love.. and they were so easy to read and grasp even for someone who doesn't read poetry as much.
I think that's the author's talent.. making it relatable for everyone..
It can mean so many different things to so many that putting into words if it's good or bad doesn't seem fair to me.
I tend to just go with what it makes me feel (which to be honest, it's kind of what I do with all my reviews)
In this case, I was intrigued about the premise of a paranormal romance between dark and light entities - a star-crossed lovers kind of thing, but that was not what I got.
The poems were impactful, they give you that desperate feeling of insecurity when it comes to the uncertainty of a relationship - Am I truly Loved or is it an unrequited affair?
This seemed like the most predominant theme in this book.. I didn't get the paranormal aspect of it nor the impossibility of the relationship.
I did give it a 4 star rating because the feelings I did get were very clear to me (the reader) as I said before, the despair, the insecurity, the questioning of love.. and they were so easy to read and grasp even for someone who doesn't read poetry as much.
I think that's the author's talent.. making it relatable for everyone..
July 31, 2022
I have never enjoyed poetry ... I can rhyme all the thyme, but I cannot wrap my head around the way true poets, like Jazalyn, do it. That being said, I read this book of amazing poetic substance and I had to tell Jazalyn what I thought ... I wrote her this and now you get to see my thoughts too ... like it or not, here we go:
"you are amazing ... I am not ready to review ... maybe it's time I do ... you took my feeble mind and twisted it ... to a new place in the universe ... not sure I wanted to go there ... not sure I wanted to be there ... but you handed me a free ticket ... it was quite a ride ... I thank you, I think ... I hate you, but not much ... I love you more than I thank or hate you ... the results will manifest slowly ... stay tuned or hit delete ... either way, you affected me"
Did she spill over into my own head? Probably not and I am certain that I will never write as she does, but she did get into my head in ways I had not expected. Surprise yourself by reading her with an open mind. She might take you places you did not expect to go. Have a nice trip.
"you are amazing ... I am not ready to review ... maybe it's time I do ... you took my feeble mind and twisted it ... to a new place in the universe ... not sure I wanted to go there ... not sure I wanted to be there ... but you handed me a free ticket ... it was quite a ride ... I thank you, I think ... I hate you, but not much ... I love you more than I thank or hate you ... the results will manifest slowly ... stay tuned or hit delete ... either way, you affected me"
Did she spill over into my own head? Probably not and I am certain that I will never write as she does, but she did get into my head in ways I had not expected. Surprise yourself by reading her with an open mind. She might take you places you did not expect to go. Have a nice trip.
September 9, 2022
Love is the most innate characteristic of every human being on earth. Even a hardened criminal is capable of loving. But, sometimes, our love is unreciprocated. And yet we continue to love even if it hurts; even if what we get in return is nothing but hollow.
Jazalyn publishes Hollow: A Love Like a Life with this premise,
At a glance, a reader may surmise that the book is either about spirituality or a literary work that involves mystery. Such an assumption is partly close to the latter. Jazalyn’s work is actually a compilation of poems. Its central theme is love. Love is, indeed, a mysterious thing. This is especially so when its subject falls in love with another who is unable to return the affection. Unrequited love is tragic and painful! And, that is exactly what Jazalyn explores in Hollow: A Love Like a Life.
The ghost spirit the author mentions in the premise refers to the two individuals that exist in two different planes. The major character in the poems is a woman. She is secretly in love with a man who is unaware of her feelings. She is consumed with so much passion and intense emotions as she yearns,
The man, meanwhile, is an acquaintance who considers their connection as nothing beyond the platonic level. Will the woman find the courage to tell him of her feelings? Or, will she be content in loving him from a distance? Read Jazalyn’s poems and follow the lead character’s love journey.
The Book and the Author
Hollow: A Love Like a Life contains several short verses that are easy to follow. Jazalyn’s writing style is simple, but the delivery of her message is on point. Each poem displays the author’s agility in sustaining the emotions her major character bears. I’ve read her other book of poems and I found her consistent.
However, I must point out that the author tends to repeat her message. There are some poems that are rather repetitive. But, I can forgive her for this. She may have a reason for doing so.
Overall, I give Hollow: A Love Like a Life a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. And, I recommend it to all poetry lovers.
NOTE: The above review is also posted in The Catalyst.
