Ratings are out of 5 stars
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Aug 26, 2018
Galatea Georgiou
rated it four stars really liked it
'Un-Clenched Emotion: A Collection of Poems', is a beautiful book that can be read in one sitting. Natasha Gruss has a way of painting beautiful sceneries with her words and that's what i loved the most from this book. The poems are separated in three categories: 'Enjoying', 'Despairing' and 'Philosophizing'. I found myself relating to quite a few of her poems and i liked that.
My favorite poems are 'Night', 'Apart' and 'Dream'.
I can recommend this book to anyone that loves poetry.
"In the bleakest hour, Hope seems lost and your mind feels like the darkest night.
Remember you can still dream in that night."
My favorite poems are 'Night', 'Apart' and 'Dream'.
I can recommend this book to anyone that loves poetry.
"In the bleakest hour, Hope seems lost and your mind feels like the darkest night.
Remember you can still dream in that night."
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May 06, 2018
Joannes Rhino
rated it four stars really liked it
Unclenched Emotion is all about the author's memories of what she felt, saw and experienced. She vividly explains her emotions about the sea, the night, the season changes, hopes and dreams. I loved the idea of how she tried to describe her surroundings through these poems.
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Apr 17, 2018
Jessica Ginting
rated it four stars really liked it
The title of this book encapsulates Natasha's poetry perfectly (Un-Clenched Emotion) and the vivid landscapes painted in this book stays locked in my mind. One of my favourites, 'Night' feels as if the poet has taken the words directly from my mind. I am dazzled by the night as I am with Natasha's poetry, and this is only one of the many examples.
Some poems take on simpler messages, for example, 'What Feels Good' infuses all of the sensory details of a fireplace, rustic and homely, and seeps its way into the reader's mind. I actually felt relaxed after reading it.
The Despair section of the book truly is a change of pace, with denser, more complex language used to communicate a lot of the more troubling images - although it does end with a fairly short, simple poem in 'Longing' which has a tint of sadness within some of the sweeter lines: "As you shut your eyes, / and dream of a home with me."
The second last paragraph of 'Mulling Persistence' is my favourite. It takes both frustration and desire to make a perfect life, perfect existence, a frantic rush to make everything fall in place - it's almost an exhale when the poet admits in the end that if only things could be done with a breeze. Overall, Natasha's writing is vibrant and exciting - with lots of beautiful turns in language. I am certain others will enjoy this as well!
Some poems take on simpler messages, for example, 'What Feels Good' infuses all of the sensory details of a fireplace, rustic and homely, and seeps its way into the reader's mind. I actually felt relaxed after reading it.
The Despair section of the book truly is a change of pace, with denser, more complex language used to communicate a lot of the more troubling images - although it does end with a fairly short, simple poem in 'Longing' which has a tint of sadness within some of the sweeter lines: "As you shut your eyes, / and dream of a home with me."
The second last paragraph of 'Mulling Persistence' is my favourite. It takes both frustration and desire to make a perfect life, perfect existence, a frantic rush to make everything fall in place - it's almost an exhale when the poet admits in the end that if only things could be done with a breeze. Overall, Natasha's writing is vibrant and exciting - with lots of beautiful turns in language. I am certain others will enjoy this as well!
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Apr 17, 2018
T. Renee
rated it four stars really liked it
Shelves:
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I think Gruss puts to rest the age old notion, ‘those who can’t do, teach.’ This lady can and she does. Gruss’ writing in Un-Clenched Emotion is absolutely beautiful. Her first section, Enjoying, is light hearted and uplifting. The way she structures her lines helps to put you in this calm sort of headspace and you’re able to sway with the rhythm of her words as you read them.
The second section, Despairing… now I’ll admit, I was expecting a little more angst, but then again I have been called ‘dark and twisty’ (which I oddly don’t mind) by more than one person, so perhaps it’s just me. I found this section of her book more melancholy than anything else but the imagery was wonderful and it was nice to see a different layer to despair and all that it encompasses for someone other than myself.
The third section, Philosophizing, rivals Enjoying, as my favorite. The poems, Examination and Longevity were both very personal but also very relatable, and are both hands down my favorite titles. Overall I’d describe the collection as feel good and insightful. Natasha Gruss’ love of nature is clear and highly infectious as it just makes you want to grab a hot cup of tea and cuddle up to a nice fire and stare out the window on a snowy day, or grab a blanket and a bottle of wine and find a secluded place to stare off into the horizon. Wonderful read.
The second section, Despairing… now I’ll admit, I was expecting a little more angst, but then again I have been called ‘dark and twisty’ (which I oddly don’t mind) by more than one person, so perhaps it’s just me. I found this section of her book more melancholy than anything else but the imagery was wonderful and it was nice to see a different layer to despair and all that it encompasses for someone other than myself.
The third section, Philosophizing, rivals Enjoying, as my favorite. The poems, Examination and Longevity were both very personal but also very relatable, and are both hands down my favorite titles. Overall I’d describe the collection as feel good and insightful. Natasha Gruss’ love of nature is clear and highly infectious as it just makes you want to grab a hot cup of tea and cuddle up to a nice fire and stare out the window on a snowy day, or grab a blanket and a bottle of wine and find a secluded place to stare off into the horizon. Wonderful read.
