Customer Reviews

Baring My Soul

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4 star:		(1)
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Stacey Tolbert does more than bare her soul in this collection of poetry. She bares the souls of her readers...sometimes coaxing us out of our skins, sometimes shocking our eyes open to the truth of ourselves and the world around us. Direct without preaching, this book talks to your heart without any pretension. Thank you, Ms. Tolbert, for putting it on paper.

Bravo! Bravo!

Baring my soul is beautifully painted with poetic words that warms the soul. The honesty and openess puts this artform in the category of innovative alternative expression. In a comercial driven world it is so nice to experience something real. Stacey is definately a leader in the new Neo Soul Movement.

Many authors mistakenly distance themselves from their audience. Stacey Tolbert's Baring My Soul is pleasantly inviting. Readers are allowed, during an entertaining recount, to explore her past experiences (pleasant and melancholic) and private thoughts. Baring My Soul is beautifully written, hats off to the writer.

I bought the book because I've had the privilege of hearing her read her poetry live. You should check out her tidbits of wisdom and slices of strength. We are blessed that she has shared herself with us. Buy the book. And, try to book the poet.

For a little book, Stacey Tolbert's "Baring My Soul" packs a mighty, lyrical and poignant punch. You can tell right off the bat that Stacey Tolbert, aka The Brown Suga Poet, is a spoken word poet because her words literally leap off the page in a musical way. The line breaks, rhymes, unrhymes, rhythms all move in a fluid way that makes you want to drink what Tolbert has to say and believe me, this sister has a lot to say and doesn't believe in holding back.

In this compact collection, Tolbert touches upon racism, sexism, the political arena, self-respect, self-love, strong women, and many other potent topics that lets you know that behind the pretty words, Tolbert has a strong mind.

Though I loved every poem in the book, some of my favorites include, The "be" Anthology Poems, Hair, and Tolbert's epistolary poems, especially, Dear Nubian Teenage Girl.

To all readers who love the written word and an artist's ability to put words together to create beautiful and powerful statements, you owe it to yourself to pick up Baring My Soul by Stacey Tolbert because she does just that...bares her soul, in all its poetic grace.

Shon Bacon

I purchased this book because I, too, am the author of a book entitled "Baring My Soul" and coincidently, my first name is also Stacey...and I was curious about what Ms. Tolbert had to say. And apparently we have like minds and similiar spirits...maybe it's the name! At any rate, "Baring My Soul" was a cool little read...my only regret was that it wasn't more.

The wisdom of Stacey's soul seeps in these pages, oozing thoughts of passion, family, and revolutionary ideas. A must read for soul-searching poets and others! A creative inspiration!

A strident, unapologetic work of word-smithing, "BARING MY SOUL" by the Brown Suga poet smears the senses with substance semi-satyrical and bittersweet.
Suga is no sap. Sonorous among the new swell of African-American lyricist, with no small voice she tackles the vicissitudes of life without stint or stutter.
This work is only diminutive in packaging, it speaks volumes. I sat down for a casual perusal and found I could not lay it aside.

Baring My Soul delivers on its namesake. Like the ethereal essence of its author bound in book pages, this collection of Mrs. Tolbert's poetry welcomes you into her world of solace in words with the prelude "Lyrically Swimming". Through the sea of her language we swim into her life and its many facets, from the stress of being a working mother of multiple children in a busy work-a-day world, to the truths hidden between the lines of behavioral facade at family gatherings. It is a literary slice of her life, and it runs the full gamut of emotions. In the storm of more morose or angry poems there are repreives, hilarious interludes that satirize the last presidential election and politics in general.
With wit that is never condescending and a pen that is never compromising, Stacey Tolbert has the beginnings of a lucrative career in poetry compilations here. Lets hope she doesn't hold out on us for too long with a sequel.

Brown Suga Poet as she is affectionately known on the internet, Ms. Tolbert is a creative soul who poured her soul out on the pages of "Baring My Soul." She writes poetry that will fill your soul with wonderful, lovely, uplifting, challenging vibes! Favorites for me were - Fantasy Island (oh loverman after all the love..I am still digging ya); Breakin' Down (a sympathic call for moms and single parents); I used to write nice poems (Honey this is the real thing - can you feel it?); Eye see the truth (an open call to a missing daddy); and Free (a reminder that freedom has many forms). So many other pieces in the book will touch you in so many ways. Baring My Soul has it's place not only in african-american literature but mainstream as well. Suga is giving you a taste of her special brand of poetry. It's up to you to taste the flavas of this upcoming and rising artistic who is not afraid to Jus' be!