Amazing book ... really fun, easy to read. I like how the author plays with the words. A funny and catchy way for the reader

Since Shaffer has written parody stuff before, would I be wrong in thinking this is a parody of the glut of insta-poetry books out there? It has that kind of feel to it. Most of the poems are quick, a few lines, a meme's worth of words, that convey a thought that may or may not have a deeper meaning, which honestly, is what a lot of insta-poetry seems like to me, so maybe this is a send-up, idk. Random black and white photos strewn throughout add to this feeling. It's entertaining enough as that, with some laughs- I really enjoyed "The Ballad of Eric Bloodaxe," and several others made me chuckle. This is a book that's more fun enjoyed with others, reading it aloud with friends, I think. It's a bit niche, maybe not quite my niche, but close enough for a quick read.

#LetsSeeThemPoems #NetGalley

The poetry was decently funny but otherwise wasn't especially impressive. This made for a fun little diversion.

Very short book of quirky poetry. A few laugh out loud pages, good for a 10 minute escape. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Shaffer’s poems are like your favorite memes—short, funny, poignant, highly relatable. I would recommend this book to anyone with some time on their hands who is in need of a good laugh.

A quick, comical read of poems written in the style of side comments you'd hear at an Applebee's or notes passed in class. Several made me laugh out loud.

Excerpt from my entire review which will be posted on VictoriamMedia in two days:

#1 Game Over

Don’t try to explain Fortnite to me.
I don’t care.


That’s it. No, it’s not an excerpt from a poem, it is the poem. That’s the brilliant masterpiece I am choosing to begin this recommendation section of the review with (did I mention that I think Shaffer is a poetic genius worthy of being lauded as one of our greatest? If I haven’t, I stand by this statement and there’s nothing you can do to change my mind).

Personally, I relate to this poem. After working with middle school children for an entire year you will eventually be forced to make some tough decisions - and telling them, nearly every day, that you have no care as to what Fortnite is is one of those choices. Being the third poem in this collection, you might be asking “Miguel, how does this relate to alienation?” and I will remind you that a grown man is saying this, presumably to someone more juvenile. Do we know to whom Shaffer is talking to or about? No, but the image of a grown man yelling “you kids get off my lawn” comes to mind almost immediately; we can get the sense that the feeling of alienation stems from being the “outcast” among the newer, younger generation.

According to Statista, Fortnite is the most popular with younger players. The statistics show how players, ages 18-24, are the majority of the demographic with 62.7 percent, and 22.5 percent being attributed from players ages 25-34.

So what? Well, dear impatient reader, with the game’s popularity stemming from the younger of our fellow nerds, Shaffer’s poem can then be seen as not only a refusal to partake in a popular video game, but also as a refusal to be allowed to find oneself succumbed to the lonely feelings of aging.

Am I, as the kids say, “reaching” here over a poem with only two lines? Probably, but on to the second poem.

Name: Let's See Them Poems
Poet: Andrew Shaffer
Genre: Poetry
Review:
I am a fan of poetry, but I don't think I am the right audience for this book. The description did intrigue me, but it was not at all what I expected.
A book that speaks about feeling alienated in a humorous and quirky way. It is a good book, just not for me.
I would like to thank Netgalley for this advance copy of the book.

A hilarious chapbook, by turns witty observations and somewhat cynical criticisms of modern society. I really dug it.

"Lord Byron would
have
drunk wine from your
skull
you fucking hipster
shit."

Doesn't it say it all? 😂 I liked this one.
Most poems felt more like tweets, though. His longer poems, like "The Hotel Florida", are better in my opinion. And his photos are great.

Thanks a lot to 8th Circle Press and NetGalley for this ARC. :)

The Ballad of Andrew Garfield is my favourite.

Highly recommend reading this to a friend while on video chat. It's how I first experienced this book and it was great.

It was weird and short and weird and funny. Made me cringe at some points, but overall an amusing little book, But really, how in depth can you go for a 66 page book (that includes the pictures and the one page Haikus).

I got this from Netgalley in exchange for an hinest review. It was...okay, I guess. Umm..Thanks?

Hilarious, breezy, ironic, often crude, and more often unexpectedly poignant, exactly what you would expect from the author of the Obama Biden Mysteries and Fifty Shames of Earl Grey. These speak to my sense of humor quite well; it's rare for poetry to actually make me laugh out loud! My favorite was 'Eggplant Emoji, Crying Laughing Emoji':

I have never sent a [d***] pic to a romantic partner
because I can never find the right lighting
and also this one time I was drinking at Mahoney's with a buddy
when a girl at the table next to us received a [d***] pic that caused her to shriek
and she passed the phone around to all her girlfriends
and they howled and howled
-and howled and howled -
and howled and howled
with laughter.

We felt bad for the guy -
but not too bad,
because maybe he'd stuck
a couple of googly eyes
on his [p****]
of something fun like that.

What in the world? I will say it again. What in the world? How does the author think about all this. Let's see them poems is a hilarious take on various world matters which interestingly gives us more understanding about each of them. Poems that leave you thinking and at the same time thinking deeply about Time, Space, Aliens, Andrew Garfield, Donuts, Badasses and whatnot.

Author is famous for writing parodies of famous books and these poems go further giving us a glimpse inside his mind which interprets and expresses everything differently,

A poetry lover’s dream quest. I loved Shaffer’s word play, humor, and truth. A fine collection to invite others to try out poetry.

I like to laugh. I like poetry. This book has poems. This book made me laugh.

Is it great? I guess that all depends on your point of view. I read the book cover to cover, I found a few grins, more chuckles, and one or two guffaws. This poetry is ridiculous. This book is ridiculous. Shaffer is ridiculous. And this collection may be a total scam. But it is funny. And you're free to do whatever you want with both your money and your time. That includes reading this book.

This was a very quick read of short stanza comedic poetry. I found myself laughing out loud based on some of the social commentary and the humorous viewpoint the poet shared. This is a good reflective piece for those who find themselves a slave to pop culture or social media, taking the comedic criticism as a step-back assessment.

Review to come early May on Blog and Goodreads.

I received this poem collection from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I was eager to read this, the cover looked silly. But before requesting/click the button I wanted to know more about the author and I found out he wrote under Fanny Merkin. And that under that name he wrote that parody of 50 Shades of Grey. Which I loved to bits and am planning on rereading now that I need to ration books.

This book features various poems in all forms from short to long to very very short (like just a few words). I definitely liked that, I am still getting used to reading poetry and I know I tune out when a poem gets too long. So this one held my attention right. The poems are about anything from eating to reading to social media. Sometimes I didn't have a clue what the poem was about (who is Jonathan Franzen?? Or what is Mike's Hard Lemonade?? Or Ray Donovan (a show??)). Then again this happens often when I read books set in the US (but also other countries).
But I did like the poems, they were very random just what I need at this moment. Something to distract my mind.

Plus there are random photographs of flowers/nature (????) after some of the poems. No clue why flowers/nature, it definitely added to the randomness of the book. :P

The book is really short, I wouldn't have minded more pages!

This poem just fits so well with today's situation (reading this in April):
"Every day
is a new opportunity
to say, "Fuck it all."

All in all, I hope he writes more poems and collects them in books. I wouldn't mind more of this.

Let’s See Them Poems is a funny book of poems. I enjoyed the easy to read book and would recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.