This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Kevin Arnold earned his MFA from San Jose State University in 2007. His work has been widely published in literary magazines such as Seattle Review, Mudfish, and Beloit Fiction Journal. He has continually attended writing workshops, including an extraordinary week in Raymond Carver’s workshop at Centrum. Kevin served as President, Poetry Center San Jose, from 2001-2013. He helped start Gold Rush Writers, in the California foothills, where he has taught for fifteen years. The San Francisco / Peninsula California Writer's Club recently named him Writer of the Year.
Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite
Do Not Think Badly of Me is a poetry collection by award-winning novelist and acclaimed poet Kevin Arnold. Drawing inspiration from his personal experiences, Kevin pens some captivating verses that shed light on his relationships as well as some momentous events of his life. Opening with a poem recalling his wife's struggle with Alzheimer's disease, there is a shout-out to Alois Alzheimer himself, whose words from a letter inspired the title of this collection. As you read further, his relationships with his children, lovers, teachers, and students take center stage, demonstrating how people from diverse backgrounds have all kinds of impacts on a person's life, creating memories that are unique and unforgettable. Kevin's poems are deeply intimate and personal yet feel very relatable due to the universal themes he delves into.
Do Not Think Badly of Me is a mesmerizing collection of poems that contain slice-of-life stories from Kevin Arnold's personal life. Through his poetic verses and stories, he explores how the countless moments and unforgettable memories make up a person's life and give meaning to their existence. Stylistically, Kevin uses non-rhythmic verses with experimental structural organization, almost like a storytelling narrative style that feels like poetic prose. I found it refreshing to read. Despite the stylistic and thematic similarities, each poem brings something of its own to the narrative that is unique and showcases a different aspect of Kevin's personality. I had a wonderful time reading the collection, and if you're a poetry lover, you shouldn't miss this one.
