A phenomenal review of the two most recent poetry chapbooks by Juliet Cook, ("REVOLTING" published by Cul-de-sac of Blood in November 2024 and "Blue Stingers Instead of Wings" published by Pure Sleeze Press in April 2025)!
The review was written by Scott C. Holstad.
Here's most of what he had to say:
"It didn't take long into reading this poetry collection (REVOLTING) for me to start saying "Wow!" and "Holy Shit!" and so on. When I finished, I didn't immediately respond but stopped to ponder because Juliet Cook is so very talented, has such a way with words, is such a unique and gifted poet and communicator that I really wanted to soak it all in, perhaps move on to another similar collection of hers (Blue Stingers Instead of Wings) -- which I did, reading them back to back twice -- because I get so much more out of Juliet's work and words than most other contemporary poets, and if I sound biased, I make no apologies. I've had the good fortune to "know" (electronically, never having yet met in person) Ms. Cook for some two decades, and I've seen her grow from an aspiring poet with unique skills to express what others often can't -- or won't -- to a towering literary giant, going places where others are often either too scared or never come back from, and she OWNS things many others can never even see. I've long admired just the very titles of so many of her poems and books -- witness "A Moldy Bathtub Is a Sin and You Must Repent Forever, Because She Said So" or "Hagfish Slime" for example, the latter of which contains lines I can only admire, such as "Screaming instead of / quietly swimming / as they try to swallow me / or throw me away." That is shit I feel I can really relate to, even if I might not want to. I often feel like Juliet does or could speak for me so many times over, as a survivor, observer, truly unique creative entity and I admire her skills so very much.
These words and my reactions apply to Blue Stingers as well, and I mention this because I'd hoped and intended to write a review for each but won't be able to as I've been in the hospital and had to have emergency surgery on my writing hand, while I'm lining up a bigger surgery for the arm and shoulder on the same side, so it's very difficult for me to write/type at the present, and I'm sorry for that. But for what it's worth, these two poetry collections were among the best I've read in a long time, and are among my immediate favorites."
Here's a link to the whole wonderful review and I'll link to the chapbooks at the bottom of this blog post.
This review(s) is a wonderful end of year poetry oriented gift for me.
I certainly don't think of myself as a "towering literary giant", as he refers to me in part of his review. To the contrary, oftentimes in recent years, I tend to think of myself as becoming increasingly invisible poetry-wise, for various different reasons, but at least in part because I don't want to constantly promote myself. I mean, I'm certainly not against self promotion and I do think it's a somewhat necessary part of the process when it comes to poetry, if you want others to possibly become aware of your creative work. BUT on the other hand, I personally don't want to be one of those poets who comes across as someone who seems to think their creative work is way more special and meaningful and important and worthy of tons of attention and praise than hundreds of other writer's creative work, because how the heck do I know how important my own work is to others?
I know what my poetry means to me. I'm not going to tell everyone else what it should or shouldn't mean to them, because I don't know. What my poetry means to other people is up to them and I don't want to slam myself in a bunch of people's faces and act like I deserve more attention because how do I know what sort of attention my writing does or doesn't deserve?
Again, I know what my poetry means to me. I don't know what it means to others unless they choose to tell me. Which is part of the reason why unexpected positive reviews are so wonderful. I suspected Scott Holstad was going to read these chapbooks of mine at some point in time (because I recently traded him these chapbooks for his recent full-length book), but I had no idea he was going to write a review and I truly appreciate this unexpected treat.
If a few (or more than a few) people are drawn to my poetry, whether they're friends or total strangers or somewhere in between, I think that is wonderful. And if someone likes my poetry I want it to be because of the actual poetry.
***
Here is where you can acquire the two chapbooks reviewed by Scott C. Holstad:
REVOLTING is available from Cul-de-sac of Blood HERE - https://www.culdesacofblood.com/books
Also available from the Blood Pudding Press shop HERE - https://www.etsy.com/listing/1851916682/revolting-poetry-chapbook-by-juliet-cook
AND Blue Stingers Instead of Wings is available from Pure Sleeze Press HERE - https://puresleezepress.bigcartel.com/product/blue-stingers-instead-of-wings
Also available from the Blood Pudding Press shop HERE - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4314653197/new-blue-stingers-instead-of-wings
REVOLTING is available from Cul-de-sac of Blood HERE - https://www.culdesacofblood.com/books
Also available from the Blood Pudding Press shop HERE - https://www.etsy.com/listing/1851916682/revolting-poetry-chapbook-by-juliet-cook
AND Blue Stingers Instead of Wings is available from Pure Sleeze Press HERE - https://puresleezepress.bigcartel.com/product/blue-stingers-instead-of-wings
Also available from the Blood Pudding Press shop HERE - https://www.etsy.com/listing/4314653197/new-blue-stingers-instead-of-wings
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