Hayley (Backpacking Bookworm)'s Reviews > The Octopus Curse

I was a little apprehensive before reading this book as it’s the first poetry collection I’ve read since high school. I rarely enjoyed decrypting poems and digging deep to find meanings. I have never resonated with a poem or felt a strong connection deep in my soul.

That is until I read The Octopus Curse.

These poems are unlike any poems I’ve read before. They are raw and insightful, and every line is packed with emotion, straight from the heart. I had to take a moment after each poem to let the words settle and uncovered so much meaning and inspiration from each one.

The poems are broken up into sections and each is preceded by a fact about octopuses. This fact then relates to each following poem. It was interesting to see these connections and I thought it was an innovative way to split up the poems rather than just having standard sections.

The accompanying illustrations are beautifully drawn and complement each poem. They add visual impact and are as thought-provoking as the poetry.

Salma is an incredibly talented woman. I admire her for sharing what was once a collection of her own private thoughts and feelings. She celebrates women, empowering them, and giving a voice to the vulnerable. Many of the poems were relatable and the rest evoked feelings of love, heartbreak, sadness, and hope. Whether you are a regular reader of poetry or brand new to the genre, I urge you to put this one top of your list. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.