swiftly

by Rachel Madeline

"When words fail, music speaks." - Hans Christian Anderson
We often find ourselves unable to communicate our exact feelings and therefore turn to outlets to speak for us–like music. Songs provide tempos and rhythms to echo the pulse of our individual lives while the lyrics create the vocabulary we fail to compose. With swiftly , Rachel Madeline takes the songs that have spoken for her when she was unsure of how to express herself and reinterprets them with words she now possesses and has mastered. Inspired by Grammy-winning artist Taylor Swift, the author finds her own voice, in her first collection of poetry, with the music of her favorite artist to guide her.

Genres: Poetry

89 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2021

Reviews

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of poems truly embodies the spirit of Taylor Swift and everything she represents as a songwriter. Rachel is able to both extract the essence of each song and reinterpret it into her own writing, and remain faithful to Taylor’s unique ability of harnessing personal experiences in a way that is relatable to others.

I have read through this collection about four times now and I can say that each and every poem was a pleasant surprise and I absolutely adored every single poem for Red. My favorite poems on the whole were Tied Together With a Smile, White Horse, Come In With the Rain, Back to December, State of Grace, 22, and I Almost Do.

This was a brilliant piece of work for a debut book and I am eagerly awaiting a continuation with the rest of Taylor’s albums.

[Lara ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

the best of both worlds for taylor swift fans and readers

[elaine (taylor’s version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is by far the best poetry collection I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. This book made me reminisce about my past relationships and the pain and heartbreaks that came with them. i cried a couple of times and I am still unwell. Just like my stan album, the RED section hit too close to home. Thank you for crafting this masterpiece, Rachel. swiftly is a must-read not only for swifties, but also for the general public. I loved every single poem and I’m looking forward to reading book 2. An easy 5 star for me.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love Taylor Swift and wish your favorite songs had just a few more seconds, a few more words then READ THIS POETRY BOOK. Each one of these poems was an extension to the feelings of Taylor’s songs. They broke me and put me back together just like Taylor’s albums. My personal favs are: untouchable, come in with the rain, you all over me, enchanted, and holy ground❤️

[Caitlin Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swifites I beg of you, read it 💕

[Darian · Rating 3 out of 5]

BECAUSE NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU RUN FROM THE REGRET, LIKE YOU DO YOUR DEMONS, EVERYWHERE YOU TURN YOU WILL SEE ME 📣

[Sushmita ❥]

Rachel’s ability to put into words indescribably overwhelming emotions has left me sitting here in complete awe and honour to have my heart be healed by such lyrical writing. This has to be one of my most favourite poetry collections that I know I will hold dear to my heart and read over and over when the storms of my life crash down relentlessly on my windowsill. I know this book will never stop being my safety, my anchor, my hope.

Read this, I cannot possibly recommend it enough.

[Ems · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

I'm not really into poetry, I either don't understand it or have to put way too much effort to get it, which I'm too lazy to do. And that's on me, of course. But this was just amazing! I think being so familiar with Taylor's songs made me understand a little better every poem, and they are all so good. The poems are basically an extension of Taylor's songs, telling a bit more of the story started by her, and they are all so different from each other, but in the best way possible.

This collection is definitely a must for every Taylor Swift's fan, and I'm so glad I gave it a shot.

[e.s. · Rating 5 out of 5]

swiftie required reading
Each poem in this collection had the perfect balance of telling a new, unique narrative inspired by the songs in Taylor Swift’s discography ~and~ being reminiscent of the storytelling and lyrical talent that Taylor has.
What a treat to only deepen my love for pretty words and TS.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This poetry collection really brought to life the feeling of imagining colorful worlds while you’re listening to your favorite artist’s music. I think we all picture fantastical things when we listen to music, watch movies, etc. It’s our way of feeling connected to art. This little masterpiece made me feel a lot less alone but it also made me cry a lot. Hoping for a second one!

[CapesandCovers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year is the one where I decided to start reading poetry I guess lol. I loved this so much, as a Swiftie for 15 years now, it was so cool to see Madeline's interpretations of the songs I adore.

[Erin Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speechless.

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

i held my breath, smile, tears all while reading this. Wonderful

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any fan of Taylor Swift that enjoys poetry. This was such a unique way to gain a new appreciation for Taylor’s music. The poems were incredible! 💜

[Sunny Dietrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was so good! it honestly surprised me how much i liked it because i don’t read that much poetry. i feel like it’s a good intro into the genre. the red chapter was my favorite it was written beautifully. the one that hit the hardest was never grow up. amazing book would highly recommend!

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it while listening to Taylor's songs, and I just loved it! Never stop writing, please. You're talented.

[A Hopeless Romantic's Booklandia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big Swiftie, so when I saw the “swiftly” title while I was looking for my next read, I immediately decided to check it out because of the “swift” part which I know might sound a little crazy, but I don’t care if it is or not, I’m just out here living my Swiftie-obsessed life. Anyway, I wasn’t really expecting it to have anything with to do with Taylor Swift, so I was very pleasantly surprised when I discovered that it was actually related to TSwift! OMG, I was so excited! I started it straight away and oh, I loved it so much! Rachel Madeline did such an amazing job with the poems she wrote for each of the songs from TSwift’s first three albums. Ms. Madeline is a truly talented writer and the poems were beautiful, deep, and next level. I think they’re for everyone even if you’re not a fan of Taylor Swift, but for any Swiftie out here, I have no doubts that you will love swiftly. Ms. Madeline really did TSwift proud and I think if she were to ever read this, I’m sure she would love it too! It was just so wonderful and I can’t wait to see what Rachel Madeline does with the rest of the albums!

