I feel a little bad for saying that “The Widow’s Crayon Box” is a joy to read, but there it is. I loved it.
The reason I am hesitant to say it is a joy to read is because the author is, after all, writing about her experience as a widow. Molly Peacock’s husband, Michael Groden, died in 2021 in Toronto.
“The Widow’s Crayon Box” is a moving collection of poems documenting her thoughts about her deceased husband in such a beautiful way. Arranged in four parts – After, Before, When and Afterglow – it is a beautiful expression of her feelings.
It’s warm, it’s achingly sad, it’s sometimes sexy, it’s mundane, it’s deep… and it could win an award for the most uses of the word “whiff” in a book.
If you look at my (electronic) copy of this book, you would see how much I liked it by how many highlighted phrases and passages there are. Ms. Peacock has such a way with words. I really admire how she can express complex emotions in such an accessible way.
Highly recommended.
The Widow’s Crayon Box is due for publication on November 5, 2024. You can pre-order it at Indigo or on Amazon.
Thank you to River Street Writing for the pre-release copy.