Jazalyn publishes Hollow: A Love Like a Life with this premise,
“A ghost spirit of dark’s universe falls in love with a ghost spirit of light’s universe…”
At a glance, a reader may surmise that the book is either about spirituality or a literary work that involves mystery. Such an assumption is partly close to the latter. Jazalyn’s work is actually a compilation of poems. Its central theme is love. Love is, indeed, a mysterious thing. This is especially so when its subject falls in love with another who is unable to return the affection. Unrequited love is tragic and painful! And, that is exactly what Jazalyn explores in Hollow: A Love Like a Life.
The ghost spirit the author mentions in the premise refers to the two individuals that exist in two different planes. The major character in the poems is a woman. She is secretly in love with a man who is unaware of her feelings. She is consumed with so much passion and intense emotions as she yearns,
Give me the chance
To know you
And show you
How much I need you
The man, meanwhile, is an acquaintance who considers their connection as nothing beyond the platonic level. Will the woman find the courage to tell him of her feelings? Or, will she be content in loving him from a distance? Read Jazalyn’s poems and follow the lead character’s love journey.
The Book and the Author
Hollow: A Love Like a Life contains several short verses that are easy to follow. Jazalyn’s writing style is simple, but the delivery of her message is on point. Each poem displays the author’s agility in sustaining the emotions her major character bears. I’ve read her other book of poems and I found her consistent.
However, I must point out that the author tends to repeat her message. There are some poems that are rather repetitive. But, I can forgive her for this. She may have a reason for doing so.
Overall, I give Hollow: A Love Like a Life a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. And, I recommend it to all poetry lovers.
NOTE: The above review is also posted in The Catalyst.
December 3, 2022
Spoilers: We come to the second of Jazalyn's book of poetry. Its predecessor, VVIIRRUUSS was a science fiction themed story that really spoke of the importance of memories, emotion, and aspects of the human experience.
The second book, Hollow: A Love Like Life is a ghost story disguised as a meditation on love and separation.
We aren't told about the ghosts themselves, who they were in life, where they are from, their names, or even if they are male and female.
We are however told in the poem, "Qualms," that they are "A ghost spirit in the dark/Is dreaming of the light/Of a ghost of the light/Traveling in dangerous skies."
Despite living in different phases of light and darkness, the two ghosts fall in love.
In "I Love In You," one of the ghosts contemplates their love for the other ghost. They say, "What I love in you/And that I am half/Without you;/You are my soul's start/My heart's end/But who I really am?"
The ghost questions why they are in love and how they aren't sure that they know themselves. They also question the practicality of loving someone that exists in a different plane of existence and can barely communicate with each other.
The ghost realizes that this love is "haunted" and unwise, but love is rarely practical or concrete. Jazalyn's poems show how strong the emotion of love can be and how it sometimes counters reason.
The ghosts find a secret language to share where they are able to send visual impressions and emotions.
In "Enlightened Soul," they realize that in finding each other, they found that light that they need. One lover tells the other, "I fell in love with you/And I saw the light;/You liked me/And light found me."
The poems are filled with metaphors of light and darkness, polar opposites but that exist together. The ghosts are like that, opposites but able to exist together.
The ghost's love for each other and desperate attempts to form an emotional connection make this the strongest of Jazalyn's poetry books in terms of character.
In the poem, "Dark & Light," the ghost lovers realize that they need each other, that they complete each other and fill voids in one another's afterlives. The ghost from the darkness says "Maybe, I need your light/Maybe you need my dark/Because secretly/In our deepest quests/I might see more light/And you might see more dark."
Not only are the ghosts physically attracted to each other, or each one possess something that the other needs. It's a meeting of minds in which they could learn from each other, "I want you as my mentor/As my guide;/You could transform my life/Learning besides you/And it's not about/The material goods/But the intellectual values/I never learned."
The ghosts are able to capture flickers of each other and to communicate verbally so they share consciousness. It should be wonderful, but it still leads to questions, confusion, and dilemmas over what the nature of love actually is and whether it's permanent or temporary. One ghost ruminates about their partner in "Bipolar," "You are attractive/But my love for you/Is bipolar;/Sometimes I feel for you/Sometimes I crucify you/I don't know if you really love me/And these signs/I think you're sending me/Might be for another one." Love can seem like a form of insanity when the one in love is filled with suspicion and doubt whether it's real, whether the other lover is thinking about someone else, or whether their feelings are permanent.
The ghosts understand that they can be their best and worst selves in front of each other and they won't be judged. That's the essence of love, being comfortable. One says, "Right from the start/I expose/All my flaws/And I tell you/This is me/If you don't like me/Don't love me/I don't need a love/That is based on lies…."
