I liked this collection. Stories of love, loss, abuse, and growing up were told in bits in pieces of each poem. At some points, I found myself questioning the cohesiveness of the poems. I think the ordering could’ve flowed better. But, maybe disorder is what the author was after. There were also poems about cities or time in cities that didn’t really fit. The metaphors were powerful and I’m sure you could get something new each time reading this. A few lines I read again and again to really reflect and let it sink in. The imagery of the landscape was also beautifully weaved throughout as a character in its own right.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am not usually one for poetry but this book was one that stayed on my mind for quite some time. Through verse and poems we follow a journey from a child to a father and the number of questions along the way, especially that about belief. There are a number of quotes I have come away with that absolutely stick with me, such as "there are many ways to scream so no one hears" and that "everything begins with missing" I felt like I was on a journey reading this, and my 3 star review only reflects the fact that this is only my second poem book I have read, and I really enjoyed it.

John Sibley Williams shows a wide range of talent for inventive juxtaposition and surprising images from the very first entry in Skin Memory. Whether written in prose poetry or in free-flowing stanzas, these works display emotion, catharsis, and experience. A collection that starts well and only rises as it travels.