A departure from the original installment, although not so far out that the reader will be blindsided. Volume Two is not just more of the same poetry, yet at the same time it is. It's not as dark and cynical as the original, yet there are still such moments to be had. You'll discover poems showcasing a wider range of emotions, extracting new and fresh colours from the palette of life.
**
Finally had a chance to delve into Agostino Scafidi's poetry with Fancy Pants Volume Two. Having not read volume one, I feel a little at odds. It's strange not to start with the first book, but this poetry collection wasn't reliant on the reading of the prior. I was still able to connect with the poet.
The collection is written in a mix of first person and second person point of view. Most of the time, the narrator is referring to himself, but a few times it quickly switches and focuses on the reader, either demanding or reminding. The attitude of the narrator is uncertain. That is to say, uncertainty is the attitude of the narrator. The collection of poetry questions the world, and emotions, that it explores.
Various tones are used throughout the collection. In some poems, the narrator seems confused, as if he's missed the joke and the punchline. At other points, he is sure of what he's saying, no doubt. But just as quickly he shifts into a plague of doubt. The tone of the writing matches well with the focus of each poem. Scafidi writes of the future, the past, regret, uncertainty, fear, death, and more.
The poetry of this collection was enjoyable. It was a delicate mix of poems that spoke and those that forced the reader to think, to break down the lines. Each poem was fairly short and easy to read. Though the punctuation at some points was a bit confusing. It seemed like there were some misplaced commas throughout the entire collection. Lines that seemed to be one thought were broken in the middle with a comma, adding an unnecessary breath.
Rating: 2.5/5 Cups