They both have changed because of their love. One dressed all in black, gray, and neutrals. Then they dressed in bright colors. "I might be wrong," they say. "But you must have a spark for me/Even temporarily/I hope it won't be lost/And I know it won't/Because I changed after loving you."
The two realize that their love is a spiritual one that makes them feel enlightened. "We meet in the spiritual-/I admire your enlightened state-/That's why I love you/And want to be close to you," the ghosts say in "Enlightened Love." They are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually connected. They discovered that the true source of light is to be enlightened.
Hollow is not. Instead it is filled with poems about connections, spirituality, and above all love.
The second book, Hollow: A Love Like Life is a ghost story disguised as a meditation on love and separation.
We aren't told about the ghosts themselves, who they were in life, where they are from, their names, or even if they are male and female.
We are however told in the poem, "Qualms," that they are "A ghost spirit in the dark/Is dreaming of the light/Of a ghost of the light/Traveling in dangerous skies."
Despite living in different phases of light and darkness, the two ghosts fall in love.
In "I Love In You," one of the ghosts contemplates their love for the other ghost. They say, "What I love in you/And that I am half/Without you;/You are my soul's start/My heart's end/But who I really am?"
The ghost questions why they are in love and how they aren't sure that they know themselves. They also question the practicality of loving someone that exists in a different plane of existence and can barely communicate with each other.
The ghost realizes that this love is "haunted" and unwise, but love is rarely practical or concrete. Jazalyn's poems show how strong the emotion of love can be and how it sometimes counters reason.
The ghosts find a secret language to share where they are able to send visual impressions and emotions.
In "Enlightened Soul," they realize that in finding each other, they found that light that they need. One lover tells the other, "I fell in love with you/And I saw the light;/You liked me/And light found me."
The poems are filled with metaphors of light and darkness, polar opposites but that exist together. The ghosts are like that, opposites but able to exist together.
The ghost's love for each other and desperate attempts to form an emotional connection make this the strongest of Jazalyn's poetry books in terms of character.
In the poem, "Dark & Light," the ghost lovers realize that they need each other, that they complete each other and fill voids in one another's afterlives. The ghost from the darkness says "Maybe, I need your light/Maybe you need my dark/Because secretly/In our deepest quests/I might see more light/And you might see more dark."
Not only are the ghosts physically attracted to each other, or each one possess something that the other needs. It's a meeting of minds in which they could learn from each other, "I want you as my mentor/As my guide;/You could transform my life/Learning besides you/And it's not about/The material goods/But the intellectual values/I never learned."
The ghosts are able to capture flickers of each other and to communicate verbally so they share consciousness. It should be wonderful, but it still leads to questions, confusion, and dilemmas over what the nature of love actually is and whether it's permanent or temporary. One ghost ruminates about their partner in "Bipolar," "You are attractive/But my love for you/Is bipolar;/Sometimes I feel for you/Sometimes I crucify you/I don't know if you really love me/And these signs/I think you're sending me/Might be for another one." Love can seem like a form of insanity when the one in love is filled with suspicion and doubt whether it's real, whether the other lover is thinking about someone else, or whether their feelings are permanent.
The ghosts understand that they can be their best and worst selves in front of each other and they won't be judged. That's the essence of love, being comfortable. One says, "Right from the start/I expose/All my flaws/And I tell you/This is me/If you don't like me/Don't love me/I don't need a love/That is based on lies…."
They both have changed because of their love. One dressed all in black, gray, and neutrals. Then they dressed in bright colors. "I might be wrong," they say. "But you must have a spark for me/Even temporarily/I hope it won't be lost/And I know it won't/Because I changed after loving you."
The two realize that their love is a spiritual one that makes them feel enlightened. "We meet in the spiritual-/I admire your enlightened state-/That's why I love you/And want to be close to you," the ghosts say in "Enlightened Love." They are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually connected. They discovered that the true source of light is to be enlightened.
Hollow is not. Instead it is filled with poems about connections, spirituality, and above all love.
October 2, 2022
One person has described this poetry as surrealism, abstraction and magic realism. I think that is probably quite accurate. Fans of modernism (Neil Gaiman, Samuel Beckett etc.) will probably appreciate its rambling ethereal nature. There is some alliteration, odd rhyme and repetition which adds to the rhythm and flow of the verse. An attempt has been made to give the ghosts some character and solidity through personification, but this is secondary to the evocation of mystery and the ethereal nature of the verse. The language is simple and uncluttered without the technical literary references that accompany more traditional poetry. This makes it very accessible and easy for anyone to read.
