I am never at a loss for words; however, this collection of poetry is so moving, that any words I add might detract. That is not a reviewer's cop-out. It is my honest reaction. ( )

Absolutely beautiful. Castle's use of both style and imagery create an immense picture of place and her connection to it. She ranges wide, finding deep emotion in different places in her life. An incredible collection. ( )

As other reviewers have pointed out, there was a lot of private history in each of the poems in this collection. I respect the author's wish to keep them private. Unfortunately, not having more context about the content of each poem also made it hard for me to follow the arc of the narrative, although the cadence and rhythm of the poetry was soothing in parts.

The cover of Luanne Castle's Rooted and Winged is stunning. A figure, strangely cloaked, possibly winged, maybe flying or falling or suspended in space. And much of her prose poems and other forms are stunning too.
Many of the 44 poems are private, some lacking a context I needed to understand them. So I read them for their feel, their thrum of language, skipping from poem to poem without trying to grasp each one as a whole.
In 'Finally Going to Tell You about the Staircase Ghost,' there is: "like water into wine, the cool blond of pear slices".
In 'Finding the House on Trimble Street, I read: "house, once white and raw, has matured into gold," about a place she lived in as a girl.
And, 'Spotlight,' there is: "Grandma used to stand under the bulb over the sink that haloed her". ( )

I admit it was the intriguing cover art that immediately drew me to this poetry collection and I was not disappointed! Castle's words are deeply rooted in place (and often time) and draw the reader in through a spiritual sensibility that is engaging and comfortable, yet does not deny the inevitable suffering of our animal instincts or existence. She plays with conundrums and draws from paradoxes. Although her template is often rested in the ordinary, the mundane, she brings a heightened awareness that is captivating, weaving stories and creating images so lifelike, they invite you into the kitchen, the garden, the mountains. Favorites from this collection are "Why We Wait for Rain" and "Superblooms".