By Geno McGahee
I’m not a poetry expert. I typically do not enjoy books of poetry, but since I was just sent THE BONE FORGE by Max Ingram, a horror fan and a horror writer, I elected to give it a go. The point of poetry, and remember I am not an expert, is to generate a feeling within the reader, tell a story or both. I’m happy to report that this easy read has accomplished both.
In THE BONE FORGE, there is a level of class but it is also graphic. Ingram is able to tell a story that is vivid and deep, even though it is only the length of a page. I found that certain poems within this book really triggered elements of my own personality and perhaps this is just one horror fan reaching another, but it clicked. I got what Max was putting out there.
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the variety. I was sort of concerned doing a review of something that I don’t typically like. It’s sort of like somebody sending me a country CD and asking me for a fair review. Thankfully, there is some good country out there (I think) and some good poetry books, which THE BONE FORGE certainly is. There are points where I think of New England and how great the fall is. There is a level of escapism within the pages of this book. I was actually surprised at how quickly I was transported somewhere else.
As I read, I saw the different emotions that the writer was feeling. There was anger, confusion, joy, and warmth. I found myself relating to the material and it was presented in way that it was easy to understand. I knew where he was coming from and I have been there. That is the key to writing…striking a chord. That is exactly what THE BONE FORGE has done.
As I said in the intro, I am not a fan of poetry, but I sincerely enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it!
