This book was a very powerful read and also very empowering. Writing the book in poetry form is an amazing idea and interesting way to get the storyline across to its readers.
the storyline is a hard topic to handle, but it is one that needs to be discussed and written about. The author is only empowering other people to speak the truth and not allow the past to dictate the rest of their lives. The author is brave for sharing her story with the readers and allowing us to experience the pain and suffering that she had to overcome to become the woman is now.
Empowering young women and men with this book will help society to learn and help combat this from continuing to happen now and in the future. I would love to read more from this author and just learn from her experience and have people realize that if it happens that it is not their faults and that they should never blame themselves.

The Chaos of Longing is a very beautiful and raw collection of poems that explores the different aspects of desire. I wasn't sure what to expect going into this novel since I never really read a ton of poetry but I picked this up on a whim and was really surprised by the beauty and truthfulness of the words. There is a trigger warning since it explores the different aspects of human desires which isn't always "pretty." All in all, a very truthful collection and one that definitely opens the eyes of the reader.

Actual rating: 3.5 Stars

This was my third poetry book that I read this year after Milk and Honey and Stuff I’ve Been Feeling Lately. I loved both those poetries and expected same from it, as the title seemed entruiging. I came to know about this title through poetry recommendations on NetGalley. However, it was way too different than the formers.


Theme and Writing
------------------------------------

The theme of this poetry was eroticism which makes it sensual in a way. But it was a little difficult for me to gasp sexuality in this genre and I was feeling uncomfortable in lot of poems (though I like Eroticas, it din’t worked in poetry for me).

This poetry collection is divided into four parts: Inception, Longing, Chaos and Epiphany. The good thing about this poetry was that the author is speaking about herself in most of the parts. She is a woman of color (WoC) and we can imagine to some point that what she might have been gone through in her childhood. A few poems shows her roots and felt like raw thoughts.

This collection is like a story where the author is speaking about her growing experience (moreover how it affected her) like lust, heartbreak, healing and self love. I really liked that how she started the book with a “trigger warning” showing that she cares about the mental health of her readers. This was really a thing to appreciate. In today’s world, where everyone is going through too much stress because of their professional or personal lives, mental health is something which is being compromised the most and often goes unattended.

It highlights another good point – effects of longing. Sometimes, we are so engrossed in something that we can’t think properly and take better decisions, like loving someone so blindly that that person often neglects the bad effect that it is having on them and thus makes them indecisive. They just become desperate.

However, writing was beautiful and felt true. I enjoyed the overall emotional journey of the author. Some of the poems were sad but in the end, it gives the perfect and hopeful message. My favourite part was definitively Epiphany. There were some poems which I liked while I couldn’t make any connections to others. Two of my favourites are below:

"

elements ii

there’s a universe
swirling inside you.

you have to learn to be
your own earth,
wind, fire
and water.

you are a natural
phenomenon—
not a natural disaster."

"

the galaxy is yours

star your own sky.
drink the shooting stars.
lasso the moon.
take a bite.
feel the juice
of self-love
running
down your chin
and laugh madly.

you’re still alive.
you’re still alive.
you’re still alive."


Final Thoughts
--------------------------------

I like this collection, not whole but definitely a few poems were good. I liked the writing style of the author and I am definitely waiting to read some more from her. If you are into poetry and like this kind of theme, then you should definitely read it.

"darling,
find passion
and self-worth within
instead of locking them
inside of men
who like swallowing keys
to keep you to themselves"

I stumble upon this poem while giving a review for another poetry book. This is the new and expanded version of this poetry collection This book was divided into four sections. It was about longing and its effect, how can we be desperate for validation, sensual stuff, and self-love.

The writing was beautiful but there's a lot of eroticisms which made me feel uncomfortable.

The Chaos of longing will be released this September 26th, 2017 by Andrews McMeel Publishing (first published May 31st, 2016). A copy was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Some beautiful poetry, but the topics were not necessarily for me!

*Trigger Warning: Sexual abuse and other issues are used throughout the book*

If you have ever faced the feeling of being used, broken as result of abuse of any kind or just want to read a truly honest, raw and emotion jerking poetry book, this is the one for you.

Robinson touches upon troubling times of multiple kinds giving them beautiful twists to end the tragic tale being spun throughout each poem, love and hate of self and others is heavily used creating imagery in our minds of events and understandings of our own created.

I can relate and really recommend if you can too.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

It's a collection of poertry divided into four section. It has some beautiful free style poetry which is thoughtful.
The theme of the poetry stands out with every section but I found a few ideas pretty repetitive but new.
I have recieved some lovable poems from this collection to treasure forever.
I recommend it to all the poetry lovers who have keen interest in reading poetry of such kind.

This collection has made me re-think my concept of poetry.

Since starting I got captivated by the ideas and feelings captured here, but yet after I finished I found myself lost at words. I can't remember a single poem, and there's not one thing that truly resonated with me.

While some of them are incredible and heartfelt, other poems read to me like just a scramble of words. Like a regular sentence or one of those 6am pre-coffee thoughts one put under the instagram caption of the starbucks cup... cutesy but not really poetical.

I really liked this collection but I can't say I loved it, it just wasn't the right one for me.

Would I recommend it, tho? Of course, for poetry tells a different story to each who reads it, and this might be the book for you.

