Rating: 
Summary: surface experience is cruel to offer readers
Review: Jewel is only offering the surface of her life. She has to hide because she is young and a celebrity. I read other reviews that said she shared her soul...well let me say from 25 years of reading poetry (I am 29) this is not it. I wish she would have saved a mere few of the poems for ten more years and worked on her craft so she could tell the TRUTH and not offer readers a poor example of art. She should be embarrassed and ashamed of herself for taking poetry to a new low. I hope it is many years before the publishing world makes such a horrid mistake as this. I now need to read some wonderful poetry to purge my system. Avoid this book if you have any desire to learn or support the art of poetry.
Rating: 
Summary: Biography of Jewel
Review: The book was very interesting. The book almost seemed to tell her life story in little segments. The poetry was very interesting and I could relate to some of it myself. I enjoyed that none of the poems were fiction, yet they were all based on her real life experiences. I feel as though I know Jewel I can relate to some of her problems. I almost feel like she is one of my good friends, because we are so alike. The book was very interesting to me I enjoyed reading every poem.
Rating: 
Summary: No Such thing as "Real" poetry, only poetry Snobs
Review: After reading some of the reviews for this book, I honestly can not believe what snobs are reading poetry these days! Some say, "Go read REAL poetry"..well what is Real? I think Jewel is as real as there is out there, because she is a person who dares to write down her soul, and let it loose for all to see. If you go by a taught "standard" are you truly paying homage to the spirit of poetry and poets? Or are you so rigid in your thinking that there is a right and wrong way to express yourself? Is this "Carpe Diem"? How dare you belittle Jewel's writing by saying it is "high school" or "journal" or "immature". Some contemprorary poets are so beguiled by their own words that they forget who is reading them. Jewel is very real, expressing emotions that thousands of people have felt, and she does it beautifully. I thought her imagery was gorgeous and well thought out. None of this "A fly buzzed when I died&quo! t; to dechipher, but bold descriptions and a brazen sweetness that only her unique soul could deliver. If you limit yourself to Yeats or Frost, you are entirely missing the point of writing. Do not hold yourself so high to judge the heartfelt work of your fellow man. Experience and grow richer -- read all there is and destroy none through vicious word or deed. --Maureen Bothe
Rating:
Summary: A book for the soul.
Review: Jewel's book explores the secret passions inside our hearts and those yet to be revealed. I'm not a poet, or for that matter a singer, but I do know when words speak to me and move my spirit. This book does just that. It delves into the subjects that we as humans can relate to and not into the oppressive, synthetic reality we have created for ourselves. Heart break, family, nature, divine wisdom, spirituality, and sensuality are just some of the subjects Jewel deals with. For anybody who wants to enjoy pure, free-spirited, and unruly poetry, this is the book for you. Whatever you do, don't listen to others who are critical and cynical of her poetry. They're just jealous of the fact that they can't express themselves or open their hearts to others the way Jewel can, especially those envious of her looks. Buy the book and judge for yourself, not what someone else tells you is good or bad. As for the rating, I gave it four stars because nothing is perfect. T! here is always something bigger and better waiting to be discovered. I hope others will by this book and open themselves to their own inner consciousness and to others, as well. Enjoy :)
Rating:
Summary: This is a book from a women of the world
Review: i am only 14 and a very huge fan of hers and all of her poems she has expressed the way i feel some times about love and hate and all that is in between. i recomend this book to anyone who enjoys poetry
Rating:
Summary: File under comedy
Review: I am ashamed to call myself a poet if I have to share the word with the likes of Jewel here, who, without her pretty face and hit records, would still be sneaking these scraps of half-formed ideas and banal observations under her boyfriend's pillow every night before he got home from drinking. Everybody in the world has ideas and opinions on things, and they have every right to them, but only a few have the talent and CRAFT (this is something Ms. Kilcher should really explore) to construct poems and songs and stories and plays that can stand up to the scrutiny of outside (adult) observers as well as the test of time. Judging by the gushing, breathless reviews this volume has received, one can only conclude that a lot of thirteen year old girls have been dragging Jewel along to the beach this summer.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad
Review: Jewel seems headed in the right direction, I'm sure her next book will be better. She seems sincere in the themes, both obvious (sex, abandonment, loneliness, heartache), and the more subtle ones (masturbation, drugs)-these last 2 are just the interpretations of me and some friends, we could be way off. But some of the poems just seem thrown together for the sake of completing the book. Not bad, though.
Rating: 
Summary: I was hoping for poetry, not biography.
Review: I work in a bookstore so let me state that the people buying this book are NOT fans of poetry. There is further evidence of this in the 4 and 5 star reviews posted here. Reading her work is frustrating because she often comes close to, but never achieves any true profundity. And as a reader, I'm never really compelled to care about her subject matter. Like a high school poet, she avoids the universal to keep strictly with the personal. It's not poetry, it's autobiography. There's nothing wrong with writing like that mind you, but there is something wrong with publishing writing like that. Essentially, it seems Jewel hasn't yet had the revelation of empathy that is key to writing good poetry: don't just tell me how you felt - MAKE me feel how you felt. I wish she'd mentioned in the book who inspired her to write, because she has good taste (ie. Bukowski, Neruda, etc.). Reading them would be a far more fulfilling experience, especially for those whose fir! ! st contemporary poetry experience is "A Night Without Armor". If you're looking for good contemporary poetry, do yourself a favour and pick up "That Night We Were Ravenous", "Morning Poems", "Fruits & Vegetables", "The Weight of Oranges"... but skip Jewel's outing. Just wait for a new album...
Rating:
Summary: It basically expresses her life and her feelings.
Review: I give this book five stars because of how Jewel was so giving in her poems. Other critics may say that it's a diary, but I'd like to see some of the critics put out a "diary". To me, it's not a diary, but a journal of her feelings. I know you may think that a journal and a diary are the same, but it's not. A journal is where you put your deepest feelings, and a diary is where you put your deepest secrets. The book goes through heart-aches and heart-breaks. I also give this book five stars because I feel that alot of teens, like me, can relate to at least one of her poems. I hope that you enjoyed my review. Skye The futbol (soccer) playing Angel
Rating:
Summary: Deep, philsophical poetry.
Review: I have read this book, and it is, by far, the best poetry collection I have ever read. I recommend you read this book, and keep it by your heart to remember you aren't the only person is suffering from problems. Everyone is.
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