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May 03, 2018
Mona Soorma
rated it four starsreally liked it
Un-Clenched Emotion by Natasha Gruss is a book of poems that talk of life and the world through the feelings they produce in the poet. It is divided into three sections called Enjoying, Despairing and Philosophizing, the title of each being self-explanatory as regards the particular emotion that it portrays.
The poems are written in free style, without the traditional rhyming structure. The sentences are sharp and often short but they complement the feelings of darkness, turbulence, conflict and an attempt to understand the complexities and contrasts in life.
Natasha has painted some beautiful images of nature specially in the first section of the book. My favourite poem is 'Night' for its beautiful flow and the use of personification to describe the night. 'Cruel and Tender' is another poem that stands out, for the very well portrayed contrast between the cruel world and the tenderness of the person referred to as ‘You’. In the section 'philosophizing' we can see the poet mulling the questions of life and existence.
The prose like quality of the poems becomes more pronounced as the book progresses but hope runs through every dark cloud that the poet sees and experiences.
As regards the formatting of the book, I felt that it would have been better to have a more detailed contents page for easier reference.
If you want poetry that will make you think, I recommend reading Un-Clenched Emotion.
Natasha has painted some beautiful images of nature specially in the first section of the book. My favourite poem is 'Night' for its beautiful flow and the use of personification to describe the night. 'Cruel and Tender' is another poem that stands out, for the very well portrayed contrast between the cruel world and the tenderness of the person referred to as ‘You’. In the section 'philosophizing' we can see the poet mulling the questions of life and existence.
The prose like quality of the poems becomes more pronounced as the book progresses but hope runs through every dark cloud that the poet sees and experiences.
As regards the formatting of the book, I felt that it would have been better to have a more detailed contents page for easier reference.
If you want poetry that will make you think, I recommend reading Un-Clenched Emotion.
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I finally got a review on Amazon from Joshua Grant. He gave it 5 stars and here is what he wrote:
Natasha Gruss compiles some powerful emotional poems in her collection Un-Clenched Emotion! I love how this series was separated into three sections: enjoying, despairing, and philosophizing. Each was a wonder unto itself in how Gruss evoked a different mood. The imagery was beautiful and the prose flowed freely making Un-Clenched Emotion perfect for anyone looking to do a bit of soul searching!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R2BAM3EX3ST0J0/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01LZNVH4Y
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Unclenched Emotion is a short book of poetry, broken into sections titled ENJOYING, DESPAIRING, and PHILOSOPHIZING. The poems seem to connect to different parts of Natasha Gruss's life, and were perhaps written by Gruss at a variety of different ages.
The ENJOYING section focuses most often on the appreciation of nature, and natural places, for example Thunderstorms, The Sea, and (I think?) Montana's Big Sky Country. A few poems in this section go a bit further than simple appreciation of nature, and seem to hint at the pastoral idea of a return to a pure "country" life. "What Feels Good" for example equates the act of chopping wood with fulfillment, and accomplishment.
The poems in the DESPAIRING section explore love in it's darker corners - love stalled from, if not "beginning", then being savoured (Longing), and of love seemingly being indifferent and meant for others, but not for us. Again, two of the poems explore love via nature: DIRT with lines like "what happened to the outstretched glory of green stems with red buds?", and MISSING THE ISLAND which, again, is perhaps an allusion to a pastoral time on a safe island when life was simple, and away from that island, life is turmoil.
The PHILOSOPHIZING section includes poems on aging and the passing seasons of our lives; human history drifting by at the whim of Greek Gods; the connection between poetry and gardening, which, in fact, seem perfect partners once you think of it, and, I believe, a poem about cancer, or at least illness (When a Battle Was Won) and surviving despite a "strangling darkness".
All together, this is an intriguing collection of poems. Gruss's book touches upon different aspects of the human condition - the absence of love, the human connection to nature - aspects which all of us feel every day, and Gruss's book reflects these things back to us in many simple and pure ways.
The ENJOYING section focuses most often on the appreciation of nature, and natural places, for example Thunderstorms, The Sea, and (I think?) Montana's Big Sky Country. A few poems in this section go a bit further than simple appreciation of nature, and seem to hint at the pastoral idea of a return to a pure "country" life. "What Feels Good" for example equates the act of chopping wood with fulfillment, and accomplishment.
The poems in the DESPAIRING section explore love in it's darker corners - love stalled from, if not "beginning", then being savoured (Longing), and of love seemingly being indifferent and meant for others, but not for us. Again, two of the poems explore love via nature: DIRT with lines like "what happened to the outstretched glory of green stems with red buds?", and MISSING THE ISLAND which, again, is perhaps an allusion to a pastoral time on a safe island when life was simple, and away from that island, life is turmoil.
The PHILOSOPHIZING section includes poems on aging and the passing seasons of our lives; human history drifting by at the whim of Greek Gods; the connection between poetry and gardening, which, in fact, seem perfect partners once you think of it, and, I believe, a poem about cancer, or at least illness (When a Battle Was Won) and surviving despite a "strangling darkness".
All together, this is an intriguing collection of poems. Gruss's book touches upon different aspects of the human condition - the absence of love, the human connection to nature - aspects which all of us feel every day, and Gruss's book reflects these things back to us in many simple and pure ways.
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