Tales From A Goth Librarian
By Kimberly Richardson
Review by Dan L. Hollifield
Type of music/work:
Sci-fi / Fantasy / Steampunk Anthology.
Musicians/Performers/Author(s):
Kimberly Richardson
Direct Link To The Book's Page At Kerlak Press
Published by Kerlak Enterprises
ISBN:
Trade Paperback ISBN 13: 978-0-9823745-1-1 $14.95
eBook eISBN 13: 978-1-937035-95-2 $4.99
General impressions of the album/book:
Dark and gloomy and filled with haunting, lyrical writing that
is sure to delight the hearts of anyone drawn to the Goth side of life!
Kimberly Richardson demonstrates an absolutely poetic way of making
words flow together. The imagery is astoundingly vivid. Each story or
poem draws the rider deep into the Goth mindset.
Specifics:
Kimberly Richardson is quite simply an artist who paints with
words. I was immersed in the stories so deeply that I was somewhat
unhappy to have reached the end of the last one. But then the final
section of the book is of her poetry. I thought the stories were great,
but the poetry is even better! The writing style is so attractive to
the reader that each scene comes alive. This is a flawless collection
of high art that just happens to be limned with words rather than oil
paint. I could feel the passions of the characters as if they were my
own. It's a vivid dream-scape she portrays. One that grabs the reader,
submits them to intense emotions, then leaves them gasping for breath
and wanting more at the end of each tale. Goth my not be everyone's cup
of hemlock tea, but Kimberly reaches right into the reader and entices
them to face their darker sides.
Each tale is quite haunting. Once you finish the book, you're
tempted to go back and read it all again. It is a very rewarding
exploration of the darker emotions and situations that Goths everywhere
will find compelling, and difficult to put down. Indeed, I hated every
interruption that caused me to have to lay the book down. I found
myself hungering for the next opportunity to dive back into reading it
again. But as I said above, as good as the stories are, the poetry in
the final section of the book is even better. I personally find poetry
a difficult thing to write. Kimberly makes it look easy, which is a
mark of extraordinary skill in a writer. The imagery in each poem is so
compelling, it leaps into your mind as if you were watching a movie
instead of reading. I just can't praise it enough!
If you enjoy all things Goth, this book is a "must have" for
your collection. It is elegant, finely crafted, and draws the reader
into a world all its own. Before I'd turned the first page of the first
story, I was no longer reading it as a reviewer, but had been bewitched
into reading every line like a starving man who had just been handed a
hot meal. I devoured every word. I think you will, too. To paraphrase
Charles Dickens: "Please, Miss! May I have some more?"
Background info on where you can buy this book:
The best way is to go to the book's page on the Kerlak Enterprises website. Direct Link To The Book's Page At Kerlak Press But by doing that you miss out on all the other goodies that are published by Kerlak Enterprises. I've also included the links below that will take you directly to the book's pages on various other web-stores.
Amazon.com Paperback
Kindle
B&N Paperback
Nook
Apple I-pad
Google eBook
Review © 2012 by Dan L. Hollifield
Dan Hollifield is the senior editor and publisher of Aphelion Webzine
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