Book Review: Pieces of Me by Shaun Allan

“In your eyes, I see
A dreamer.”

Shaun Allan, Pieces of Me

Review:

Nothing hits quite like poetry, especially when it’s rooted in the human experience. Specifically, human emotions. Pieces of Me is a fantastic collection that explores themes of grief, loss, relationships, growth, and the search for peace and growth.

The book opens with a poem dedicated to the author’s mother, immediately tapping into the reader’s sympathies and emotions. Although the poetry can relate to various individuals, this book also feels personal to the author and the experiences that he’s gone through. I liked how he was able to capture a balance.

Along with the range of emotions and subjects of the poetry, Shaun Allan also provides a variety of poetry styles. Following every poem is a footnote of sorts. Some explain the inspiration behind the poem, some give a tribute, and some ask the reader questions, allowing a moment of introspection.

I enjoyed the analogies and the settings, particularly the poems that related to the sea. Having grown up by the ocean, I’m a sucker for anything involving it. Light, darkness, time, and wind are other natural elements that appear within the pages.

Some of the poems that stood out to me:

– A Song of Angels (along with Thief, which I considered to be a companion piece.)
– Sea
– Candle
– As Time Goes
– Dance
– Inside the Inside
– Tears
– The Silence (I love a good Simon & Garfunkel reference!)
– I Am Me
– Symphonic Soul (My favorite, if I have to pick just one.)
– Balloon
– The Weight of Words
– Screaming at the Waves

The lyrical prose makes for an immersive reading experience, even if you choose to skip around and see which title jumps out at you. Of course, I absolutely recommend reading this from beginning to end for the fullest experience. I look forward to reading more by this author!

Thanks to Reedsy Discovery for providing a free digital ARC of the book!

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Wonderful writing able to invoke a range of emotions.
• I liked learning about the blurbs about each poem.

What I didn’t like:

• I didn’t find myself having any critiques.

Afterthoughts:

I’m looking forward to exploring this author’s other work.

Where to buy the book: