Thank you so much, Sally for such a heart-felt review of my latest poetry – ‘Just One Goodbye.’ I love how you say it… “Grief is the price we pay for loving so deeply.” So true! And we never think about it until it befalls us just like thunder.
Category: book review
Smitha’s Comprehensive Review…
I am extremely grateful to Smitha, an accomplished poet and author, for understanding each emotion embedded in my latest poetry book and finding light in the midst of gloomy poems. She took my heart away with the words: “These are emotions that will resonate with anyone who has lost someone they deeply love.” Please click on the link to read her full review of the book – Just One Goodbye, inspired from the yearning to hear the last words, which were never spoken. The comments are closed here. Please visit Smitha’s blog to share your thoughts. Thank you.
Here is the Amazon link for kindle store
And for Print edition
#BookReviews: 5 #Stars for Each one!
Here are the latest books that I’ve read and reviewed. There are three more, which I would share in another post.
Mae takes you along to Harbor Inn, creates a perfect aura to immerse in the mystery that she creates from page one, with her signature style – “The creaking, jostling carriage,” “dusk made darker” by the dense pine and cedars, “heavy mist of the pacific and the clop of hoofbeats reverberating,” the rope burn that gaped on either side of his neck and the pocket watch – such is the symbolic portal that opens the moment you start reading The Price of Atonement. It is not just the style of writing that would keep you hooked, the exquisite prose and the characters evoke many emotions that linger long after you’ve read the last page. Fast-paced and packed with action, the story keeps getting darker as it proceeds. I could empathize with Iona and Willie. Leviticus too becomes worth loving as the mysteries fall apart.
Why is Leviticus searching for a particular spirit? What is his connection with the ghost? Why does he want her to cross over to the other world, willingly? What is the guilt that has brought him to Harbor Pointe? If you are an assiduous reader, you’ll find many hints to guess the answers to these questions. Iona would shock you but the reactions of Leviticus have been brilliantly described.
The Price of Atonement is much more than a mysterious story, it stirs human values that lie dormant within us till somebody ignites them. I finished reading it within a few hours, as I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended.
Dreamland by Patricia Furstenberg is a fascinating book – one of its kind, as it infuses new life into folklore and legends of the past. If you look at the mesmerizing cover of the book carefully, it conveys where it is going to transport you and how succinct the stories are. I’ve never heard the stories it tells, and therefore its charm doubled for me.
The stories speak about the art (cave paintings) that has survived wars, earthquakes and battles. Stories like ‘Ogling a Hen with Gold Eggs,’ Idyllic Edelweiss, Tough Luck at Lower Viseul have a magical appeal. Many legends from the regions of Romania come alive, and many of them tell how towns and villages got their names. Each story ends with a short piece of history to explain its significance. The prose is lyrical in many stories. There is poignancy, valor and discrimination embedded within the stories. It is a marvel how Furstenberg says so much within a 100 word story!
She seems to be a poet at heart. Her exotic style shines through such sentences:
“Spring’s shamrock changed its coat for a lustre-less pickle that turns to mulch through rainfalls.”
“Peaceful plains like a sleeping maiden naively awaiting the kiss of dawn’s brightest star.”
“Hope was a stern mistress.”
“Words whisper from a slab of red marble.”
“The mountain path like an emerald belt hugged the curves of Bargau Mountains whose tree-church sang of life and death.”
Patricia also shares beautiful pictures of the landscape, Romanian pottery, fortresses, churches and Banffy Castle. I enjoyed each moment of reading these stories.
‘Three-Penny Memories’ is a powerful and poignant reflection on Leonhard’s life, her relationship with her mother and emotional upheavals that made her resilient.
Packed with emotions, most of the poems are about her mother’s Alzheimer’s but that takes her back to her encephalitis and she dwells on the weird connection with her mother’s condition. As a caregiver, she lays bare her struggle with the failing memory of her mother. Her dilemma – “I’m always torn. Mom or career? Mom or marriage? Mom or my own sanity?” A “doting daughter” who hangs onto the false hope that “mother will recover” evokes an uncanny kinship with the reader.
