Heart & Spears by Somto Jefferson Uwazie
The first thing that comes to mind as I think of Heart & Spades is its rawness and realness. This book of poems touches on subjects that many would shy away from but not Uwazie. The book breaks into four different sections, Anger and Grief, Women, Nature, and Happiness. Each section honing in on its critical meaning. Some of my favorite poems were in the Women section and I believe the strongest pieces. My personal favorite was "Unshackled". The subjects in this book touch on things that can make a reader uncomfortable. There is talk of racism, war, the current pandemic, and mental illness. Even each piece ends with a quote either famous or by the author himself. It was indeed a thought-provoking piece that can lead to deep conversations. One of the best things about the piece is Uwazie's voice. His reflection of modern times based on his background is well-informed and eye-opening. Those aspects cannot be replicated nor could they be more authentic. So why is it not 5 stars? Three reasons! One the actual formatting of the work was a bit difficult to get through. It could be just the way it was sent to me but it made some of the poems lose their flow. Another is simply the length of the book itself. Almost at 200 pages, the piece is lengthy and drags on a bit. Cutting this down to maybe into two books would be beneficial. Lastly, subject topics! While the book is beautiful there were no warnings about pieces of violence and sexual assaults. Some subjects touched on religious ideas that some may not agree with. Bits like this could be nitpicky could essentially turn a reader away. Do I recommend this book? Yeah, I do. Who do I recommend it for? Adults at least over the age of 18. Also, individuals who are willing to be open-minded and read about raw life and struggles. I would definitely warn there are mentions of sexual abuse, abuse, politics, religion, and war. If those topics you are willing to be open to, go get this book today!
The book could be purchased here on Amazon.
I received this ARC in exchange for a review.
