A Night Without Armor : Poems

Rating:
Summary: Ramblings do not equal literature
Review: The best thing about this collection of myopic, solipsistic observations is that it eventually ends. Self-disclosure is boring. And the similies are like . . . well, I'm tempted to use a typically inept Jewel-ism but I'll just say they're bad. Don't waste your time. Pick up Yeats instead. And if you must READ a MUSICIAN, consider the complete Dylan lyrics . . .

Rating:
Summary: Novice but nice
Review: In the preface to "a night without armor," Jewel states that "I've learned that not all poetry lends itself to music--some thoughts need to be sung only against the silence." This is indeed true. Unfortunately, Jewel's best verse appears in song. The poems that she presents in this collection, though insightful, often lack any resemblance to poetry. As a previous reviewer noted, many of the poems that appear in "a night without armor" are nothing more than observations. Nonetheless, I strongly recommend the book to anyone that admires Jewel's musical success. The book is certainly not an academic display of poetic ability but instead a collection of insightful free verse. Based on the lyrics to many of Jewel's songs, I feel that at some point she will produce an exceptional body of mature poetry, but this is not that collection. Another thing to keep in mind, when you examine the reviews of this collection and find so many ratings of "10," please realize that you are dealing with the comments of Jewel's fans! I am a huge fan but also an avid critic of poetry.

Rating:
Summary: jewel's poetry is of great intellect and imagination
Review: I have read her poetry in her new book " A Night Without Shining Armor." Her poems are beautiful and full of great emotion. Some were very deep and intense, and others were just funny. I hope she publishes another poetry book and never stops writing. Not only is she a wonderful singer but a fantastic poet.

Rating:
Summary: If I could give a zero, I would
Review: Please! How terribly naive and gushing this all is. I can't recall a more superficial book--save for maybe Danielle Steel's gooey foray into poetry a few years back. It's disheartening to see even the shrouded world of poetry is not safe from star power and the sellability of glamour and physical beauty. No one can possibly argue that if Jewel were not a celebrity this book would *ever* have been published. The poems brazenly reflect this--they are immature (and in that sense I mean not formed, rounded, or filled out), trite, and laden with every high school diary cliche I can possibly imagine. Her word useage is light and cutsey, parsed with terribly clunky attempts at intellectual posturing: words like "taciturn" and "disillusionment" serve only to disrupt whatever melodic flow she might have found in the text. What is completely lacking in the verses is strength. Her words have no weight, no ballast. Anyone can write about love and passion and trust--only the best of poets can magnify these things with strength and poise. Jewel's words are flat and tired, overused and overwrought. What this book needs is restraint and time--give her ten or fifteen years and perhaps by then she'll have worked out everything to a point where she can bring to the text something new and worth our time. Until then, pass this one (and Ethan Hawk's and every other celebrity attempt) for something with soul.

Rating:
Summary: If you like Jewel at all, you need this CD.
Review: Jewel Kilcher's reading of 87 of her poems is the perfect way to experience them. She has a way of making you feel the meaning behind them that the printed word simply cannot provide. These readings deal with thought as well as emotion. It is easy to see how this young woman has hundreds of songs, she is very talented with the english language. You will get a vivid picture in your mind with each and every poem that she reads to you.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing, Saving, & Beautiful...
Review: "A Night Without Armor," by Jewel is an excellent book. If you love her music, you will love her poetry. If you hate her music, you will love her poetry. As a huge Jewel fan, I am telling you, to get this book. Jewel has such beautiful ways of expressing herself through words, an amazing art! One of the best books of the year!

Rating:
Summary: inspiring & honest to the deepest ebb of jewel's huge heart
Review: i can never imagine that a young beautiful icon can make such a book of poems. it's just stupefying & brillant. the honesty of the author is very revealing & simply plain truthful with lots of power.

Rating:
Summary: simple yet complicated
Review: jewel uses the simplest of words to explain and go into the most complex details of thought that nobody would ever have imagined...she has an incredible grasp of the language which flows like a river...subtle yet deep

Rating:
Summary: Great Singer is now promising poet
Review: At a young age, Jewel has achieved quite a bit, but her poetry is still developing. This collection of poetry does show her clear insight into humanity but it also shows her youth. Many of the poems are little more than tidbits of observations. Many times, her imagery is cluttered and loses its power. She evokes nature very well, but it doesn't sound like Neruda, whom she clearly has read, but Whitman. With more crafting and improving of her art form, Jewel can become a really good poet. Poems like "God Exists Quietly," "I'm Writing to Tell You," and "I guess What I Wanted Was" are good poems and point to where she can go as a poet. In "P.S." Jewel writes, "I wrote you those nice/ poems only because/ the honest ones/ would frighten you." She should write those honest ones. That's what the greats do. Keep at it, Jewel. You have a lot of potential. You may write those great poems yet, but this collection isn't it.

Rating:
Summary: Jewel is so honest and beautiful
Review: This book is such an honest and beautiful collection of poetry by the most beautiful singer/songwriter/poet/actress. I definitly recommend this book!