Book Review: SOME OF HER PARTS

'Some of Her Parts' by Natascha Scrivener (nee Tallowin)

Review by Christina Hoar (www.cherrygrrl.com)

It’s not every day that I find a collection of work that truly speaks to me. In this world of cookie-cutter stories and mindless literature created for the masses, it’s always refreshing to find an author who isn’t afraid to break convention and think outside of the literary sphere. This, however, is exactly what I found in Some of Her Parts by Natascha Tallowin.

A clear reference to “The L Word’s” resident writer, Jennifer Schecter, Tallowin’s work is both inventive and powerful. In this eclectic collection of both prose and poetry, Tallowin weaves through various stories, each narrator recounting a treasured memory, a lost love, a repressed fear, or a journey to self-discovery.  Her poetry is moving, defying character gender and orientation to speak to the heart of the reader, to focus on the experience and emotion rather than the person.

In her ode to Jennifer Schecter, Tallowin unleashes a whirlwind of hatred and admiration for the woman, calling her both a monster and “the demon that tempts me.” The allusion to Jenny’s life and writing is as profound as it is stirring. Tallowin does a phenomenal job detailing Jenny’s downward spiral and the creative outpouring that resulted, as if Jenny acted as her muse and source of her inspiration.

Natascha Tallowin’s anthology doesn’t just focus on Schecter, but also delves into childhood innocence, lost loves, and painful memories. Her writing touches on aspects of life that every single reader can identify with, regardless of gender, orientation, or experience. The raw emotion Tallowin elicits, especially when her writing turns introspective, is deeply moving and left me wanting more.

While Natascha Tallowin’s collection of poetry and prose isn’t long, there’s not shortage of power that comes from it. Some of Her Parts is a wonderful foray into the heart and soul of the author as well as the reader.

Some of Her Parts is available to buy from:
Amazon
lulu.com
Barnes and Noble