This book has one of the MOST BEAUTIFUL COVERS we’ve EVER SEEN! OMG!!! This cover is breath-taking. Like, you don’t even have to read the book to start feeling it, just LOOK AT THE COVER! There is so much being said in it that you can take in the essence of the book, the combination of elements, the crown of thorns adorned with sunflowers, the Band-Aid, the vapour tears, the way the eyes are closed… it’s gorgeous! Maaaaaaaaaan…. this is something else. Like, truly something else. Just the cover, love the artwork, love it, love it, love it! We need more books with artworks like this, for real. Both the cover and illustrations, which are fantastic, are made by Roux™ .
“To Fight Fire with Sun” … a very interesting title indeed that provokes many thoughts, many ideas and leaves us curious to know why the choice of words, why the game of words… fighting fire with the Sun… hmm….. Davia Andrews, what do you had in mind when choosing this title? hahahahahahaha, nice. Very nice.
The dedication is very emotional and takes us aback once we realize that the book is dedicated to a friend that Davia Andrews lost, a very close friend and, her words profound with grief and hope, and we are put in the tone of which this book was written, because this is a revelation, about the things that the writer never said before, which makes this book extra special, so…
There is a clear and honest knowledge and understanding of what it means to live and the toll life demands from the living, and that we must deal with that the best way we can, which is something beautiful and pure. This also hints that we are going to enter a very wild, rough and special ride that is this book, To Fight Fire with Sun.
Love, gratitude, admiration, friendship, care… these are the feelings we are enveloped with as we, without even realizing, start to feel, as we connect with the words of the author, D. A. Andrews, and this even before we get into the first poem. THAT’S how strong the sincere words of this poetess are and how emotional this book is. Its atmosphere is heavy with charged positive feelings as she shares the acknowledgements and thanks. Beautiful
The first poem is… … expressive in its image. D. A. Andrews is describing Alexander that is pictured as a being of light that gives oneself to others in need of a little light and keeps them safe, loyally holding them and does not hesitate when it comes to helping and lending his strength. It’s gorgeous! We also get the explanation of the title, hahahahhaha,
“He holds loyalty as close
to his chest as the people
he keeps there; foraging
through his ribs for every
ounce of strength
….”
Poems that share memories, secrets, love experiences, laughter, naughty escapades with lovers, and every poem helping us realize the depth of this book and the craft D. A. Andrews as she allows us to have an intimate time with her innermost memories, fragilities and fears. This is so beautiful.
There are certain lines, many times stanzas, that leave one awe-struck for a second or two. The author has some “slow-cooking” magic on her pen, I mean, you will read one or two poems and be able to handle the beauty, and then out of nowhere you get hit with a gem like:
But explain to me, how do you tell a dying man
to stop breathing, after he
has had the sweet taste of air? “
Another GREAT example of this “magic” is the first stanza of the poem “Bravery”, that is just gorgeous in all of its senses, strong because it dares one to love her with courage and determination, without hesitation of any kind, and I agree that love has to be that way, without pretence, without secrets, with patience and commitment. Another beauty of a poem from this amazing poetess.
Heartbreak and loss, the pain of dealing with it all, the solitude of not being with who you love and who loves you no more, it seems, and the toll it takes from us, that it took from the author, her feelings so clear, her intentions and her soul laid bare, it’s… something that as we read we cannot help but connect with and take a little time, a little more time to turn the page to show our compassion and our understanding.
The inability to let go, to try to keep on having what is lost, who was lost in dire circumstances of broken love…. it’s such a painful, hard experience that we all understand and relate to, so we feel the pain in our own bones. It’s… so well written, that we cannot help but, let D. A. Andrews’ feelings and experiences fill us up as we read each poem of this oh, so very short, collection of poems. I wish she had written more, because this is so beautiful!
PS: There are little “Easter eggs” to this book. Here goes the hint: look to the right. XD
Pros:
Everything. No, really. This book is perfect and extremely beautiful.
Scribble's Worth 