Fires well spent: A review of “Ashes: A Broken Inception”

The thin, flat, little black book sat unassumingly on the shelf. It hardly made the effort to capture my attention. Maybe because it was the new kid on the block stuck between other glossy peacocks or maybe it was the hard to distinguish title, a title that said, whoever composed what lay between the unassuming covers traversed the same mental space I did. Yeah, that was it, the title. I read the title, snickered and then delved between the covers.

It was a trip!

Sadly all I have is a brainfull of over used words to explain to you the psychedelic, emotional, visual, sensational trip, so I’ll use them

Great!

Excellent!

Sensual!

Vivid!

Distracting!

Artistic!

ASHES was supposed to be just another poetry book, but It wasn’t, at least for me. It kept playing with my OCD. (Ok I’m segueing here, get back on track Glen, follow the notes)

Ok, according the notes I made during my second reading for the purpose of this poor attempt at a review, ASHES is a work of Art. It is very much evident by page 2 that this is, yet isn’t, your usual poetry book. I was hooked by page 1, I was following this person, breathing in the air with them, taking in the sight, absorbing the mood all in a matter of seconds. As I skim through the book even now it is reinforced.

(Notes continue) The inside is so unlike the outside (#don’tjudgebookbycover). ASHES is vibrant and pulsates with an alternating rhythm and pace with storytelling that ensnares you like a siren reeling you into its depths and you turn the page looking for air and you’re caught in the firm grip of the poetry.

There! That right there! Tripping, tossed, carried, flowed (whatever verb and adjective works for you) between poetry and storytelling is the most outstanding feature of ASHES. The poetry and the storytelling played intermission for each other. You cannot (well I could not) ignore one for the other, they complimented each other well whether by accident or design, providing a beautiful counterpoint.

I know the way I’ve been going on it seems like I stumbled across the greatest work since the Illyad, that’s not it. I’m simply trying to convey, as best I can, my feelings and experiences with this book.

In conclusion, ASHES: A Broken Inception by Olsfred James, Gloreen Lake, and Mikhail Simmons is fresh, funky and sensuous. I enjoyed every line, every word. I read it and I ‘get it’. I love the space its in.