Poet - I like to write about you and you and you, all of them, that, him, her, what they're doing and me. Then I perform it in front of all of the above.
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ALT A pale, slanted, rainbow background, from red in the top-left-hand-corner, to violet in the bottom-right-hand corner, with the following words on it: “Stepping into Spectral, feels so welcoming and familiar. The careful and caring combination of author’s bio, content warning key, introduction, colour-coded emotion-section explanations and individual poem birth notes (with additional QR codes for the most passionate geeks who want all the easter eggs!) mean at no point does the reader feel thrust into a poem; cold. Not to say Spectral is predictable - more, it’s like catching up with an old friend you haven’t seen for a while, over a period of change and growth; for only they can bring the informed perspective of experience and knowing, the simultaneous investment to teach in light of their own learning, and belief in your capacity for receiving it, plus, of course, the ability to surprise you in the best ways possible.” (cont...)
ALT “Spectral takes an interestingly lesser-trodden path through poetry - grouping pieces by reaction rather than action; or emotion rather than topic; or even better said: emotion becomes the topic. This means the reader is treated to multiple looks at complex subjects throughout the collection, which, in a society where it feels we are being forced into increasingly polarised stances, brings a refreshing humanity and permission for nuance to the experience. Spectral moves us away from conclusion by reduction, which can leave us with limited touchstones to important areas – like “Rain Man” for neurodivergence or “Ru Paul’s Dragrace” for queer representation. So, rather than the usual snapshot stereotypes, Fay allows us to see a full human in those subsets (and more) in all our delightfully stimming, quietly introverted, inconveniently irate and passionately vociferous, coloured emotions!” (cont...)
ALT “Despite being described from the outset as one, even though the reader is encouraged to pick their own path through the book, like all good concept albums: I could not help but read the entire thing cover to cover; such is the trust and intrigue that Roberts engenders with the reader. Besides who really wants to only know one side of a story, a friend or, indeed, themselves! That being said, armed with my hefty list of notes and quotes (and my goodness, this book is quotable!), I have since found myself dipping back into individual sections when my own emotions have shone to the colour of Fay’s synesthesic determinations, making this not just a poetry collection but also a point of personal emotional check-in. As ze puts it, in ‘The Untitled’ – ‘something has to beam the light from all the colours blended, and the peace of none at all.’ Spectral does that.” – Rikki Livermore (the name has a brighter rainbow background).
