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A Stranger in a Strange Land
'a stranger in a strange land' speaks of loneliness, longing and love; of broken dreams, deep faith and family ties
judy croome’s poetry—stark and complex, profound and brutal—explores cats and cancer; race and gender; nature, technology and being vegetarian
this volume of poetry deals with challenging themes, but also contains an acceptance of life’s ups-and-downs as well as the promise of a soul-restoring peace
judy croome’s poetry—stark and complex, profound and brutal—explores cats and cancer; race and gender; nature, technology and being vegetarian
this volume of poetry deals with challenging themes, but also contains an acceptance of life’s ups-and-downs as well as the promise of a soul-restoring peace
- GenresPoetry
150 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
1 person is currently reading
289 people want to read
About the author
Judy Croome
13 books185 followersJudy Croome lives and writes in Johannesburg, South Africa. Judy loves cats, exploring the meaning of life, chocolate, cats, rainy days, ancient churches with their ancient graveyards, cats, meditation, and solitude. Oh, and cats. Judy loves cats (who already appear to have discovered the meaning of life.)
Writing as J A Croome, "The Sand People: a collection of magical realism and other stories" [Aztar Press, 2024] is also available.
Croome's fiction and poetry books "the dust of hope (rune poems)" (Aztar Press, 2021); "Drop by Drop (poems of loss) (Aztar Press, 2020); "a stranger in a strange land" (Aztar Press, 2015); “The Weight of a Feather & Other Stories” (Aztar Press, 2013), “a Lamp at Midday” (Aztar Press, 2012) and “Dancing in the Shadows of Love” (Aztar Press, 2018, 2012, 2011) are available.
Croome co-authored the non-fiction book "Street Smart Taxpayers (Juta Law, 2017) with her late husband Dr. Beric Croome.
Shortlisted in the African Writing Flash Fiction 2011 competition, Judy’s short stories, poems and articles have appeared in various magazines, anthologies and newspapers, such as The Sunday Times, The Huffington Post (USA) and the University of the Witwatersrand’s Itch Magazine. In 2021 and 2016, Judy was the poetry judge for the Writers2000 (South Africa) annual poetry competition and, in 2021, presented "The Gift of Poetry" to Writers2000 (South Africa).
Join her on Instagram @judy_croome or visit her on www.judycroome.com
Writing as J A Croome, "The Sand People: a collection of magical realism and other stories" [Aztar Press, 2024] is also available.
Croome's fiction and poetry books "the dust of hope (rune poems)" (Aztar Press, 2021); "Drop by Drop (poems of loss) (Aztar Press, 2020); "a stranger in a strange land" (Aztar Press, 2015); “The Weight of a Feather & Other Stories” (Aztar Press, 2013), “a Lamp at Midday” (Aztar Press, 2012) and “Dancing in the Shadows of Love” (Aztar Press, 2018, 2012, 2011) are available.
Croome co-authored the non-fiction book "Street Smart Taxpayers (Juta Law, 2017) with her late husband Dr. Beric Croome.
Shortlisted in the African Writing Flash Fiction 2011 competition, Judy’s short stories, poems and articles have appeared in various magazines, anthologies and newspapers, such as The Sunday Times, The Huffington Post (USA) and the University of the Witwatersrand’s Itch Magazine. In 2021 and 2016, Judy was the poetry judge for the Writers2000 (South Africa) annual poetry competition and, in 2021, presented "The Gift of Poetry" to Writers2000 (South Africa).
Join her on Instagram @judy_croome or visit her on www.judycroome.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 26, 2015
Another stunning volume from Ms. Croome. These poems are vivid and absorbing and deliver a punch that will make you see, make you feel, make you understand even when you don't want to, but there's a good balance, enough to soothe your soul along the way. What I love about Ms. Croome's poetry is the beautiful written prose with bared intensity that doesn't shy from harsh realities and experiences. I always come out from the other side feeling slightly shattered and a lot more awake to my world and the people I share it with.
September 18, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed Judy Croome's poetry. It's raw and reflective of the beauty of everyday life. How simply noticing the people that we encounter and the mundane challenges of life changes our perspective. The most profound work that we can do is when we look inward, and that is what Croome has invited us to think about through her own lens.
November 12, 2017
A book of poems...not my cup of tea, but was nice reading! Love to read more from this author!
