This is a copy of a review that will eventually appear on Amazon Kindle when the subject book is available there. It is essentially identical to a review on GoodReads that is available now.

Digging Holes to Another Continent      Isabelle Kenyon

Recovery in a strange land.

four stars

This is an unusual and very personal work of twenty poems. As always, do not let my star count override your judgement of content. More on the stars, counting, and my rating challenges later. Let’s get to the good stuff: Kenyon’s work.

The first poem, The Journey, sets up the context of the work. A trip to New Zealand, apparently to attend a wedding, becomes a healing experience.

For an insight into recovery, turn to Wave Meditation, where we find this: “Lifted, /further from shore /by waves of fury /their ferocity sudden, /awakening animal instinct…”

For a complex poem, turn to He Married a Faith Healer, where we find this: “Faith healer /what does it mean /when you speak for my dead Grandmothers /in their tone, /without meeting them,…”

In the fine metaphor Beach Thoughts  you will read: “You are not who I thought you were.” Buy the book and turn to this poem.

For a good laugh, turn to Did You Hear the Possum Last Night.

Now for my star count boilerplate. Twenty poems is enough to capture a personal recovery, and Kenyon has done this extremely well. It is a bit harder for this reviewer to evaluate a ‘voice’ from a small collection. My personal guidelines, when doing an ‘official’ KBR review, are as follows: five stars means, roughly equal to best in genre. Rarely given. Four stars means, extremely good. Three stars means, definitely recommendable. I am a tough reviewer. I try hard to be consistent. I find four stars to fit my criteria as a tough reviewer. Your personal rating may well be higher. Definitely recommended.

Kindle Book Review Team member.

(Note: this reviewer received a free copy of this book for an independent review. He is not associated with the author or Amazon.)