“Never a mother except to my own.” Just one phrase sums up the poet’s woes. The anguish of “my broken womb” continues to haunt her thoughts, resurfacing in many poems. Pain and guilt mingle to produce intense poetry that tugs at your heartstrings.
While an ‘Ode to the Embryo’ wrenched my heart out, ‘An Unsanctioned Outing’ gave me goosebumps. It is brilliantly written with the metaphor of a bus. Leonhard’s love for her mother shines through ‘Mom’s Dreams’ and ‘The Phone of the Wind.’ What a befitting homage!
Some memorable phrases that stayed with me:
“Her memories linger as lint.”
“You shelter in my wound of wanting.”
Thank you! Happy reading!
Many thanks to all the readers who’ve read my latest release and shared their fabulous reviews of my poetry book – Fusion – my latest release
#BookReviews #Poetry #Stories
It’s been a while since I shared the reviews of the books I’ve read. Here are some of my favorites, each one got glittering five stars from me.
Deep in the Forest Where Poetry Blooms is divided into two parts – the first one is dedicated to seasons and Finn takes us along, as she walks through the forest. The second part of the book explores free spirit, in which she shares her musings from the back of the Harley.
Finn sits under the pink flowering dogwood tree and her imagination blends into the colors of spring, as Mother Nature awakens to offer a breath of life to the world around her; butterflies receive the gift of nectar and “soil bursts with new life.” Dawn filters through pines, as she watches the birds, flirting in the trees and honeybees returning to collect nectar. Even her furry friends celebrate the advent of spring and enjoy her company.
Summer poems brilliantly capture the images of public pools and “droopy potted plants,” as “searing winds” change the colors of the landscape. Even the birds are quiet, while the poet is inspired by the silent summer day to write lovely haiku and tanka.
Fall evokes “peace” and more micro-poetry, as “leaves sway in the soft breeze” offering “tinted red” landscape. Winter poems talk about hush in the forest and exhort you to soak in the silence of the days to contemplate about the never-ending cycle of growth and rebirth.
‘Until’ is my favorite poem because of exotic imagery like: “Exquisite white flakes waltz from the heavens.” ‘Edge of the Ocean’ is also beautifully written.
“My recliner becomes my island” from ‘Float,’ “Winter’s frozen grasp” from ‘Winter Limericks,’ and “distance became my harmony” from ‘Distance’ also spoke to me.
Each poem in this collection would play with your senses, transport you to the forest to celebrate blissful moments and enjoy the magical portals that Mother Nature opens for us. Finn’s poetry introduces us to that magic with her amazing style of bringing it alive. The haibuns took my heart away. A fabulous collection – not to be missed.
This is How We Grow is a learning experience, as the stories introduce the reader to various perspectives, which can only be discerned if we hear the point of view of those who have lived their lives in a different environment. The stories shared by Ana Linden exemplify this perfectly. Women may take pride in their liberation in some countries but they are still bound by traditional societies, as highlighted by Ana.
Robbie shares her experiences of raising her two sons and her poignant stories would wrench your heart out, remind you of your blessings and fill your heart with gratitude. I salute her willpower and grit that she could concentrate on her laptop while sitting in a hospital! ‘Cat Healer’ is another gem. I am not a cat lover but this story changed my perspective toward cats.
The stories that Mahesh shares are a breather, as he presents them with a dash of humor and tells you how the little moments of life are valuable and impactful. His exquisite style of writing shines through sentences like: “Then came the dial-up connection and worldwide web, like sips of water to someone delirious from thirst.”
Lauren exhorts you to develop self-compassion, while Mabel shares an honest self-reflection about her writing journey. All the stories are unique in their own way, as each one shows some aspect of life that needs to be understood from another point of view.
NIRMALA: The Mud Blossom highlights abject poverty, squalor, discrimination, domestic violence and misery that an innocent girl had to undergo in the stinking, unhygienic slums of Mumbai. Her crime – she is a female!
Pathan doesn’t leave anything to the reader’s imagination, as she vividly describes the untold physical and mental agony that is inflicted upon Nirmala. She transports you to the slums, making each nook and cranny come alive, so that you can smell the stench emanating from open drains, human excreta and garbage dump.
