nectar

nectar is a beautiful collection of poems that draw on strong images and experiences — wonderful literary working!

Loved the title and cover of this book. Such a simple perfect poetry book. I loved it! I read it while waiting in a hospital and it made me feel good and enjoyed Uptile Chisalas voice.

Upile Chisala's latest book of poetry and prose, "nectar" was deep and profound. It was cutting and also tender. It had sharp truth that cut to the core of some relational dysfunction. I resonated with parts of it, and it was at times convicting of my own painful past. The book was written to women and it is a wonderful collection that I would share with my daughters when they are older. I would also invite my son to read it too.

As a man reading Ms. Chisala's poetry I felt the pain. I felt the wrongs done to her and her wounds that are on full display in "nectar." I also heard a strong, tender and fiery woman who knew who she was, knew what she wanted, and was dead set on pursuing those things because she is worth it, she deserves those things, and what she sought were all worth her effort and her toiling and her full attention.

This collection is a moving and important collection. I wholeheartedly recommend this to women and men alike. I think people would learn a lot from her words and hopefully it would bring about meaningful change in the lives that Ms. Chisala touch through her poetry.

I received this eBook free of charge from Andrews McMeel Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any fiscal compensation from either company for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one go and I found myself jotting down her thoughts because they felt like mine own at some points. It's a really well structured and well thought out poetry book that touches on the sore soul spots and heals this a little. I would keep this on my bookshelf.

Overall this book was very uplifting and I was able to really connect with the author. Even though the second section was heavily written to empower the African American female population, I felt the rest of the collection could’ve been written for absolutely anybody. The writing was beautiful and I definitely would read more of her work if she continues to publish. Definitely a book everyone should read.

Upile Chisala has the most empowering and beautiful voice, and I hold that opinion without even having heard her voice with my ears. I hear it in my heart. In my bones. In my soul. Too many of her words fill me up and make me feel less alone with thoughts I’ve had, feelings I’ve had. It’s helpful to know it’s known. It’s understood. Every time I thought I had a favorite, I’d keep reading and discover another one, and another, another. It’s all important. It’s all needed to be heard. I want to share these words with everyone I know so they too can feel less alone, more understood. So they can have the courage to be better and grow. To not let their past stunt them, and to let joy in.

"Pray for the creative whose vulnerability amuses us, whose pain reminds us of our own, who had to feel something again and again for our sakes."

Short, yet thought-provoking, Upile Chisala crafts words together to be a eloquent piece exploring diverse themes and writes for women with intricate yet simple notions. She talks about love, pain, growth, helping, poetry, marriages, women and self love. The creativeness which stood up for me is that while reading a couple of poems, they resonated couple of my own thoughts put on paper and that instantly connected me to this book!

It is a quick read and everything about it is nice. I enjoyed some to an extent that it stuck in my head and I felt it in my bones while some didn't just work out for me, personally, as good as it is written. Upile Chisala has done a good job with this collection. Her writing, as brief as it is, impacts and influences on one's thoughts in a way it isn't expected! I loved this book and I have a feeling I will love 'Soft Magic' more!

Recommended: Anyone looking for a thoughtful and a brief read can read this. Strongly recommended for young women and writers who think they aren't good enough.

The poems in 'Nectar' hit right in the heart. They are empowering, kind, strong and loving - all at the same time.

Like she wrote herself in one of her poems: "I am ever grateful for those who patch wounds with words". This is exactly what she does herself, and I am ever grateful.

Poetry is a form of self-help and healing. It’s self-care. it dredges up things inside of you and makes you realise that you’re not alone. Upile Chisala’s second poetry collection is a honey-filled gold mine of thoughts and words that seem to come from me.

Although this is the first poetry collection by Upile Chisala that I've read I can't help but become a fan of her stunning words. In nectar, Chisala touches on important topics such as self-love, healing and toxic relationships. These are handled with such care and honesty.

As a black woman, I found her words relatable, comforting and inspirational. I loved the way she expresses her black womanhood in relation to the world. This is a poetry book that will stay with me long after I've closed the last page.

Nectar is such a beautiful and perfect title for this book.

