I am not really a great reader of poetry but I thought this volume was both interesting and engages the reader.

way too religiously for me. I think I downloaded by accident, I was not a fan of this collection and could not get into it.

This collection is a heartfelt exploration of what it's like to be a person prone to questioning the theology they're taught since childhood. I was especially interested on the "On Job" poems which push back against the lessons we're "supposed" to learn from the story. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed in the hymn erasure poems; they didn't seem to be saying anything all that different from the originals, and I thought they could have pushed it much further. I appreciate the intersectionality of many of these poems, giving glimpses into experiences that I both can and can't relate to.

I didn't love this poetry book. I loved the themes, the messages, and some of the poems. But I did not love this book.

Lines like "My Sunday school teacher thinks we've forgotten God is a murderer" and "I return to the Devil asking permission to torment. I can't overlook God saying yes" are lines that have stuck in my head for days.

Most of the poems at the beginning and the end are stunning. But the ones in the middle all mush together. If it wasn't for them, this would probably be a 4 star review.

Overall, it was an interesting poetry book but not one I'm going to read again.

I love Button Poetry books. This was one of my least favorites. Although it was well constructed and written, I was not a fan of the centralized theming. She is a talented author, this simply wasn't a fit for my interests.

I’ve come to love most poetry released by Button Poetry, but this on was just okay. I particularly liked the poems on Job (from the Bible), but felt others were too similar to the Instagram poets I tend to stay away from (only longer).

Raych Jackson and I may hail from opposite sides of the earth but the (former) church girl and Christian guilt heaped upon us is the same everywhere, which makes me both feel a kinship and yet sad at the same time. Using Job from the Bible as a running theme, Jackson takes us on a trip through problems in both religious and reality, pointing out that human behaviour will always be in conflict with religious teachings. I have experienced and questioned the same things. It resonates. I hear you.

This eARC of 'Even the Saints Audition' is courtesy of NetGalley.

I loved this poetry collection that circled around themes of faith and blackness, Job, God, guilt, sin, sex, drug addiction, poverty and loneliness. Jackson plays with words wonderfully, making you work to understand some of the poems while spelling it out for you in others. The poems are uncomfortably honest, dealing with topics like her guilt for masturbation as a preteen and her aunt's suicide. This collection won't be everyone, which is my favorite kind of poetry collection.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.

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

"Even the Saints Audition" is a collection of poetry navigating the abyss between religious belief and sexual self-discovery and independence. There are also other poems about religion & family, going to Church when feeling like a sinner because of one's mind and thoughts.

I quite liked the collection. The poems were brutally honest, creating an intimacy between focalizer and reader.

However, I felt that the poems were connected but I also found that many poems weren't going anywhere - at least for me. As a white agnostic I lack knowledge & experience in that very specific setting, yet I enjoyed them. I learned a lot.

4 Stars

Actual rating .stars (rounded up to 2)

This poetry collection talks about spirituality and religion. I must admit, I am nor spiritual neither a religious person - at all, so it didn’t end up to be my cup of tea. Adding to that, I didn’t like the writing style as well as some poem designs.

On a more positive note, there was a verse in a certain poem that I really liked and I related to:
“When he leans in I jump & hold my cry
Until I get home; a skill he’s helped me
Practice. I’m still me. I’m still me. I’m still
My happiest alone, have to fight myself.”

Although I did not like it, I still recommend it to those who likes to read about spirituality and religious related books and poems.

*I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Like all of Button’s books, “Even the Saints Audition” was transparent, painfully honest, brimming with sharp edges and hard questions. The blurb says it explores “the relationship between blackness, shame, and what it is to live a life tied to the church…” It does exactly what it promises, with a gripping narrative that is extremely personal and visceral.

Jason tackles religion —tackles God and her complicated relationship with Him and His church and everyone in her congregation— with brutal sincerity. It doesn’t shy away from all the murky waters the church can create for women awakening to their sexuality, or dealing with mental health, or simply asking questions. And her faith shines through, never lukewarm, but scolding hot and eager to be found. I loved the recurrent use of Job and his story, and the complexities of not knowing, as a Christian, what one must take from it. That God will protect us? That God will bet on us?