Nirmala’s character grows from a silent, helpless girl to a strong and resilient woman, eager to follow the demands of her family and traditions of society. Is that enough? Keep reading this fast-paced story, dripping with stark realism, which would seem unbelievable!
Happy reading!
Balroop Singh.
Have you checked Fusion – my latest release?
Thanks to all the readers for their lovely support and reviews of Fusion.
#NewRelease by Lauren Scott #Poetry #BookReview
Today we are celebrating ‘Ever So Gently’ by Lauren Scott. A combination of free verse and syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma etc. this is a lovely collection of poetry. I’ve already read this delightful book and enjoyed it.
Book Blurb:
In this book, Lauren Scott shares her strong link to nature, taking the reader on a tranquil walk through a redwood grove. You’ll find an invitation to sit quietly on a patio, captivated by the simple beauty of a hummingbird. She’ll entice you to revel on the shore of a freshwater lake, mesmerized by its stunning beauty.
Scott shares how love has shaped her life. From that first delicious kiss to celebrating decades of marriage through a love that deepens over time. How her heart melted when she became a mom, then ached when her children started their adult lives across country. And how her adorable canine companions found their way into her heart.
Scott underscores how life presents mysteries we struggle to solve. We can’t help but ponder the deeper meaning of a simple vision. She prompts you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs. what matters most is to love and live ever so gently.
My Review:
Scott’s poetry celebrates memories and moments in her latest collection – ‘Ever So Gently.’ Her connection with the surroundings blends into the wisdom of nature that unfolds through stunning imagery like: “hear the rustle of a skittering squirrel,” “petals of velvet invite raindrops to bask in their peach enchantment,” and “breeze carries burdens down rivers.”
From the birds that ‘flit and flutter’ to build their nest to the owl who proclaims his presence with his ‘high-pitched toots’ and the hummingbirds that flutter around the “bright pink petals” – all find a place of honor in this book to delight your moods. Lauren’s realism captivates and appeals to all the senses. Some of her poems express profound love that we cherish and yearn for – she tells you how valuable that love has been in her life.
From ‘The Peach Rose’ to ‘Firestorm’ and not to forget ‘I Was Adopted,’ her poetry slides most naturally on the wide canvas of creativity. However, poems that speak of love, of growing up and bonding are the ones that touched my heart. Who can ever forget ‘The Old Afghan,’ which is most relatable!
I haven’t read a more beautiful description of sunset – “The sky explodes in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows – brighter with every second. It’s as though a painter swished her brush back and forth…”
Some more examples of Scott’s brilliant style:
“And water hasnt caressed the hills
The earth, parched like Chile’s Atacama.”
“Silk-thread drizzles dusted rooftops and parched hills.”
“How he tenderly tiptoed through the syllables.”(I could feel the poignancy of the emotion)
A combination of free verse and syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma etc. this is a lovely collection of poetry. Read it slowly to savor each emotion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Meet the Poet:
Lauren has authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams(2013) and Finding a Balance (2015). In the last couple of years, she began exploring memories from her past, penning them into short memoirs. In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose. She lives in Northern California with her husband, Matthew, and their lovable canine, Copper; they have two adult children. Family has been an aspect of life she has always held dear. From her experiences over three decades: raising a family, grieving through loss, finding joy in the smallest things, and the many backpacking and camping adventures, her writing takes a magical path of its own.
The marvelous wild world that surrounds her: the smell of the woods, the sound of a babbling brook, and the chorus of birds never disappoint in providing inspiration. Recent backpacking trips with Matthew along the California coast and Sierra Nevada have stirred up thoughts to write about love, lost friendship, family, and the possibility that anything can happen. Hikes along the Paper Mill Creek remind her that life is fragile. From trout hatchlings to swallowtail butterflies, Lauren is marveled at how the world is interconnected and that every living thing matters. She is a poet, short memoir writer, and nature lover who hopes her readers will find a little nugget of delight, comfort, or understanding in her poetry and stories – some detail that resonates with them beyond her words.
Thank you for your lovely support.
Balroop Singh.
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