Review by Barry Dempster (author of 18 collections of poetry, twice nominated for the Governor General's Award)

I could pretend I'm less alone, Ontario poet Mike Madill writes in his first poetry collection, The Better Part of Some Time, but the acknowledgement that it would be a pretense is what sets Madill's writing apart from others who might tackle similar subject matter, such as a father's death and the repercussions of unfinished grief. He loved his father with a fierceness that a lesser writer might embellish with some serious sentimentality, but Madill's poems are clean and thorough; he writes with a chisel on hard rock, sparks flying madly around the room. Believe me, these poems are invigorating and courageous, totally attentive to language and lyric, and imbued with an honesty that is often stunning. They remind us that being human isn't a multiple choice question.

Review by Goodreads Author & Poet Debbie Hill

An impressive debut collection, Mike Madill's The Better Part of Some Time (Wet Ink Books, 2022) reminds me of opening a stranger's photo album and reflecting upon the intimate details of this poet's childhood, the grief tunnel he entered upon his father's death, and his mid-life contemplations. The memories and images are so rich and vivid in sound and sight that they immediately come alive.

Like a poetic memoir filled with genuine, heartfelt, tethered and untethered emotions (both joyful and sad, at times humorous), his 50 plus lyrical poems are divided into three sections ("Little Voice", "The Ricochet of Sky" and "Solar Flare"). For a non-poetry reader, the words are accessible, easy to read, and easy to understand. For poetry connoisseurs, the work is well-crafted and layered with poetic devices and deeper meanings.

There is also an openness and vulnerability in the writing that pulls the reader closer into the poet's state of mind. Madill is not afraid to address perceived failures and to share painful details. But what Madill may not realize is that he has already accomplished so much. His manuscript for The Better Part of Some Time received an Honourable Mention in the inaugural 2021 Don Gutteridge Poetry Award Contest, where he competed with established writers such as David Blaike, Wendy Jean McLean, and Antony DiNardo. Many of his poems have already been previously published in well-known and established literary journals across Canada; not an easy feat in this highly competitive literary world.

I gave this collection four stars because I'm expecting Madill's work to grow even stronger in the future. Without a doubt, a talented poet to watch!

Review by Diana Lopez for Readers' Favorite Award

The Better Part of Some Time is a collection of poems about real-life. These poems remind us that there are no manuals for life and we cannot predict when a change or significant loss will occur. Mike Madill keeps his feet on the ground and reflects on his experiences, writing from a perspective that includes evaluating death as well as a search for the true self.

He shows us that there are often moments that don't have to be classified as good or bad. Some experiences are there simply because they are part of our personal development. Reading these poems is like having photographs that show you a concrete and significant moment. The author is like a friend who invites us to get to know him in depth and enjoy time together.