Helpful Score: 5
Jewel Kilcher was the first to admit that this book of 100 or so of her poems would not have been published if her dazzling debut album, Pieces of You, hadn't sold 10 million copies. And granted, Jewel is not going to replace Deborah Garrison's A Working Girl Can't Win on anybody's hit parade of serious poets who write for regular people.
But--shockingly!--Jewel's book of poetry is solid by celeb-poet standards, and a fair bit of it is actually sort of readable in its own right. Maybe it's not a bad idea to raise your kids on an 80-acre Alaskan farm with plenty of chores and no TV, as Mr. Kilcher did. Unlike most young people, let alone overnight stars, Jewel has led a life of some intrinsic interest. While they're often prosaically straightforward, her poems about rescuing a newborn calf in the midnight snow, listening to wolves howl in a canyon storm, and racing naked out of a sauna of a winter evening bring us more useful experience than kid poets usually have to share. Some of Jewel's homesteading verse is no worse than some of Gary Snyder's late nature poems; though she'll never write nature poems remotely as good as his early work Riprap, neither will he, probably. Preachiness is the enemy of both poets' deep religious impulses.
Jewel's poems about dumping a lover or thrilling to parking-lot sex "between the moon and a Chevrolet" are perceptive, at points even evocative. Her ode to her own breasts as a nest for her beloved is no good, but it's an honest failure. Her dress at the Oscars was more embarrassing.
But--shockingly!--Jewel's book of poetry is solid by celeb-poet standards, and a fair bit of it is actually sort of readable in its own right. Maybe it's not a bad idea to raise your kids on an 80-acre Alaskan farm with plenty of chores and no TV, as Mr. Kilcher did. Unlike most young people, let alone overnight stars, Jewel has led a life of some intrinsic interest. While they're often prosaically straightforward, her poems about rescuing a newborn calf in the midnight snow, listening to wolves howl in a canyon storm, and racing naked out of a sauna of a winter evening bring us more useful experience than kid poets usually have to share. Some of Jewel's homesteading verse is no worse than some of Gary Snyder's late nature poems; though she'll never write nature poems remotely as good as his early work Riprap, neither will he, probably. Preachiness is the enemy of both poets' deep religious impulses.
Jewel's poems about dumping a lover or thrilling to parking-lot sex "between the moon and a Chevrolet" are perceptive, at points even evocative. Her ode to her own breasts as a nest for her beloved is no good, but it's an honest failure. Her dress at the Oscars was more embarrassing.
Helpful Score: 3
Most of us write bad poetry as a teenager. But if you are a cute young pop star then you get it published. And that's a shame.
Helpful Score: 2
Free flowing poetry by Jewel plus 8 painting by Pat Steir.
Helpful Score: 2
If you love Jewel's lyrics you will love this book of poems. It make you want to sing tunes as you read them.
Helpful Score: 2
Poems by Jewel. Full of passion. A deep look into the singer/songwriters heart.
Helpful Score: 2
Jewel is an amazing singer and songwriter. Therefore, she's naturally a talented poet and this is a must read!!
Helpful Score: 1
I picked this up recently and was very happy with it. Jewel writes these poems in a real manner so everyone can relate to them. I love poetry anyway as you can pick up a book, read a poem or so, and put it down for another day. AND, with poetry, you can interpret it in your own way. I read a poem and feel it means one thing, you read it and get another. Jewel is "real". These poems are easy to read and easy to relate to. A lot of them deal with her growing up. I would recommend this.
This book is written a lot like her songs
This is a wonderful book. Jewel's poems are songs without the music. They are true to life and tell it like it is. You don't have to think hmmmm.......I wonder if she meant this or that.
I kept mine!
I kept mine!
Great collection of modern poetry.
Jewel's book of Poetry, great read!
One of the first books of poetry I've ever owned, got while I was in high school. Loved it....love it more than her music even.
This book is a good "teen" poetry book. Or if you like abstract poetry it is good also. There are a few lines underlined in this book.
Total crap.
To be honest, I don't really get a lot of these poems. However, I am a huge fan of Jewel and treasured this book for a long time.
