Stars Around My Scars: The Annotated Poetry of Taylor Swift

Amazing and insightful read

Interesting subject matter. I love TS and her music so this was a natural fit for me. The book was a little difficult to read digitally due to the size of the pages. It was also weird to zoom in and read it in pieces. The actual book is much easier to read. Enjoyed this one.

Excellent book. She shares Taylor’s lyrics and writes annotations on each song. 🎶 it is a great concept. All Swifties NEED this book. Throughly enjoyable.

It would be a nice gift for the swifty fan in your life. I didn't really care too much for it. It's written in a journal style.

I ordered the book, “Stars Around My Scars: The Annotated Poetry of Taylor Swift” by Elly McCausland, Ph.D. to revisit my graduate school days when I would conduct analysis of poems by Wallace Stevens, Alice Walker, Hemingway, Frost, and others. I must confess that I cannot recite, hum, or even remember a single lyric of a song by Taylor Swift – her music exists outside my sphere of interest.I appreciate the analytical approach that Dr. McCausland took to craft her review of Ms. Swift’s poems/songs. It was genius to list the literary references underlying Ms. Swift’s poems on page 13 of this book. I also appreciate the glossary of literary terms that begins on page 230. The glossary was extremely helpful since it has been over two score since I have been in a graduate course attempting to understand and defend my interpretation of the work of an obscure poet.One can tell that Dr. McCausland enjoyed her work on this book. Her review of “Death by a Thousand Cuts” (page 112); “Daylight” (page 116); “hoax” (page 138); and “Hits Different” (page 188) are exquisite. Her best review was of “So Long, London” (page 198). She delved extensively into the references, structures, and feelings that Ms. Swift infused in this particular song (poem).The layout of the book is perfection. I love the font selections. I particularly loved the light purple script used to represent Dr. McCausland’s interpretation. I intend to keep this book handy because it will help me become a better writer.Brave!

Stars Around My Scars is an absolute gem for anyone interested in exploring Taylor Swift’s songwriting on a deeper, more literary level. Whether you’re a lifelong Swiftie or someone who’s simply curious about her cultural impact, this book offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective. The author has a PHD in English, so she treats Swift’s lyrics like classic poetry—analyzing them with the same rigor and care you’d find in graduate-level literature courses.What stands out most is the layout—clean, engaging, and creative. The handwritten-style margin notes (in soft lavender script) add a unique personal touch, giving readers insight into literary references, poetic devices, and emotional undercurrents in Swift’s work.It was really nice to see that the analysis spans all 11 albums, which means it includes the newest The Tortured Poets Society.For Swifties, this is a must-have keepsake. For casual fans, it’s a great way to better understand what makes her lyrics resonate. And for skeptics, it may just reveal the artistry that’s helped Swift become a cultural icon.This book is a very fun book that is up to date on Taylor Swift songs and I think it will be a nice addition to most collections.

Stars Around My Scars is a must have for “Swifties” or even casual fans who enjoy getting into the stories and reference points behind the Taylor Swift songs they love. What I liked about it was the many literary and creative margin notes that take us through all 11 of Swift’s albums. It’s a comprehensive study and very deep dive into her lyrical poetry, giving meanings behind the words and phrases she uses in her work. I would actually appreciate books like this for all my favorite singer/songwriters. One of the things that may surprise some readers is the fact that she is so much more than this generation’s greatest pop star. Like all great writers, Swift’s work is multi-layered while remaining accessible to audiences of all ages…something that is not easy to achieve and takes great skill. This interpretation of her lyrics is really thorough and absolutely necessary to better understand her psychological and philosophical perspective while also beautifully showcasing Swift’s tremendous creative growth over the last two decades. Yes, absolutely get this book!

Nicely written book that any Taylor Swift fan would appreciate, especially if that fan is all about disecting the lyrics to Taylor's songs. I think this is a well written book.