Cannibalistic Loneliness: A Collection of Verse
Carietta Dorsch
Unveiling Nightmares, 2024
ISBN-13: 979-8893795424
Ebook, 71 ppg.
Dahmer. Gacy. Bundy. Gein. These are the last names of some of history’s most notorious serial killers. If you ever thought it wasn’t possible to write a collection of poems about serial killers, then Carietta Dorsch is here to prove you wrong with her collection of poetry, Cannibalistic Loneliness: A Collection of Verse. These poems are not only about these and other murderers, but they also shed light on the monsters in their minds that drove them to commit evil.
I must confess, I had some serious misgivings about writing a review for this book, and only because there is a poem included written from the POV of Jeffrey Dahmer. However, my writing a review of this collection of poetry is not me approving of Dahmer’s crimes, glossing over them, or even glorifying what he did. My review is meant to serve as a shoutout about this book of great poetry.
Even so, I understand some people were probably wondering about Dahmer’s last thoughts before he was murdered. Who knows what they were? However, knowing Carrietta, who has been fascinated by serial killers for some time, I knew she felt compelled to write Dahmer poems for this book – a book containing poetry about monsters. And make no mistake, my opinion is that Dahmer was indeed a monster.
Aside from the Dahmer poems, I also enjoyed reading the other poems about both victims and monsters. It’s not so much the topics or the “stories” these poems tell, but a lot more about Carietta’s word choice and how she writes her poetry. I have read and loved her fiction, and this is the first time I have read her poetry. I’m so glad I did! The poems are well-written with good word choice and organization. Her poems just carried me away as I read them, drawing me further and further into the world of monsters and loneliness with the safety net of good writing for protection.
All the same, some of the things some of the poems say are empowering, especially with the poem “Because of Her.” And there’s also a warning, as she writes on page 21:
“So be careful who you trust and who you blame
Because even with monsters among us, we all look the same.”
These poems not only capture the horrors of the crimes committed by notorious serial killers but they also remind us all of the monsters these killers transformed into. They also mention some of the killers’ victims, memorializing them in their own way lest we forget.
Cannibalistic Loneliness is a collection of poems filled with monsters and the monstrous. From poems that shed light on the crimes of serial killers to verse pulsating with darkness and despair, Dorsch has written a collection that is sure to go down as one of the most unique and harrowing perspectives on crime and what may lurk within the shadows.
Five stars
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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