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  • Jimmy Broccoli
    • Oct 23, 2023

Cheerio's Book Reviews - Jared Morningstar & Jerry Langdon

Hi All


Today - my Anxiety Bunny Rabbit, Cheerio, (pictured below) and I review two books of poetry.


Today's book selections are Jared Morningstar's, "Lost in America" and Jerry Langdon's "Death and Other Cold Things: A collection of poems". ______________

Jared Morningstar's "Lost in America"


First - the cover art depicts the end of the road (at a road closure sign) with mountains on the other side of the closure. The area beyond the closure is not accessible (at least from this road) - the driver must turn around and find a different way. As I read through the poems, my thoughts often returned to the cover art - it fits in very well with the verse inside the pages.


Jared's poetry is highly (and brilliantly) descriptive - he tells stories - stories that wrestle with individual identity - as well as the identities of cities, states, and nations - sometimes these identities are pleasant, sometimes disturbing. "Lost in America" is captivating and essential reading.


Here is a sample from the collection:


Child of Glass


She was a child of glass: once clean, clear- flawless. Her skin glistened in the sun, not a smudge above or below her shiny surface Like a priceless heirloom passed on through the generations, no one was allowed to come close, let alone hold her, touch her, risk damaging her fragile existence. She was too important, as though family saw their reflections when they gazed at her from afar.


As time passed, new purchases were made, and attention was divided.


Inevitably, one day, unprotected, she fell from the wall, shattered into hundreds of tiny fragments stained with blood and disappointment.


[poem reproduced with the permission of the author]


Cheerio (and I) give "Lost in America" 5 stars out of 5. Jared is an outstanding poet - and this collection leaves readers with the want to immediately read more. It's enthralling writing!


If you'd like to pick up a copy:



Jerry Landon's "Death and Other Cold Things: A collection of poem"


I've been reading Jerry's poetry for about 3 years now - and love his writing style - it's unique and the topics he writes about make the reader think (which is always a good thing).


It probably goes without saying (due to the title of the book and the cover art), the poems in this collection strongly lean towards the darker sides of life - both within us and within the world around us. The artwork within the book depict disturbing images that beautifully accompany the written work. It's after-midnight reading at it's finest.


Here is a sample from the collection:


Look Away


Even my reflection Refuses to look at me Won’t turn and see Into these eyes These voids of embarrassment These spears of harassment Look away…away This visage is pain Tortures that stain Artifacts refusing to fade The dead still walking Speaking without talking


[poem reproduced with the permission of the author]


Cheerio (and I) give "Death and Other Cold Things: A collection of poems" 5 stars out of 5. Cheerio and I highly recommend the dark poetry within its pages!


If you'd like to pick up a copy:




Pictured: Cheerio - the Anxiety Bunny Rabbit - with Jerry Langdon's "Death and Other Cold Things: A collection of poems" and Jared Morningstar's "Lost in America".


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