In some of the poetry, you get the feeling of depth and the bigger questions. Qualities – “Amongst the need / For symmetry / There is honesty / Of identity.” The dark and the light are two sides, opposite and different, with their own identity. Honesty speaks of knowing who and what you are, of both sides of your character. An image forms in the mind which presents the personality and values which you display to the world as your identity.
The opening questions of Dark & Light examine the way we see and present ourselves to the world, as happy or sad. “I prefer the dark / And often I cry / But is it so sad? / You prefer the light / And you smile / But are you happy?” We traditionally think of darkness as bad and a place of sorrow, but is it? Equally, is the light so beneficial that it makes us happy? Are we simply falling into traditional stereotypes without analysing how it really makes us feel?
There is an attempt in the chapter headings to try and bring some structure – Premise, Qualms, Qualities, Secret Language, Sacred Energy, Dreaming of the Light, Dangerous Skies etc. However, I found many of the poems repeated the same point, perhaps slightly differently but still materially the same. The ghosts are separated and can not be together, they have doubts about their love and the possibility of being together, physically or spiritually. Their love transcends physical boundaries in terms of space and place. I would have preferred to see a more compact representation of these arguments. For me, the progression was too drawn out and this has the potential to make it less interesting for the reader.
Generally, readers who like modernist rather than traditional poetry will appreciate this work more. I question some of the author’s use of words and syntax, but poetry has always bent the rules to emphasize certain ideas and I think the reader has to accept this as a matter of author choice, not a grammatical error.
In some of the poetry, you get the feeling of depth and the bigger questions. Qualities – “Amongst the need / For symmetry / There is honesty / Of identity.” The dark and the light are two sides, opposite and different, with their own identity. Honesty speaks of knowing who and what you are, of both sides of your character. An image forms in the mind which presents the personality and values which you display to the world as your identity.
The opening questions of Dark & Light examine the way we see and present ourselves to the world, as happy or sad. “I prefer the dark / And often I cry / But is it so sad? / You prefer the light / And you smile / But are you happy?” We traditionally think of darkness as bad and a place of sorrow, but is it? Equally, is the light so beneficial that it makes us happy? Are we simply falling into traditional stereotypes without analysing how it really makes us feel?
There is an attempt in the chapter headings to try and bring some structure – Premise, Qualms, Qualities, Secret Language, Sacred Energy, Dreaming of the Light, Dangerous Skies etc. However, I found many of the poems repeated the same point, perhaps slightly differently but still materially the same. The ghosts are separated and can not be together, they have doubts about their love and the possibility of being together, physically or spiritually. Their love transcends physical boundaries in terms of space and place. I would have preferred to see a more compact representation of these arguments. For me, the progression was too drawn out and this has the potential to make it less interesting for the reader.
Generally, readers who like modernist rather than traditional poetry will appreciate this work more. I question some of the author’s use of words and syntax, but poetry has always bent the rules to emphasize certain ideas and I think the reader has to accept this as a matter of author choice, not a grammatical error.
September 27, 2022
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique)
Hollow: A Love Like A Life consists of about eighty poems dealing with love, jealousy, sadness, paranoia, self-doubt, and obsession.
Some people believe there is only one person for them. Their self-worth hinges on that person's love and acceptance. They think if this person can't or won't love them in return, then no one will. (Example: "If They Can't Love Me") You should not define yourself or your worth based on if your "soul mate" loves you in return. That's unhealthy.
Hollow: A Love Like A Life is about two ghostly spirits: one living in the light's universe and one residing in the dark universe. You might have noticed I didn't use "living" when I mentioned the spirit in the dark universe. I didn't because they weren't living. They were merely residing, hoping, obsessing over light's love, if it's real or not.
When I read poem after poem, I had a mental image of someone plucking petals off a flower and, after each pluck saying, "They love me. They love me not." The dark spirit questioned light's love time and again. They saw the light giving attention to others and became jealous. (Example - "After Loving You") They wanted to ask if it was all in their head but were afraid of the answer. This scenario will resonate with many readers.
A common theme throughout the book is obsession. "Haunted" even stated they will "make you love me."
"Back to Your Thoughts" had a most unsettling line that would be cause for alarm if this was discussing real people and not spirits: "My feelings for you order me to obey to your will."
