Our lives are shaped by our beliefs and experiences and how we approach each challenge that crosses our paths. Some of us just live these experiences, and others turn them into works of art. Author James Murdock has done just that with his collection of poems and unique narratives. From family relationships and commentary on religion, political situations and current events, Murdock gives readers some truly amazing food for thought.

Spirit, by James Murdock, contains just over 100 pages of short poems–some which rhyme, some free verse, and a few are written in a truly unique narrative form. Murdock’s poems cover a wide variety of topics and provide something for every reader to ponder. I was especially taken with his very honest and open takes on religion. I feel as though many readers who consider themselves religious but don’t affiliate with a particular church will relate to Murdock’s words. His words resonated with me.

I typically lean more towards narratives, but Murdock’s poetry fascinates me. I enjoyed the organization of the book and the way topics and lengths varied greatly from one page to the next. He offers readers brief reprieves from some of the more thought-provoking pieces and includes a nice amount of humor throughout the book. His extremely short commentary on Twitter made me laugh out loud and came at just the right time in the reading.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Murdock’s selections that veer from the typical rhyme and free verse. Written in a format that combines his own words and those from Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address,” his lengthier selection “Howie & the Gettysburg Address” takes the reader on a journey into one boy’s attempt to recite the renowned piece. Readers will feel every ounce of anxiety and pressure alongside Howie right to the poems quite abrupt and fitting end.

Murdock’s words are beautifully penned and provide a wide variety of topics that will fascinate readers of all genres. I highly recommend Murdock’s work to any reader looking to explore poetry for the first time. Spirit offers readers a spectacular opportunity to glance into the life of the author and at the same time empathize with a wide array of experiences.

Art of Telling Publications, LLC | ISBN 978-1-7348447-3-3