Arc of the Poet by Roger Darnell is a wonderfully expressive memoir. This book tells the story of Roger’s upbringing, including various hardships and joyful moments, which become the source of the author’s creative inspiration for writing. The author’s story begins in the 1960s when his mother was a writer and a poet. She becomes one of the main inspirations for Roger’s journey into writing and creativity.

The author takes the reader on a thoughtful and observant journey through his early years, where he faced hardships and extraordinary events. The language is engaging and the writing is sharp which helps convey the importance of art and how it enhances one’s life. All of this in a little over one hundred pages, which goes to show Roger Darnell’s skill as a writer in keeping everything concise yet potent. This is an emotionally resonant memoir as readers will be able to relate to the feeling of not being or doing enough, which I feel is one of the most common struggles with artists.

Throughout the book, the author expresses how he needed to improve his writing, and in doing so, while struggling with life, he felt vulnerable and inadequate at times. I appreciated the candid nature with which Roger told his story. Readers will be able to understand him, if not relate to him. I found Roger’s story highly relatable because I could personally identify with these experiences.

Arc of the Poet is a stirring and engaging memoir that I thoroughly enjoyed. From the deeply personal perspective of a life well lived to the heartfelt reflections, Roger Darnell has written a delightful and evocative memoir. I recommend it to anyone who can relate to the struggles of a creative life, or to anyone who wants to understand the obstacles artists face.

Pages: 118 | ASIN: B0BLG6SVFT

Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2022/12/01/arc-of-the-poet-a-poetic-memoir/