Book Talk | Houston Skyline

 

 About the Author

Carol A. Taylor is a Texas poet whose work has appeared or is upcoming in a number of print and online journals, including Light Quarterly, Iambs & Trochees, Rattle, First Things, Per Contra, 14 by 14, The Barefoot Muse, Susquehanna Quarterly, Lighten Up Online, Trinacria, Tilt-a-Whirl, Concise Delight, and Umbrella Journal, and in several print anthologies  She has put out three chapbooks, "Saving for the Future" 2003, "Houston Skyline" 2006, and a bilingual collection of sonnets, "Sonetos del Inglés" in 2011.  Other credits include guest-editing the Fall-Winter 2002 issue of Light Quarterly which featured an anthology of classic jokes written into original poems collected and edited by Carol and fellow poet Tim Murphy, and serving as Administrator of the online workshop Eratosphere from 2001-2007 and as Light Verse Editor of Umbrella Journal's Bumbershoot division from 2006-2008.  Her poem “Texas Is Singing” became the text for a choral and orchestral piece of the same name by Texas composer Randol Bass.  

 

About the Book

Houston Skyline by Carol A. Taylor is a collection of poetry inspired by a life filled with change and growth. From her humble beginnings in rural Texas, where her family lived simply, to her career in the high-rises of the business world, and later to her years as a language teacher, Carol’s journey is one of perseverance and self-discovery.

Her poems reflect her experiences, blending memories of her childhood with reflections from her later years. Through themes of family, identity, and place, Carol shares her story in a way that is both personal and relatable.

 Book Talk

Houston Skyline tells the author's life through a sequence of poems and explanations. I've read my fair share of poetry books, and what stood out to me with this one is that our author crafts a picture of what inspired her for each chapter of poems. We get to learn a little more and get that depth before diving into the themes each chapter holds. From childhood to making big moves, we get an instrumentally creative autobiography.

The poems feel like they go in depth without being overwhelming. With big poems such as Different and Going Out in Style, they paint the scene without feeling like they are overcompensating. Then we have smaller poems like Email From Home and Village, where even though they are short, they can still capture what the author wants us to see and feel.

Overall, I enjoyed my time reading through our author's journey through her poetry and seeing her life the way she wants us to view it. She lovingly transports us to different times and places that you won't soon forget.

 

Until Next Time, Happy Reading!