Emotions can be felt through each poem but I don't seem to connect to some of them. Maybe because I am not comfortable reading some of them especially the sexual ones.

A mixture of short and long, every poem reveals an intimate detail about the author. With every page, readers are taken through Robinson's personal Inferno as she attempts to undergo catharsis to help not just herself but others like her. From "Women Like Me", "Self Love", "Melanin" to "Dear Future Lover", Robinson discusses self healing and her own personal identity in relation to her ethnicity and gender. Also, she gives advice to male readers on how to be better mates to 'Women Like Her". I highly recommend this book of poetry to anyone, and will actually be adding a physical copy of it to my bookshelf.

I really enjoyed some of the poems, mostly from the last section. Some were overly sexual. I liked following along with the author's journey as she realized the importance of self care in relationships. However, I did not really connect with the poems, as beautiful as the writing was.

I absolutely loved this collection of poems. They were real, honest, and at times, brutal. I ended up screen shotting many of them to reread and save, since I loved them so much. K.Y. Robinson really wrote her heart out in these poems, which is very brave and empowering. I would encourage every young woman to read these.

This is the first poetry book I read and it completely swallowed me by its depth. It's raw & sensitive at the same time. The poems are nicely divided into parts according to subject. They may be short but very deep. It touches some sensitive subjects hence starts with a trigger warning. Got a bit too much for me at times. Still worth reading.

Reading the poems felt as though the author knew things about my life that were difficult to go through but have shaped the person I am today. Packed with raw images and emotions, the poems are heartfelt and relatable. I read it all in one sitting. Absolutely loved it!

These poems are the sort of poems that will linger with me for a while. They are vulnerable. They ache. They love too much and receive too little in return. Still, there is power in them, power in naming the pain, power in sharing it and in giving voice to life's cuts and gaping wounds.

In this book of poems, Ms. Robinson does not shy away from the messy and chaotic parts of life. She digs through the wreckage of failed relationships and trauma, offering glimpses of herself seen as if through shards of sea glass, often fractured and broken.

However, the book doesn't end there. She continues on and pushes through the pain to write a sort of guidebook for survival, reaching out her hand and encouraging others to rise up with her like Phoenixes from the ashes.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions written here are my own.

I enjoyed it. There were a few poems that made me stop and almost gasp at the connection, but most fell a bit short for me. Maybe it's my age? Maybe someone younger could connect better? The thing about good poetry is it is indifferant to age.
I did love this:

"i was so preoccupied
with loving you
that i failed
to love myself."
— lost

The Chaos of Longing is a debut poetry and prose collection by K.Y. Robinson, a self-proclaimed introvert writer. Her collection is divided into four parts with all of them exploring different aspects of sexuality and longing, relationships and trauma, self-love and heartache.

The Chaos of Longing is a very raw collection. With its brutal honesty and passion, I understand it is not a collection suited for everyone. While I enjoyed the almost vivid descriptions of sexual scenes, I can understand why someone may have found them uncomfortable. Robinson never shies away from anything and that’s what makes her shine.

A part that really reasonated with me was the sexualization of young girls’ bodies. I grew up early. I was always one of the tallest girls in school, my hips were wider, my breasts were fuller. Men twice my age would stare at me at the street. I had barely finished primary school when some guys in their early twenties flirted with me. These are things I’ve had to live with for far too long, and seeing them depicted on page really meant a lot to me.

I found the third part, Chaos, to be one of the most realistic parts of the entire collection. With a captivating honesty and just a few words, Robinson depicted perfectly unhealthy, toxic relationships and the effect these have on women. Her depiction wasn’t only accurate; it was respectful and authentic, and a part of her poetry that I think is too relatable.

As for the last part? That was cathartic. Highlighting self-love and the importance of healing, Robinson finishes off a powerful collection with a positive, welcoming message.



**An ARC was provided via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review**

Over the past year, poetry has become one of my favourite genres. It has given me words that I can identify with, that I can hold close to my heart and know that I’m not alone. Others feel what I feel, others have gone through similar situations. It’s also showed me different perspectives, points of view that I perhaps wouldn’t have considered. It has opened up a whole new world for me, so I was very excited to read this particular poetry collection as it sounded similar to several other poetry books that I have recently read.

While K.Y. Robinson is undoubtedly a talented writer and her poems are beautiful, I didn’t really feel a connection to the words. It felt like I was a person looking through a window, I could see what was happening inside, but couldn’t do anything to interact with those on the inside. I wasn’t expecting such a sexually themed collection of poetry. I didn’t feel anything about those pieces, but I did enjoy her poems on self-worth, self-love, and self-confidence. The final section of the book was most definitely my favorite and the most enjoyable to read. It reminded me of The Princess Saves Herself in This One and Love, And You, two books I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

So, while I didn’t personally connect with much of the poetry on an emotional level, I am in awe of the author’s honesty. The collection is often brutal and painful, especially the beginning. Robinson has poured out her heart and laid herself bare. This is why you should give this collection a try. I will definitely be picking up her next book because while I wasn’t always emotionally invested in each poem, there was still enough to keep me curious and wanting more.

Not really my kind of poetry, but extremely well written.

I enjoyed reading these poems, it gave me an insight into what it may feel like to be in particularly difficult situations. It is a very sensitive book, and has a trigger warning, and discretion is advised when reading. I really liked Robinson's writing style, and the choice of words was perfect!