August 11, 2015
I received a promotional copy through the First Reads program.
A lot of poetry here: 114 poems over 121 pages. It starts on page 1 (yay) and has excerpts from her other works at the back. It's a quick read - two sessions for me. There's some good material, more than enough for my spotlight section below. As for the not so good, she drifts into prose territory from time to time, and can be too vague and confusing. Two of my favorites are about her cat, and it's not because I'm a cat person; it's because they're poems that deal with tangible specifics.
Favorites:
"Shadow on the Bed" - her cat
"The Scream"
"in the spaces between words"
"The Black Ninja" - her cat
"The Quiet House" - marriage
"A New Broom"
"when I disappear"
"Where the World Ends" - from the excerpt section
In "Letting Go", she refers to hope as a "lead balloon".
god works in mysterious ways,
like misdirecting emails
to the one you're gossiping about - "all in the name of jesus"
In this indifferent-modern-sanitized techno world,
even fire has lost its spark - "Keep the Old Fires Burning"
A lot of poetry here: 114 poems over 121 pages. It starts on page 1 (yay) and has excerpts from her other works at the back. It's a quick read - two sessions for me. There's some good material, more than enough for my spotlight section below. As for the not so good, she drifts into prose territory from time to time, and can be too vague and confusing. Two of my favorites are about her cat, and it's not because I'm a cat person; it's because they're poems that deal with tangible specifics.
Favorites:
"Shadow on the Bed" - her cat
"The Scream"
"in the spaces between words"
"The Black Ninja" - her cat
"The Quiet House" - marriage
"A New Broom"
"when I disappear"
"Where the World Ends" - from the excerpt section
In "Letting Go", she refers to hope as a "lead balloon".
god works in mysterious ways,
like misdirecting emails
to the one you're gossiping about - "all in the name of jesus"
In this indifferent-modern-sanitized techno world,
even fire has lost its spark - "Keep the Old Fires Burning"
July 24, 2015
I enjoyed this volume because there is a large variety of poems covering different topics - many of these poems made me feel strong emotions. Either I cried, or I squirmed - the vegetarian poems will make most meat eaters squirm - or I laughed or I got angry, but whatever the poem was about, most of them I enjoyed. There were some poems I enjoyed less than others, but overall, the collection was moving and made me think about old topics in new ways. Although the poems are based in South Africa the topics covered - God, race, gender, animal rights, vegetarianism, family, cancer and others - are written in a way that no matter where you live in the world, you will be able to relate to the emotions and the topic.
I read a pre-release review copy of this book of poems.
I read a pre-release review copy of this book of poems.
August 10, 2015
Judy Croome's 'A Stranger in a Strange Land' is a series of poems that shows her exploring what it is to be human. Judy Croome's heartfelt humanity and humility is shown in poems such as 'Gratitude' and 'Hey, We're Not All Bad'.
For me, however, it is in her lyric poems where she relates her own personal experiences with difficult mother-in-laws and childlessness that she is more effective. In these poems she uses form to capture the tension between mind and heart.
Certainly, this is poetry that is written as a journal and at times I would have liked to see Judy trying to develop her work beyond this. Above all, this is a collection of poems that affirms the consolation of creative work to overcome life difficulties.
I was given a copy to review through Goodreads Giveaways.
For me, however, it is in her lyric poems where she relates her own personal experiences with difficult mother-in-laws and childlessness that she is more effective. In these poems she uses form to capture the tension between mind and heart.
Certainly, this is poetry that is written as a journal and at times I would have liked to see Judy trying to develop her work beyond this. Above all, this is a collection of poems that affirms the consolation of creative work to overcome life difficulties.
I was given a copy to review through Goodreads Giveaways.
August 20, 2015
Another exquisitely crafted volume of poetry from Judy Croome, a Stranger in a Strange Land explores the whole range of human emotions and conditions, and a myriad of topical subjects that will surely touch a chord in every reader. Some poems are a joyful celebration of life; others a harrowing dissection of the soul. Each of the poems in this collection is a unique and sparkling gem in its own right, and as a whole, this volume makes for a riveting reading experience.
September 14, 2016
I really enjoyed most of these poems. Some of them were incredibly depressing and others were incredibly preachy (I will not be guilted for enjoying a burger every once in a while, dammit!), but even those ones were poignant and well-written.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews