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If you are new around here, then you may not know this, but poetry isn’t my go-to genre. Something about it makes me feel like I’m always missing something, and it requires me to read the poems multiple times to get some understanding. Please take this review with a grain of salt, as this book’s genre is not in my wheelhouse. 🙂
Stories of a Harlem Resident was sent to me from the author to read and review. Once read, reread, and zoomed out, this book of poetry reads as a mashup of the author’s biography and passions. In 13 poems, Javier describes his concerns and love for Harlem. He does not shy away from highlighting the realities of coming up or being raised there and is also careful to not only focus on its flaws. Javier makes a point to showcase how being a resident of Harlem has molded and shaped them into the person they are today. My key takeaway from the first few poems (before Passion) is that overcoming adversity and being tapped into one’s surroundings creates a community-focused individual and places them in roles geared for change.
Stylistically, I enjoyed the abecedarian poems (Starstruck and Rising Star) and the ones with lines of 4 or 5 words beginning with the same letters (see poems Visionary and Images).
I’m sure there may have been some meaningful poetic elements lost on me, but what I did understand of it, I enjoyed. The words are impactful and paint a picture of the life experience of a resident of Harlem.
If you enjoy poetry, give this book a try.
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