Reviews: What’s The Big Deal With Someone’s Random Opinion On A Book?
You can focus on the obvious–the influence a review has
on prospective customers can boost sales.
But have you ever considered what receiving
an honest review must feel like for the Author?
Writers (me) are often insecure about themselves and the words they weave
and expose to the world, so having a reader say how much they enjoyed the
book or the message conveyed is a morale booster.
–Here are my latest–
*
A sensory delight you will enjoy too.
I didn’t want to rush through this short collection, All Grown Up Now by Kim M.
Russell, and took a week to savor each poem in the quiet minutes before bed.
It was a glorious week marinated in well-crafted, beautiful poems.
This poetry book is close to a memoir, reflecting all aspects of the Author’s
womanhood. From childhood memories in post-WWII England, to present day,
when the Author addresses the young poets of the future.
The poems take the reader along on a vivid sensual journey through the Author’s
emotional highlights. How she learned the routines of keeping a house from her
happy grandmother, whose tender hands were “red and hot” in the poem titled
“Washing Day.” As many of us know, our childhoods stay with us.
I like the cover image with the snapshots very much; it reminded me of the old
physical photos and those that live in my memory that I hold dear of my own
growing up years. I liked the titles of the poems and the precise words that gave
rise to my olfactory recognition this author used that made me discriminate odors
in the poems. I could relive my own set of smells and relate to the Author.
“Those wizened women, drenched in mothballs…”
“hypnotized by the perfume of exhaust, rumble of engine…”
“a quirky shiff of damp dog”
“I inhale the summer trail of dust”
“reeks of metal and biscuit”
“the scent of sharpened pencils in satchels.”
“the tang of menses moon,”
“pricks the eyes and chokes the breath, the funeral pall of summer’s death–“
I loved all the poems but the one I could relate to the most was “Self-Portrait
with Hands” — “how did they stiffen into wrinkled claws? I move my hands,
reveal my mother’s face,” — I ‘know’ all about this one.
I highly recommend All Grown Up Now to readers who want to marinate in
beautiful, carefully crafted poems. Read it slowly–It captured my heart and
I bet it will capture yours too. 5-star rating from a satisfied customer in Japan.
Grays before blues before reds: Powerful yet delicate
The Colors I Hear—Poems & Prose to Inspire Creativity by Carolyn Riker:
This book made me feel seen, “heard” and connected to a rainbow of tender
colors.
“The Colors I Hear” is a book whose soulful words soothingly inspire your
imagination. Its use of rich natural imagery is this book’s special characteristic.
The color of things. Life. Its use of color conveys the delicate mood of the psyche
as it relates and interacts with its surroundings. This is a book that grows with you:
looking for color outwards, pausing to hear colors inwards, and if you need healing,
it’s sure to heal with every rereading. Grays before blues before reds.
Powerful yet delicate. Intricate yet simple and unadorned. A contemporary musical
serenade that your soul will understand.
In her introduction, the poet shares that this is her fourth book of poetry and prose
and that she’s following something unseen but deeply felt.
The book is divided into four sections. The first speaks about nature and her
connection to it. The second is about moods, aging, and honoring oneself.
Also about encouragement, self-kindness, and acceptance. The third section
is special to me as it’s intended for Highly Sensitive People and of the fourth,
says the Author, “The final section completes me.” And you’ll find all sorts of
nonlinear thought bubbles. I hope you take a look.
I read the poems and introduction several times and at the end of my last reading
I was left nodding along to the Author’s words:
“I hear bells ringing on the tips of leaves,/blowing in a breeze,/being one with
everything and nothing./”
Every sentence is beautiful and the Author invites you to be intentional with your
words. Here are a few excerpts from the book:
“Say something beautiful” ~// “She belonged here. She became a garden.” ~
“Trees are sorcerers/tapping the sky/until sparks ignite/a most beautiful/starry,
starry night./”
“Let’s take this moment/to linger longer/and empty your pockets/where loneliness
hurts./Then layer the lessons/with love, linen, and lilies./”
“Today if all you do is walk/ or sleep, or draw/be a prayer./”
“Listen,/just listen./There’s more to be seen./You are a river,/reaching the depth
of your spiritual seas./”
“Like a poem/tucked behind a pink horizon/dazzled by a twirl of clouds./”
“Nature writes me. I enjoy studying how moss carpets a hillside and how it shows
me to slow way, way, down.” ~
“Sensitivity fills the crevices/with much-needed empathy,/away from the loudness/
and walks with you/by a quiet pond/woven of birdsong./”
To be under the tutelage of someone/this Author who knows/understands—urging
me to be me—this made me ‘feel’ seen and “I spent time with my soul.”
Through this book I learned that understanding that my sensitivity is my compass is
what keeps me safe and secure.
I suspect that after reading through this collection you too will feel heard and you’ll
be primed to “listen to the silence and the hum” and find yourself saying, “I hear bells
ringing on the tips of leaves, blowing in a breeze, being one with everything and
nothing.”
“The sky called me again. It was an invitation of numinous sorts. The evening’s
oranges blended with the pinkest pinks. While morning’s halos of grays
serendipitously let me think.”
“Words find a writer… don’t edit the soul of your style.”
“She is the closest to her soul,/when she lets herself be/the center of/silence./”
I will never tire of this book and already feel an urge to reread it.
I highly recommend it–5-star rating from a satisfied customer in Japan.
My Amazon reward for rating 5 purchased books was a riddle: Thanks, now for the
joke: Why did the Christmas tree go to the doctor? Tinselitis!
Thank you so much for reading my reviews today. I bless you.
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Thanks for the reviews and recommendations
Aww, Sadje, the pleasure is entirely mine. These sensory books are gorgeous. I mean every word I said… Thanks for reading dear one. xoxo
Thanks 🙏🏼
these are lovely reviews and I can understand how it must feel for an author to read nice and not so nice reviews. putting words to paper and sharing them with the world is like sharing a part of ourselves, so personal
Yes it is: like sharing a part of ourselves. Thanks for understanding, dear Beth. Blessings.
Two lovely reviews, Selma! Kim and Carolyn must be very happy to receive them. Both books sound delightful! <3
What amazing reviews of two different yet equally powerful poetry collections! I love that you share lines from the pieces that spoke to you as a way to offer deeper insights into the books. 🙂
Layla. You are sweet. Always. Thanks for checking it out. I bless you
Excellent book review, Selma! 📚 I hope all is well with you, and you are enjoying your week. 🙏🌸
Glad you liked them sweet friend.
Yes. I’m coming around like the season. Stay sweet. Xoxo
Very nice you sharing your review.
Thanks kindly. XoXo
Most welcome!
Your reviews are well thought out and one can tell that it wasn’t rushed or written to just because. Thanks for sharing with us and for the recommendations, Selma. And that riddle 😂
Hehe. The riddle 😂
Glad you found the reviews of value, dear Maria. These are great books. Xoxo 👏🏽