The Words of a Madman

by Caitlin Kelly

this book is about being real. being broken. being happy. being sad. being anxious. being in love. being depressed. and overall being human.

Genres: Poetry

178 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2019

About the author

Caitlin Kelly is a young author and poet best known for The Words I Wish I Said, a collection that gained viral traction on social media in 2021 and reached #1 in Amazon Poetry sales, as well as #1 in Women’s Poetry. The book’s success marked a turning point in her career, introducing her work to a global audience and solidifying her voice within the contemporary poetry space.

She began self-publishing at sixteen years old with her debut collection, The Words of a Madman, and went on to release four poetry collections between the ages of seventeen and twenty. Her body of work includes The Words I Wish I Said, The Perks of Solitude (April 7, 2021), and Monsters of the Mind released on January 27, 2022.

Known for her emotionally intimate and reflective style, Caitlin explores themes of solitude, longing, and the things left unsaid through poetry, prose, and personal writing. In addition to her poetry, she is currently working on her debut novel, expanding her storytelling into longer-form fiction while maintaining the raw honesty that first resonated with readers.

Reviews

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you don't feel comfortable
touching her purse without permission
then you shouldn't feel comfortable
touching her body without permission

- no means no

[lilwtr · Rating 4 out of 5]

why the pictures tho

[Micaa Cambra · Rating 2 out of 5]

you know you've lost your will to live when you don't walk on the sidewalk anymore and you don't look before crossing the road 💔

[Alycia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[A.J. McMahon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this because it was one of the top selling Amazon poetry books. However, this isn't what we think of as "real" poetry with poetry techniques and rhyming and alliteration and rhyme patterns like Shakespearean sonnets and stuff.

It read more like a teenage girl's thoughts as in her diary but more probably sanitised somewhat for public viewing.

The topics she touches on are depression, love and loss, best friends, and essentially teenage love. She seems to convey that the person you need to rely on is yourself and nobody will love or like you due to your depression - unless it is your best friend.

There could have been better stories behind each chapters. Also, there could have been better development of the poems, since they read like diary entries or night thoughts of a teenage girl.

I did like the photos that she put throughout the book. It made it more artsy, and helped develop the story and intrigue that the reader has for the book.

All my reviews are available at: www.flyintobooks.com

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this on the kindle app on my phone.
The formatting was painful(may have just been because I read it on my phone though).
It was difficult to read. And not much depth to the poems, except that they seemed like the regular thoughts most people have in late night overthinking hours. Quick read, but Not worth the read

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The words weren't as touching

[Ntalani M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading Caitlin’s books because of the relatability. I use them as vent books because the poems evoke so much emotion that I am able to write about. When you don’t want to talk about your problems, I recommend picking up one of Caitlin Kelly’s books, reading the poems and writing your feelings to the poems. Even if you don’t directly relate to what she’s writing about, I promise you the emotions she’s speaking about can relate to a similar emotion you have felt.

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this if you like angsty teenager poetry. If you don’t, you’ll hate this. The only positive thing I found about this book was how quick it was over. I wish the chapters including relationships were longer. Everything else has been said before many times in poetry. I wish I could give it a 2 or 3 but the writing made me physically cringe when reading it.

[Felicia Pratt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its pretty good!

I love how descriptive she is and I think she hit all the feelings of depression, anxiety and love all right on the head but there could have been more to the story.

[ayareadz · Rating 2 out of 5]

the two stars are solely for this poem:

if you don't feel comfortable touching her purse without permission
then you shouldn't feel comfortable touching her body without permission

no means no

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was weird, but not in a good way, I understand what the author meant, but somehow the words blurred my mind and I just couldn’t understand some sentences the way they were written and their meaning. It wasn’t for me, and it’s alright.

[Cory Sydee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A raw, real book of poetry. Caitlin Kelly opens her heart and pours in onto the page. It’s not the best poetry but it’s so vulnerable and honest and relatable. I really enjoyed this book.

[Syeda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s really good, I love how she covers anxiety and depression and it’s really relatable and I loved reading it

[Josselyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book and definitely recommend this if you enjoy reading poetry.

[mariazinha ! · Rating 5 out of 5]

some poems just go straight up to where it hurst, but this book’s just really amazing i’m in tears

[Poppy Lee-Alliston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard hitting although some seemed a little less original

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely recommend

I loved reading this, I have felt this way so many Times . I hope you continue of this life's journey as a writer.

[Jesse Belen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not usually into poems but Kelly is amazing.

[Emmaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐
Es la segunda vez que me lo leo y creo que como ahora mismo no me siento tan identificada con los poemas me ha gustado menos

[📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75⭐️

[KT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cant say it was amazing. Wouldnt necessarily call it poetry either? More like thoughts?
Absolutely a nightmare to read on kindle (on my phone).
Wasn't really worth the read for me :/

[leo:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

gleiche Autorin wie von ´the words I wish I said´ also wenn einem das Buch gefällt auf jeden Fall auch dieses lesen, wieder dunkle aber relatable Gedanken zum Durchlesen

[elenita:) · Rating 5 out of 5]

me quiero enamorar

[Ma. Joy]

How to read this???

[Sheneli Narangamuwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a raw and beautiful collection, the anxiety and depression parts are what got me the most.Loved this piece, The pictures was a nice touch in my pov.

[Toni · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Don't chase someone who walks away so easily"

I feel the words of Caitlin Kelly in each poems. Really like a madman, from the heartache, paint, joy, anger, and brokenness.

[Mona liest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eine nette Poesiesammlung. Ich konnte mich teilweise in die Autorin und das Geschriebene hineinversetzen, an anderen Stellen fiel mir das jedoch nicht so leicht. Alles in allem eine nette Lektüre.