Poetries are my life. And this book is all about memories. The poet reaches to the past as he remembers to create a present that will be remembered.
In 'City of Lost Memories', memory is many things. It is a burden and a treasure; it haunts and it brings excitement.
Memory is what keeps people and events alive in our minds. And this is why it can be both a blessing and a curse.

This book isn't for everyone to be honest, not everyone going to like it. No I'm not saying that anything is lacking but many people don't want to walk down their memory lane. Not everyone can deal with their memories.

I liked the book so much as usual. This is my third book that I read by this author. Previously I read A God In Human Body and Born In Lockdown and I liked them both. One can finish reading at one sitting.

Highly recommended.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you @netgalley and @theroaringlionnewcastle for the #arc in exchange for a honest review.

The poems are all right. I read this in one go, but I wasn’t engaged in it that much. Overall, a swift read,

Thank you NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the chance to read and review this book!

I didn't take to this collection at all. I just didn't enjoy the authors style of writing. I didn't connect with what they were trying to write. In addition, I feel like the theme of memories was unclear!

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing an advance copy through Netgalley in exchange for an honest, thorough review.

Hmm. It always conflicts me when it comes to giving star-ratings for poetry. In City of Lost Memories, Akinyemi explores the various ways in which personal and collective memory are held and presented in different modes of our lives. Each poem featured one intense line after the other, every line being a grand statement. This had me marveling at Akinyemi’s craft, while silently wishing each poem was expanded upon further. In a small way, it almost feels like each poem only skimmed a surface or circled the same unknowns of memory.

If you’re interested in memory or memory theory, this would be worth a read. Otherwise, I don’t know. The brevity of the poetry makes for a “quicker” read, though I suppose the brevity is one of my small qualms about the book overall. It feels rather backwards to lower a rating because the content is short when the rating likely affects future publication; my rating here is less on the brevity and more on the lack of depth that I noticed in the definings of “past” and “present” — a rather large omission in a work that centralizes memory, and “lost” ones at that. In short, I’m wondering how these pieces could be taken further individually, and what conclusions they would tentatively reach. I suspect that the message is longer than it seems to be. In short again, this feels like a springboard for larger thoughts. While I am all for growth, I do give ratings strictly on what the text is in itself.

I’ll conclude this review, one in which I am left with conflicting feelings of admiration and ambivalence, with one of my favorite lines :)

To remember the past is to keep life in perspective, a walk down memory lane keeps the future in focus.

(What a poignant imagery, and lovely rhythm, too!)

I expected something very different based on the blurb and the title, but sadly, this wasn't it. I thought that individual pieces would map intimate memories onto a city and would dare to unpack and explore these connections, similar to Pierre Nora's concept of lieux de memoire. Instead, it is a collection of short vignettes about everything and nothing all at once: people, places, and laments against critics.

In addition, I don't connect with the writing style of the author. It lacks the air and layers of mystery and imagery that can keep me digging and savoring a poem long after I've closed the book. Some of the concepts seem interesting, but the absence of playfulness with the language--the sound, the structure, the line breaks--can't realize these dreams.

I feel very frustrated because I expected to love it, but I hope that this book will find its readers.

This collection of poetry is very good. I loved it. It talks about everything, not just one subject like most poetry writers. I like to say "everything under the sun" which is what this author has done. Very interesting take on things. Very good and would love to read more of this authors writing.

I received a free copy of the book and is voluntarily writing a review

"This generation is plagued by forgetfulness.
The past has been crucified on the cross of hypocrisy.

This generation of entitled children are fanning the embers of hate.
We have forgotten how to take lessons from the past."

This poetry book really handles the topic of memories, and the democrats will always be remembered: because of the pain, suffering, and agony. The past should not be just in the past. Various people suffered, and those responsible have not apologized, seeing how things are for those who have suffered the fates of raucous governments and entitled race and the rich. It isn't just the apology they needed. They also want to see the changes they've been promised for equality and human rights.

Just from the poems in this poetry book, I can feel how in between the person is from the past and present. Using 'a walk down memory lane keeps the future in focus.' Reading through these makes me angry, heartbroken, and sorrowful for the people who had gone through history's pain, suffering, and agony. And yet why call it history when it is still happening? There are changes, but we all know how conquering those who deny equality and human rights still is. 'Never trivialise our collective history as fake stories.'

Got an eArc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.