Though my favorite poems were those full of rebellion, angry and questioning, I really appreciated how the book came full circle, starting with lines like “God will give you nothing…” and “She reminds her Eve was also a curious woman, who God cursed…”, but ending with two poems in which she fully embraces her faith, with all its complications and limitations:

“I practice praying while he snores in my ear.
His sighs are my cheat code. God must have
a soft spot for me. I’m not dead yet. I perfect
my amen to close our future prayers. I nudge
him to roll on his side & soften his breathing.
He reaches out to hold me without opening
an eye. Thank you God, amen I whisper. How
can I claim God doesn’t listen to sinners?
How else could I get such a blessing?”

-

I can’t say I fully loved the poetry, because its technical and figurative constructions left me wanting for… a little more. The most exploratory pieces, structure wise, lost me. But I’m not saying the poetry was bad, because it wasn’t; just not my type. Despite this, I fully recommend it to fans of the genre. The thoughts Jackson shared in her poems still have me thinking as I write this review, days after closing the book. The lines were compelling, jarring in the way only delicious sentences can be, thought provoking, soul barred, open, ready to swallow the reader like the ground that swallowed Korah. What else can you demand in a book? What else can you demand in a poet?

Trigger warnings: racism, mental illness, suicidal thoughts.

Honestly when I started this book I wasn’t sure how much I was going to enjoy it. It’s one of very few that I’ve read in this genre and I realized I’m not as religious as I was before. The writing was beautiful though and I kept reading even though I felt some of it was provocative. I would recommend it to a mature audience that’s very religious.

The poems are beautifully written and I know of many who will connect to and benefit from reading the collection. While I did not quite connect with all the content, I do appreciate the collection and understand how deeply it may resonate with others.

This one was not a good match for me as I am not into spiritual or religious poetry. I connected with the third part the most. Raych Jackson is no doubt a talented poet regardless.

I’m a huge fan of spiritual poetry, so I was interested to read this book. I really enjoyed the author’s unique perspective on growing up in the African American church. My favorite pieces were the ones in which she interpreted the book of Job and struggled with issues of the double standards that many women face in the church. As a fellow church girl, I can relate to many of her struggles; however, I was not prepared for the graphic nature of some of these poems. I would have preferred some type of warning or indication because many of the pieces were triggering and dealt with very mature content. Not for the easily offended or faint of heart- this visceral collection is not your typical book of religious poems.

This collection gave me The Poet X vibes when I started reading it.
The book is divided into three sections or Acts tackling with themes like feminism, religion, family, relationships.

The first two sections really got me. The lines are hard hitting.

Somehow the hype died down a little when I reached the third section/act. I somehow could not relate with the lines dealing with sexual content and for me it sounds like a bit insensitive.

I like the collection for one time read.

Thank you #NetGalley for the book #EvenTheSaintsAudition.

"Time is rumored to heal all wounds. No one claims it erases them."

Even the Saints Audition pulled me in closely, held me tighter than a distant relative quickly becoming familiar, and sat right next until I devoured the very last poem. I could not put this book down. And while this book was not on my radar, I was instantly lured in with one look of the cover. Even if you weren't sure of the subject matter, the title and beautifully haunting cover illustration alone would make the most unbothered person curious. So, I went into this poetry collection with a completely open mind and was pleasantly surprised.

Even the Saints Audition reads like a series of letters to the Church Girls who've experienced shame and fear of looming punishment for committing sin. And because I was raised in the church, I could relate so much to the experiences Jackson highlights in her poems. She confesses "impure" thoughts, mourns the loss of her "fun" aunt, and shares moments of overwhelming depression in such a raw and lyrical way, I somehow felt connected to her-- as if I was eavesdropping in on her life's story.

Jackson made me feel things, made me question things, and made me hopeful that she'd found a peace in sharing her truth with such brilliant metaphors and rhythm. Though Jackson and I may not share the same feelings about growing up in the church, I appreciate the honesty and heart she poured into each of these poems. It's def worth the read.

Major thanks to Netgalley and Button Poetry for an ARC of Even the Saints Audition in exchange for an honest review.

This right here is looking at what it means to be righteous, exploring the understanding of Scripture in real life struggles.
You'll love titles like "Jonah was trapped before he met the fish" and take a step back to feel what the author invites you to experience on every time you come across "On Job."
The author incorporates various formats for the pieces herein, so you are up for some surprises if you think this collection follows the normal book formatting. Thanks Netgalley for the eARC, and to the publisher- I love the cover.

This was a fascinating poetic exploration of identity and spirituality. Raych Jackson brings familiar religious elements into new ground in this work, all the while craft verses that read well.