The final line of "Irreparably" is something that I agree with, and you, the review reader, will probably agree with too. "Don't play with my feelings." No one wants toyed with, so this ender was perfect. Either you love someone, or you don't. Be honest, so no one's heart is left in a state of limbo.
I'm scoring this a three. I think others will relate to the poetry far better than I do, so I am giving it a point for its relatability.
(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)
Hollow: A Love Like A Life consists of about eighty poems dealing with love, jealousy, sadness, paranoia, self-doubt, and obsession.
Some people believe there is only one person for them. Their self-worth hinges on that person's love and acceptance. They think if this person can't or won't love them in return, then no one will. (Example: "If They Can't Love Me") You should not define yourself or your worth based on if your "soul mate" loves you in return. That's unhealthy.
Hollow: A Love Like A Life is about two ghostly spirits: one living in the light's universe and one residing in the dark universe. You might have noticed I didn't use "living" when I mentioned the spirit in the dark universe. I didn't because they weren't living. They were merely residing, hoping, obsessing over light's love, if it's real or not.
When I read poem after poem, I had a mental image of someone plucking petals off a flower and, after each pluck saying, "They love me. They love me not." The dark spirit questioned light's love time and again. They saw the light giving attention to others and became jealous. (Example - "After Loving You") They wanted to ask if it was all in their head but were afraid of the answer. This scenario will resonate with many readers.
A common theme throughout the book is obsession. "Haunted" even stated they will "make you love me."
"Back to Your Thoughts" had a most unsettling line that would be cause for alarm if this was discussing real people and not spirits: "My feelings for you order me to obey to your will."
The final line of "Irreparably" is something that I agree with, and you, the review reader, will probably agree with too. "Don't play with my feelings." No one wants toyed with, so this ender was perfect. Either you love someone, or you don't. Be honest, so no one's heart is left in a state of limbo.
I'm scoring this a three. I think others will relate to the poetry far better than I do, so I am giving it a point for its relatability.
(Find more reviews/ratings at www.superkambrook.com)
November 15, 2022
I must begin this review by saying that I’m not a poet and, although I’m interested in minds, I often have difficulty understanding them. Some things just have to be accepted – like light and dark, wandering spirits unable to meet, and love that must remain as an intention only.
There are a lot of great ideas in this book. Perhaps they may be tortured ideas because love, generally, anticipates consummation; but poetry, or even a novel in poetry, as this is, needs to have conflict. Without conflict, what is the point of a novel?
Though fate may connect the two protagonist spirits, it will not permit them to unite other than through yearning. Let us ask how this has been expressed in these poems.
It seems to me that the longing for love is expressed from the point of view of one spirit who wants the other. Because I live in a material world, however, I doubt my own understanding of the text. I also wonder (because there seems to be so much conflict) if this poetry novel were to be expressed in prose, would the novel race towards the conclusion that a reader might expect?
A reader of prose has certain expectations – pace, build up, conclusion, and so forth – that a reader of poetry may not have. In the case of some of this text, love is torture, yet in other parts of it there are more positive elements.
Perhaps, some things can only be expressed in poetry.
There are a lot of great ideas in this book. Perhaps they may be tortured ideas because love, generally, anticipates consummation; but poetry, or even a novel in poetry, as this is, needs to have conflict. Without conflict, what is the point of a novel?
Though fate may connect the two protagonist spirits, it will not permit them to unite other than through yearning. Let us ask how this has been expressed in these poems.
It seems to me that the longing for love is expressed from the point of view of one spirit who wants the other. Because I live in a material world, however, I doubt my own understanding of the text. I also wonder (because there seems to be so much conflict) if this poetry novel were to be expressed in prose, would the novel race towards the conclusion that a reader might expect?
A reader of prose has certain expectations – pace, build up, conclusion, and so forth – that a reader of poetry may not have. In the case of some of this text, love is torture, yet in other parts of it there are more positive elements.
Perhaps, some things can only be expressed in poetry.
September 11, 2022
*note: the author sent me this collection in exchange for a review*
I appreciate Jazalyn sending me this poetry collection for a review.
I'd like to start off by saying the premise was interesting and I was intrigued by the idea of two universal entities who share a love but have never connected.
I think the execution just wasn't quite what I had hoped, which is why my review is only 2 stars. It was a very simple read which was nice, but I did run into a few spelling and grammatical errors along the way. Sometimes "errors" like this can be done on purpose in poetry to serve a certain purpose, but in this case they seemed like they were just missed in editing and instead pulled me out of the poem and created a bit of a disjointed reading experience.
