Author: John Kaniecki
Published By: Dreaming Big, Nov 2017
Reviewed By: Jessica Bucci
Genre: Poetry, Inspirational, Religious, Mental Illness
Pages: 134 (Paperback)
Rating: 4/5 Stars
John Kaniecki is not afraid to express himself through free form poetry. He examines the mental health care system, critiquing its practices and treatment of patients. The reader is taken on a long journey through pain, struggle, and finally hope. This is the second book I have read by Kaniecki, the first being More Than The Madness.
John beautifully crafts his story through 70 poems, each taking on a unique topic. While the message is powerful and thought provoking, because it is in poetry form I unfortunately know I missed parts of the intended message. As I have said before in other reviews, poetry/prose is not my favorite genre to read. However, I believe it can be one of the best ways to express oneself in written form. It captures sporadic thoughts and feelings differently than a fully story might.
Polishing the Fragments is a dark collection that explores deep topics. It is for a mature audience who isn’t afraid to delve into serious issues. Although the poems and collection itself are short, it is not necessarily something that can be read in one sitting. The best way to read this collection is in sections, absorbing the heavy contents slowly.
About the Book:
In a collection based in self-exploration and realization, Kaniecki takes on issues of mental illness, abuse, and religious actualization. Kaniecki's usage of imagery and theme express a relatable yet unique story of discovery, failure, and hope. The reader is taken on a journey through childhood experiences, growing pains, finding love and Christ, and living with the aftermath of mental illness. This hard look at mental health offers a critique of the current system while expressing hope for a brighter future.
About the Author:
John Kaniecki is a poet and prose writer residing with his wife Sylvia in lovely Montclair, New Jersey. John currently has nine books out, five of poetry and four of prose with more to come. John’s primary function is as a caregiver to his wife Sylvia. John also is an activist as a member of Woman’s International League Of Peace And Freedom as well as New Jersey Peace Action. John is a minister of the Church Of Christ At Chancellor Avenue, which is located in the South Ward of Newark. John has suffered from bipolar disorder since that age of twenty. His story is told in his memoirs More Than The Madness also published by Dreaming Big Publications.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
Amazon