This book was refreshing and emotional. This book made me cry, reminded me why I love poetry so much, and why it is so important. Upile Chisala does a fantastic job making me feel how personal this collection is to her, as well as making it feel personal and pulled from my own heart. It was a collection of what felt like affirmations and reminders to myself, things you hope your best friend will say to you when you need it the most.

I think that Nectar is easily my favorite poetry book I have read this year.

Upile has created a collection of poetry which is strong, delicate, empowering and clearly written with POC in mind. As a South African author, Upile has created eloquent prose that speaks of the experiences living as a marginalized woman, and the way in which one can grow from that experience.

While I am not an #ownvoices reader of this collection, I can fully appreciate the emotion and heart that has been inserted throughout Upile's words. I strongly recommend that you visit some ownvoice reviews for this collection - I believe that it the right hands this would be an incredibly powerful collection of words.

I do forget to leave a review until the publisher archieved it already. I read it a long time ago and I really liked it. The story was just there for me to comprehend. Highly recommended!!

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks for the free poetry collection.*

I quite liked the majority of Upile Chisala's poetry. Chisala is a storyteller from Malawi, currently living in South Africa. Her poems cover a range of topics, progressing from self-love to leading a better life. There are feminist touches to her poem, which I really liked. The different chapters are called "House of Honey", "Soil & Roots", "All That Grew", "Our Garden", and "Fruit".

Here are some poems that I particularly enjoyed:

"There are things that I am that I am trying not to be.
There are things that I was that have no claim on me." (8)

"BLACK LIVES ARE LOVELY AND THEY MATTER." (43)

Some poems could've been longer. I think that the author could go even deeper, but the brevity but beautiful in itself. The poems are very vivid and imaginative. I liked most of them.

4 Stars

Such an incredible collection of poems! I was truly moved by this book. I will definitely be selling this title at work, and looking for more form this author in the future.

"There is danger in letting people misname you.
If you are a fire,
do not answer when they call you a spark."

This book has a lot of self-love and self-worth even if some of the poems are one liners. Regardless, I loved it a lot! I honestly recommend for people to read and check this out even if you're not a fan of these modern poem format since some of these are really good advice. Some of the poems are about black lives matter as well.

Here are some of my favorites:

"I see you. You're not in this perpetual mission
to destroy yourself anymore. I'm glad you finally
think you're worth saving."

"I feel my ancestors in my blood. I am a body of
people who are asking not to be forgotten."

"I am sorry you watched your mother crawl out of
her pride for a man who only half lover her."

"Don't ignore the decay. Don't keep people around
because you're afraid of throwing things out.
You're not wasting, you're outgrowing."

"That day, over seven hundred
slept at the bottom of the sea.

Too black to remember.
Too black to make the news."

"Stop teaching girls that their voices aren't worth
listening to."

"Although I am happy that you've asked me to
be the warm thing you care for, please note that
there's nothing you can do that could ever make
me abandon myself.
I have fought too hard for this. I am finally
someone I love. I am someone I won't betray."

Overall, there are many poems I didn't include since I'd be typing 90% of the book here. So many are just so good but they're too long for me to type and I've already included a lot in this review. Please take your time reading through it since it's worth it.

"People who only wish to stifle your bloom do not
belong in your garden."

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with the digital copy for an honest review.

I just think Upile Chisala is magical, and I'm so happy she wrote another collection after how incredible soft magic. was! I can't wait to recommend this to other poetry lovers.

I have been wanting to get into more poetry books lately and I’m so happy I found this one. It is such an incredible collection of poems! Most are uplifting and full of self-love. I was truly moved by this book. I will definitely look for more from this author!


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I think this is an important poetry collection that would speak to many women out there. It definitely spoke to me.

This is an absolutely beautiful book of poetry and prose form the Malawian Upile Chisala. It centres around finding beauty in things all around of us and how we can use the past and our current circumstances to enable love to bloom in others and in ourselves. This book is empowering and cannot help but to lift us up and take pride in the good aspects of our lives. The language is simple and easy to comprehend so would appeal to all. It's a very enjoyable piece of work, and her second collection, one that I would highly recommend.