I also felt that, though the collection appeared to be separated into different parts, presumably to add structure to the storytelling of it, I found many of the poems to be quite repetitive and lacking new messages or ideas that differed from others in the collection.
I do think the author has some very interesting and original ideas, so again, the execution was the main reason that my review was brought down a few stars. I can really see the potential in their ideas and poetic technique!
Thanks!
I appreciate Jazalyn sending me this poetry collection for a review.
I'd like to start off by saying the premise was interesting and I was intrigued by the idea of two universal entities who share a love but have never connected.
I think the execution just wasn't quite what I had hoped, which is why my review is only 2 stars. It was a very simple read which was nice, but I did run into a few spelling and grammatical errors along the way. Sometimes "errors" like this can be done on purpose in poetry to serve a certain purpose, but in this case they seemed like they were just missed in editing and instead pulled me out of the poem and created a bit of a disjointed reading experience.
I also felt that, though the collection appeared to be separated into different parts, presumably to add structure to the storytelling of it, I found many of the poems to be quite repetitive and lacking new messages or ideas that differed from others in the collection.
I do think the author has some very interesting and original ideas, so again, the execution was the main reason that my review was brought down a few stars. I can really see the potential in their ideas and poetic technique!
Thanks!
May 10, 2023
This book was sent to me courtesy of the author, Jaz Jazalyn, who asked me to review her poetry novels. All views are personal and there will be a long-form review of all three books on my blog. This post has slightly more detail on what to expect.
Hollow: A Love Like A Life is a tale of two spirits who are infatuated by each other, but cannot meet properly due to the laws of their respective universes. Instead, they make use of their own secret language, which does make some things a little confusing with regards to both narrative and perspective.
Jazalyn brings that same ambition, which helped shape vVilrRuUsS's full-scale apocalypse, into this love story. These celestial beings are both made distinct, but their feelings for each other are the same regardless where they came from. The poems themselves reflect their mutual passion rather gracefully through all the emotional throes.
Score: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4
Full review here: https://promptedink.blogspot.com/2023...
Hollow: A Love Like A Life is a tale of two spirits who are infatuated by each other, but cannot meet properly due to the laws of their respective universes. Instead, they make use of their own secret language, which does make some things a little confusing with regards to both narrative and perspective.
Jazalyn brings that same ambition, which helped shape vVilrRuUsS's full-scale apocalypse, into this love story. These celestial beings are both made distinct, but their feelings for each other are the same regardless where they came from. The poems themselves reflect their mutual passion rather gracefully through all the emotional throes.
Score: 3.5 Stars rounded to 4
Full review here: https://promptedink.blogspot.com/2023...
July 23, 2023
Hollow: A love like a life – 2’5 / 5
“For you I love//And I experience//An enlightened love”
A ghost spirit of dark's universe falls in love with a ghost spirit of light's universe, and while they cannot meet, for they wander around separate realms and spacetimes, they live their love through a secret and sacred interaction.
I'm not used to read poetry, but the author sent me their work and I thought that it could be a good opportunity to try it. Reading this poetry novel was a very pleasure experience, the images that the author create with their words are beautiful and I enjoyed their prose, feeling that I was immersed in them.
But even when I enjoyed the book, I didn’t really connect with the sadness of the character. At first, I liked the words of love, but then I felt that it was a toxic love and a kind of obsession of the protagonist. More of the poems are beautiful, but there are some of them that made me frown for the toxicity they gave off.
All in all, I really liked the writing style of the author and it made me imagine beautiful landscapes, so I hope that other books of them can like me more and I’m ready to try more poems.
Irbis.
“For you I love//And I experience//An enlightened love”
A ghost spirit of dark's universe falls in love with a ghost spirit of light's universe, and while they cannot meet, for they wander around separate realms and spacetimes, they live their love through a secret and sacred interaction.
I'm not used to read poetry, but the author sent me their work and I thought that it could be a good opportunity to try it. Reading this poetry novel was a very pleasure experience, the images that the author create with their words are beautiful and I enjoyed their prose, feeling that I was immersed in them.
But even when I enjoyed the book, I didn’t really connect with the sadness of the character. At first, I liked the words of love, but then I felt that it was a toxic love and a kind of obsession of the protagonist. More of the poems are beautiful, but there are some of them that made me frown for the toxicity they gave off.
All in all, I really liked the writing style of the author and it made me imagine beautiful landscapes, so I hope that other books of them can like me more and I’m ready to try more poems.
Irbis.
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