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As someone who hasn’t read a poetry book in years, it’s hard to really write up an analytical review of such collections. Perhaps more than any other literary medium, poetry is the most subjective. It’s all about interpretation, yet poetry can so often express the feeling we can’t explain. Nocturnal is a collection that can easily resonate with readers, covering themes of love and loss, of self-love, healing, and letting go. So often do these poems reflect the highs and lows of life, evoking a sense of reflection on the events that at one point, may have defined your own life? The relatability of these poems creates this sense of togetherness, assuring readers that they’re not alone in their feelings, creating a sense of unity between the lines.

Nocturnal is an evocative collection, highlighted by the illustrations that accompany the poems. This book is a prime example of art and the written word working in conjunction with one another to enhance the reading experience, heightening the emotive connection that poetry so often evokes. The art is transformative, giving weight to the title of this collection as the ethereal images transport you to this dream-like world, highlighting the beauty found at night. It heightens that sense of reflection that so often consumes the mind, giving weight to our deepest fears and greatest dreams reflecting the vulnerability people allow themselves to reveal at night.

If there’s one area that could have been improved on it’s the clarity between the transition of poems. The lack of fluidity between one poem to the next was, at times, confusing, removing yourself from that dreamlike state that you’d immersed yourself in. It’s a personal preference and some may find the lack of clarity as a structure in itself, reflecting the scattered thoughts that are heeded by conflicting emotions searching for clarity.

As someone that struggles to take to poetry, Nocturnal hit the mark, and while working in conjunction with its stunning illustrations, the book succeeded in creating an immersive reading experience that felt like a personal insight into thoughts and feelings that have, at times, consumed us all giving the collection a sense of relatability that comes hand in hand with the vulnerability of reflection.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

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About the Book

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Summary
Nocturnal is a collection of words and imagery inspired by darkened skies and sleepless nights. it is a journey of healing and self-discovery whether love stays or leaves. it is dreaming with your eyes wide open while the rest of the world is hiding.

and when they ask me,
are you afraid of the dark?
i will remind them that
there’s nothing to fear
when the night is a reason
we can see how honest
everything shines
while the rest of the world
is hiding.