Member Reviews
Beautifully rounding out the final volume in her Pillow Thoughts series, Courtney Peppernell has given us a look into her heart and soul. Rarely do we find a writer so vulnerable, open, honest, and willing to bleed out on the page in order to let readers know they’re not alone. I can’t wait to tell my customers about this book.
I do like these poems - I may have to go back and read the previous books. Feel like mini pep talks to me and story like.
Stitching the Soul is the fourth installment in Pillow Thoughts poem series. I've only read first book in the series so far, so I can't really compare all of them, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised because I was not expecting to like this after disliking first book. Well, miracles happen.
I am very picky about "modern" poetry and it is really hard to impress me or make me feel anything. Stitching the Soul focuses on different aspects and divides book into several sections. That's definitely one of the advantages because everyone can relate at least to something. I surely did. I was not fan of everything, but poems at least made sense and touched me several times.
Compared to other authors, I'd say Courtney Peppernell belongs to the group of the ones I enjoy more than not enjoy. I will definitely try her other works to see the difference.
Just like the first three in the Pillow Thoughts series, this one has a specific focus. I loved each and every poem. They really "speak" to me in a way poetry never has before! I highly recommend this one.
I'm having a hard time deciding how many stars I will give this book.
I think you need to read this book when you're in the mood for it. I read the first half of the book quite some time ago and wasn't a big fan of it. I continued at the end of July, when I felt like reading it and enjoyed it more.
However, I think that this collection consists of a lot of repetition, which I'm not really fond of. Some poems said the same as some others and that bored me after some time. I loved all the other books in this collection, but this was my least favorite one.
I give it 2,75 out of 3 stars.
This was the first Pillow Thoughts collection I read and I’m not sure it was the right place to start. The author has certainly written a variety of beautiful poetry but it wasn’t the style I typically enjoy. I have no doubt in my mind though that others will find great pleasure in this book and feel a great impact by the words.
This poetry collection covers a lot of themes that a lot of readers will connect with, such as the importance of self-love and the healing of the mind and soul. I found the poems to be nicely crafted and written with a lot of thought and love. My only issue with this collection is that it does get a bit repetitive, especially if you've read the previous three installments in this poetry series. That being said, fans of the author will certainly really enjoy this collection.
This is my first time trying Peppernell’s poems. I love her novel "Keeping Long Island," which I am sure I talked too much about already. Unfortunately, I am unsure what I am feeling after finishing "Stitching the Soul."
The first few sections of the book were somewhat depressing. Peppernell has a very soothing tone in her written words and the sadness manifests in all the lines. The book does take a happier turn in the latter half and becomes more therapeutic as I had initially thought the whole book would be. Some of the themes were repetitive, and oftentimes, I find the feeling glum and others cheesy. However, it was totally worth a read because there were still some great lines here and there.
“She is not confined by time
/ she is a running river
/ seeking freedom to flow through life unchained” How powerful is that?
Another nice touch in this book was the inclusion of Justin Estcourt's illustrations of foxes, a jellyfish, and occasionally an owl and the heart. The sketches made me smile.
I am glad I finally read Peppernell's poems but sad to say this collection was not for me.
<i>I received an e-ARC from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>
I recently read the first Pillow Thoughts book (which I thought was good but not great) so when I saw this available for request on @netgalley I had to give it a shot.
Overall, I thought the poems were okay, but not amazing. There were a handful that I really did like, but not enough for me to really enjoy this book.
Even though this is the second book that I’ve read in the Pillow Thoughts series, I don’t think I’ll be reading the other two.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and wow, it was great. I loved how the collection was formatted in an almost chronological/thematic way. We are guided through the journey of grief, loss, and rebuilding so honestly. The poems felt like a mix of journal entries, messages left on post-its for your love, and notes left on your phone during insomnia. I loved how open and raw the feelings were in this, and also the representation of sapphic romances. I definitely will be going back and reading the first three collections!
Pillow Thoughts IV was the perfect conclusion to the heart-warming and inspiring poems from Courtney Peppernell. While her work follows the same pattern of heartbreak, and things we lost, to ending in an uplifting tone... this collection of poems all had something that will forever be remembered in my soul and many of these poems will stick with me.
Thank you Netgalley , Courtney Peppernell, and the publisher for letting me read this book!
It seems like Courtney Peppernell‘s poetry just doesn’t meet my taste. I disliked the writing style and found the book to be a bit repetitive.
An excellent conclusion to the Pillow Thoughts series. I think this might have been the best one yet. The drawings are whimsical and sweet as always, and I like the sections the book is divided into. There were lots of poems I bookmarked. Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is my honest review after receiving and reading the ARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley.
I have only read the Pillow Thoughts 1 so if I were to personally compare the two I believe that the poems in this book are an upgrade from the first one. However, the poems still weren’t the best thing I’ve read but I see an improvement in style. I just wish the author could’ve explored more topics and perspectives to avoid some redundancy in multiple poems.
Overall, It’s not the best and the worst thing I’ve read. I’m mostly lukewarm about the poems.
The fourth installment of Pillow Thoughts was a refreshing but predicable read. Fans of Peppernell will have a sense of comfort within her words as they are not unlike her last three books.. I'm slightly disappointed in not seeing much growth over the course of this series but that does not negate the tenderness and hope that she pours in. This is a great read for rainy days with a nice cup of tea!
"We belong to different forevers. My heart and your heart were never meant to be together."
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I've really enjoyed the entire Pillow Thoughts series and this fourth installment was no exception. I like the way Peppernell sorts her poetry into different categories in each book, and usually find that some categories resonate more than others, as it seems to be intended. Out of all of the Pillow Thoughts books, this one contained the most poems that made me stop, re-read, and stuck with me. Several lines and poems really resonated with me, and my favorite themes were being present and grateful in your day-to-day, and finding peace in letting go of the past. However, I'm not sure if it was just the formatting of the ARC compared to how I've read her other works, but this collection seemed longer than the previous volumes in this collection, and did drag a bit in some of the categories that didn't resonate as much for me. I'm sure other readers will enjoy those categories more as everyone has different tastes and find themselves in different seasons—that's one of the great things about the Pillow Thoughts books—there's something there for everyone.
Pillow Thoughts is such an iconic collection of poems and as the final book in the series, this does not disappoint! During such a tumultuous time, I really love reading poetry. It forces me to think about myself, the world, and forces me to reflect.
These poems are so beautiful and thoughtful and meditative experience. There's something for everyone. From love to self-love, to forgiveness, to goal setting, each poem tells a story. This book doesn't give you answers, but it might help you get there.
Pillow Thoughts IV by Courtney Peppernell is the final installment in the series and concludes on a beautiful note. Her poems are like a friend reaching out across a coffee table to hold your hand while you piece yourself back together, while you stew in your grief and tape back the shattered pieces of yourself. There is hope and understanding in her words and love for the person you are and will be as you rebuild yourself up after loss.
I find great comfort in her words and can’t wait to own this book so I can tag my favorite lines and curl up in my favorite couch with tea and re-read it all again and savor it even more.
***
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. This is a beautiful conclusion to Courtney Peppernell's Pillow Thoughts series. There is truly a piece for everyone in this collection.
I definitely liked this collection more than I Hope You Stay. I believe this was the finale to the Pillow Thoughts series and it was a well-rounded ending to a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Recommended especially if you were a fan of the first three.