~ Sonja, 5 Stars

[Jacoline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of poems based on Taylor Swift’s first four albums is wonderful. The poems give a new depth to the songs and they suit them so well.

I was hooked when I heard these poems were based on Taylor’s songs and the execution is so good. The poems are beautiful, even if you aren’t familiar with the songs they were written about. Knowing the songs and their meanings makes this so special. It’s like the author brought the songs to live even more.

I liked the way that some words/phrases from the songs were used in the poems, given it that familiarity. It was like knowing exactly what the poems were about but at the same time some made me look at the songs in a different way.

Overall i really enjoyed reading this and would definitely recommend it to both swifties and non-swifties!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a MUST READ for any Taylor Swift fans who wish her songs were longer and the feelings they bring would last just a little more. Rachel Madeline I think really connects with the songs and gives readers (i.e. listeners) that never- ending-something-extra feeling we all get from T. Swift's songs

[Jordan Josephine Stunkel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t understand poetry. 😢

[Saima · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars

This was soooo adorable. I can't wait for the next one!

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for swifties. I loved most of the poems in here and I think they perfectly emulated the songs

[Lindsay Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a swiftie I ate this up

[Maryann Gestwicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Delightfully Captivating Journey

Swiftly by Rachel Madeline is an enchanting tale that effortlessly combines elements of fantasy, adventure, and romance into a captivating journey. Set in a world where time is a tangible force, the story follows the life of Evangeline Swift, a young clock mechanic with a mysterious past and extraordinary ability.

Madeline's writing style is elegant and immersive, painting vivid landscapes and weaving intricate details that bring the story to life. The author's attention to detail is evident throughout, creating a rich and layered world that readers will easily lose themselves in.

The protagonist, Evangeline, is a strong and determined character who possesses a rare gift to manipulate time. As she embarks on a perilous mission to uncover her forgotten past, Evangeline encounters a diverse cast of characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. The interactions between the characters are engaging, adding depth and complexity to the overall plot.

The pacing of Swiftly is well-balanced, maintaining a steady rhythm that keeps the reader engaged. The story seamlessly blends moments of heart-pounding action with quieter, introspective scenes, ensuring a satisfying and dynamic reading experience.

While the world-building and character development are undoubtedly strengths of the book, there were moments when the plot felt predictable and some twists lacked the impact they could have had. However, this minor drawback does not overshadow the overall enjoyment of the story.

Swiftly is a delightful read for fans of fantasy and adventure. It successfully combines elements of magic, mystery, and romance, providing a satisfying blend of genres. Rachel Madeline's ability to craft a compelling narrative will leave readers eagerly anticipating her future works.

Poems That I Liked: Pictures To Burn, A Place In This World, Cold As You, The Outside, Tied Together With A Smile, Mary's Song, Our Song, Invisible, Fearless, Love Story, Breathe, Forever and Always, Today Was a Fairytale, Don't You, Haunted, Last Kiss, Red, Starlight.

[Shelby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very very very quick read, the premise is that the author took taylor swift's songs and wrote poems about them. She did it for the first four albums (and the vault tracks for fearless) and they were...okay? I obviously don't like poetry, I read the book in like an hour so maybe I read it too quickly and was unable to get the emotional gravity of the poems, I dunno.

The poems were better than anything I could have done, however she reused a lot of imagery, she used lines from songs that weren't the ones that she was working on (seems like a lot of folklore too). It felt cheesy, sometimes I think she totally missed the mark on what the songs were about, at least to me (and a lot of swifities, I spend too much time on taylor swift internet, it is what it is). Also, TYPOS!!!!

And this is just bitchy, but I'm going to say it anyway, she self published a tiny book of pretty mediocre poetry piggy backing on the money easily forked over by swifties, and then wrote the most inflated(?? I can't think of the right word) about the author section, and her gratitude, like girl you wrote like 40 poems...and then self published....you are not that special???

Idk, this is hypercritical, I don't love poetry but this just seemed worse than normal. Not worth reading.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swiftly

I am not a poetry person but I needed to read a poetry book to fill my summer reading bingo card at the library and stumbled across this book in a Taylor Swift themed thread. I went into this expecting song lyrics redesigned as poems but these are all original poems based on the songs they’re named after. Reading this book has reminded me that I’m absolute rubbish when it comes to knowing anything about poetry structure or rules so at best I can say there were several different formats and types of poems in this book and I mostly got the imagery the author was going for (the stronger my memory of the song inspiration the more I understood the poem mostly). Would I read a poetry book again? Unlikely but I would consider reading the next book this author puts out if only to satisfy my curiosity on how she interprets the remaining four albums in Swift’s discography. Otherwise? I really don’t think poetry is my thing.

[roxi reads ִ ࣪ ✩ · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝟑,𝟒/𝟓 ✰

‘Wish I could run away to Neverland. Live with Peter for the rest of my days; preserve my innocence in glass, never feel the sting of letting go of all my simple adolescent joys. I’ll take for granted in the moment yet look back in with utter fondness. Craving the simplistic euphoria of knowing nothing at all and yet everything at the same time.‘ - Never grow up/ Speak Now

In dit boekje worden de melodieën en teksten van de eerste vier albums van Taylor swift vertaalt in mooie gedichten. Ik vond de gedichten dan ook een leuke verrijking als fan van haar muziek <3

[Coco Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m familiar with Taylor Swift but not enough to be considered a Swiftie. With that in mind, this book fulfilled my expectations of what poems inspired by TS albums would encompass. I really enjoyed many of the renditions, though a few thing’s probably were lost on me that Swifties would likely catch and appreciate even more.

[bruna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5⭐