Spectra

by Ashley Toliver
Spectra cover
Good Books rating 3.33
Poetry
Technical:
  • ID: 759
  • Added: 2025-09-19
  • Updated: 2025-09-19
  • ISBN: 9781566895347
  • Publisher: Coffee House Press
  • Published: 2018-09-18
  • Reviews: 3

Toliver's Spectra is a collection of minimalist poems that use the thud and drone of language to evoke the suffocation of a marriage gone sour. The poems create patterns that are an inhibiting force in themselves, with a pulse that harnesses the energy on the page to transcend binaries and boundaries of the self./n/nThe collection is notable for its precise and taut style, using sound and language to create a sense of suffocation and entrapment. It's a powerful exploration of the complexities of marriage and the self, using poetry to transcend traditional boundaries.

Reviews
Make Lit · 2019-07-25
thought-provoking 4.00

The book's structure is deliberately disorienting, creating a meditative and reflective experience. Its fragmented form challenges the reader to engage deeply with the themes of identity and relationships.

The reviewer found the book's structure to be intentionally disorienting, which adds to its meditative and reflective quality. This fragmentation isn't a flaw but a deliberate choice that invites the reader to engage more deeply with the themes of identity and relationships. They appreciate how the book pushes the boundaries of traditional narrative forms, making it a unique and thought-provoking read. However, this style might not be for everyone, as it requires a willingness to embrace ambiguity and explore the nuances of the text without clear, linear guidance.

Quick quotes

    And indeed, to encounter Spectra is to be disoriented and unsure of what you see.

    Ambiguous and fragmentary in form, the book is meditative and reflective.

    The book pushes the boundaries of relationships and identity.

TSKY Magazine · Amie Zimmerman · 2019-07-01
evocative 4.50

The reviewer admires the fluidity and experimentation with form in the poetry, finding it evocative and intense.

Amie Zimmerman appreciates how Toliver's poetry moves within form as if it were liquid, testing the boundaries of traditional structure. This fluidity creates an evocative and intense reading experience, where each subject is explored with a deep sense of depth and emotion. Zimmerman highlights the lyrical density and the way the poems play with dark, light, time, space, and other themes, making it a rich and rewarding read for those who enjoy innovative poetry.

Quick quotes

    Toliver moves within form as if the poem is liquid, testing where the line is supposed to go.

    The lyrical density is matched by its evocative intensity.

    Each of its subjects—dark, light, time, space, glass, sea—is explored with depth and emotion.

BookishBeck · Beck · 2018-12-22
frustrating 1.50

The reviewer struggled to find literal or metaphorical meaning in the poems, highlighting a lack of clarity.

Beck found the poems in Spectra to be challenging and ultimately abandoned the book. They struggled to make sense of the literal and metaphorical meanings, which left them feeling disconnected from the text. While they highlighted one passage that resonated, the overall experience was frustrating due to the lack of clarity. This might be a book that appeals more to readers who enjoy abstract and experimental poetry, but for Beck, it didn't deliver a satisfying reading experience.

Quick quotes

    I couldn't make much literal or metaphorical sense out of these poems at all.

    I highlighted one passage that stood out to me, but the rest felt disjointed.

    The book left me feeling frustrated and disconnected.

Appears in Lists