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Fifty Confessions

Paul Kiritsis
iUniverse.com (2009)
ISBN 9781440124495
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (5/09)

“Fifty Confessions” is Paul Kiritsis’s third book of poetry.  This newest offering begins with an Author’s Note that reveals quite a bit of the author’s personal life, kind of like a confession in itself.  He tells us how he has been stricken with some sort of ailment, even becoming bedridden at one point, but the medical community is unable to determine the underlying cause of his symptoms.  Struggling with this issue, Kiritsis has been trying to regain some sense of normalcy in his life and has immersed himself in writing more than ever before.

Kiritsis’s book is divided into six different sections:  The Ancient Enemy, Behold My Wealth, Actions and Reactions, In the Aftermath, Myths and Ruminations, and The Savage Past.  The author states that fifty of his confessions are to be revealed in the book.  However, then he goes on to say, “But whether or not they’re completely honest is another affair, isn’t it?” (p. 11) At first I didn’t like this fact about the book because I figure that if you are confessing something, then why not do it for real and not throw in fiction along with it.  However, as I read further into the book I kind of enjoyed the element of mystery surrounding the confessions and wondering where they were true or not.

Most of the writing in the book is dark, with a lot of negative undertones.  Most particularly under attack are the members of the medical community.  One of the poems that still remains lodged in my mind is the one entitled “The Physician.”  I think that this poem is pretty representative of Kiritsis’s style, so I will include that one in my review and allow you to make the determination as to whether or not the author’s writing would appeal to you. 

“The Physician” reads as follows:

“You told the patient
That there was nothing wrong,
Except in his mind,
And then went home
To enjoy a candlelit dinner for two.

Six months later,
You were sorry that the patient
Had died from virulent cancer…

…And then went home
To enjoy a candlelit dinner for two.” (p.43)

All in all, I found “Fifty Confessions” to be a raw, interesting read.  Kiritsis has a very unique writing style and I was very drawn in to his work.  I also applaud the author for exposing so much about himself in his author’s note and in his poetry.  Kiritsis’s writing will stay lodged in your mind long after you are finished reading the words on paper.

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