Lovers and Other Monsters

Jo-Anne McBride is a renewable resource specialist in Vancouver, B.C.

Hinting at a wellspring of ferocious intensity, these poems are a
journey of emotional turmoil. From first to last there is a flow that is
nearly narrative, achieved through crisp and clean images without a
superfluous word. Arranged in four parts, the poems lead us through two
lovers’ exploration of each other and of their relationship
interpreted through travels and art; the confusion of separation and
reunion; and some powerful images of pregnancy and, perhaps, loss. Each
poem is full and complete on its own, but when read as part of a series,
they form a larger picture composed of pain and truth. For someone new
to poetry, the images speak clearly: “The light on our bedroom wall
trembles / like a memory / of rain.” For the seasoned reader, there is
much to discover, with each rereading lending a new emphasis to each
poem. Lovers and Other Monsters is a small, well-crafted collection with
images that will remain with the reader for a long time.