Three-Penny Memories – A Poetic Memoir by Barbara Harris Leonhard took me on a
journey that made my soul feel bare at first. Why would anyone ask a daughter such a
question: Do you love your mother? But that is beyond the point now because, without
that provocative question, I wouldn’t have been led to find this lovely poetry memoir,
as perhaps the book wouldn’t have been conceived.
I first heard about the launch of this book through the WordPress community.
Instinctively, I gravitated to the author’s website and started listening to her readings
of select poems there. I was pleasantly intrigued and knew this was one book I wanted
to get in print. And I’m so happy I did.
The book is of a size I like, 164 pages, and what I loved the most was how the author
split it into three parts: Light, Dust, and Echo, giving the whole experience of reading
a three-part novel. I read through the entire book three times, trying to meld my
voice with the author’s voice, and each time I emerged replete and content with how
the author expressed her soul.
Of course, I could not relate firsthand to this mother-daughter love affair as my
relationship with my mother was different. Still, I marveled at how Author Barbara
Harris Leonhard told this story with such aplomb.
This daughter loved her mother! Take a peek at snippets from the book.
Mother’s Light, pg 23 When a baby’s born\all mothers sigh in
unison\a butterfly effect\
Picking Blueberries with Mom, pg 46 only to be sidetracked\Our
trip to the lake, postponed\Mom takes to the field\like a young girl\
her smock, stained blue. Her lips\made ready for purple kisses\
Senior Alert, pg 100 When I find her in the waiting room\I’m rankled
iron\Mom looks unfazed\ “What’s up, Hon?’ \ She’s found\I’m lost\
Irish Spring, pg 102 She holds the head down\With vigor, scrubs the
toilet bowl clean\The stubborn hard-water ring\The stench of deceit\
The Caregiver’s Craft, pg 106 I study the creation\pleased. Some rows\
proclaim symmetry\coherence to form. I revel\in the virtuosity, clarity
of hue\as though I have hooked\into radiance. But other rows\meander
like a stream\
Bookends, pg 116 “Infelicitous,” said the professor\The same for Mom\
Her thingamajigs\and whatchamacallits\keep me guessing\
I loved how the story unspooled, elevating me along with it.
The prosaic language endeared this writer to me.
Her short sentences, promptly ending with a period, truncated me and
elicited sadness in this mother-daughter love story.
Each period gave me pause and reflection.
Each line was impactful, with sharp shocks that grabbed my attention,
created tension and urgency, and punches.
Verbose sentences that distract and take one on a loop are absent here; the short ones
provided the undercurrent for the tone, often reflecting stress, which engaged me to
feel. By the end of my final reading, I had cradled Author Barbara Harris Leonhard in a
warm sisterly embrace. No, it was the other way around because when I finally set the
book down, I no longer felt bare like I did at the beginning.
A memorable book. I highly recommend Three-Penny Memories
– A Poetic Memoir by Barbara Harris Leonhard.
Thanks for reading my review.
It’s my great pleasure, Barbara.
So glad for all your hard work, Ingrid.
Happy November, everyone.
I wish you miracles.
- Day 26: NaPoWriMo 2024 Alliteration, Consonance, Assonance - April 26, 2024
- Reblog: “Snap-beans in a Wooden Bowl”(c) 2024 by Michael L. Utley - April 26, 2024
- Day 25: NaPoWriMo 2024–The “Proust Questionnaire” - April 25, 2024
Barbara is a wonderful poet and your review is so heartfelt, with keen insights into her writing. Thanks for sharing, Selma. xoxo
Thanks for honoring me with a comment, Punam. Yes, I just met Barbara. Love her work. (And YOURS mi’lady!) XoXo
Selma, it is always a pleasure to read your words. And thank you for all the encouragement and support. XoXo.
❤️
Such a beautiful review Selma. Barbara did a wonderful job and her book speaks volumes to the heart and our soul. ❣️
She sure did, Cindy. Did you know she’s hoping for more positive reviews? Please say what you just told me on Amazon. That would be plenty and would help her out tremendously. Well, you are busy I know. And I’m out of place asking. Forgive.
Forget what I wrote. I bless you. Your videos and posts are tremendously motivating. Putting my shoes on to go out for a walk right now. I bless you. XoXo
Indeed she did. I have her book with great intentions and others sitting in a pile. You are a dear and so supportive. Not sure you saw my Fri-Yay book review on Kym .. do check it out which explains where I am in reading and sharing. Have a great walk.. 💞
Yes. Checked. Did. You’re a gem. Thanks. Xoxo
I dug deep in your comments to retrieve my comment —200+ jeez, impressive! — now my back hurts. 😃 I want to keep my comment/your response here so I have a record here. And this way, Promote Kym here too:
Goodness! Yes, Cindy, NAmaSTAY to you. Happy Fri-Yay and every day of the week too- Yay! A fun review you share here. You most certainly know how to entice a girl into investigating this Author you lift. That Kym is so smart makes me proud to be in this world with her. I’m clapping. That she’s so full of heart goodness advocating to ERADICATE illiteracy— well that just made me bow low for this sister. That her vision for this is in poetry— tremendous!
“Her objective is to get this book world wide to fight against illiteracy and aliteracy by introducing elements of poetic diversity and education among children and adults through non-traditional teaching approaches.” What foresight! I’m on my knees now.
I will look Kym up. More like Kym is what our world needs. And more Cindys too. Yay!
Thanks for pointing me to this post in a previous comment. I’m enamored with you.
Love your review and photos. Be well, dearie. I bless you. Xoxo And Kym Gordon Moore, too xoxo. We ARE Poetry! I wish you miracles.
Cindy: Hi Selma, oh thanks so much and glad you saw this and applaud and appreciate Kym. She is a dynamo and I’m appreciative of your very kind comment and support of her work which she will be so grateful for! I just wanted to let you know that I love your constant support with our community which is so kind and appreciated and why I struggle to find time to read more but when I do, I make it count. The spirit is strong but the flesh is weak with a limited amount of time. Big love and hugs!💕❤️💕
“So rush, don’t wait, to her blog space Behind The Pen and follow her. You won’t be disappointed, promise!”— Cindy
https://frombehindthepen.wordpress.com/
👏 👏 👏
I did see it and that’s awesome.. As are you!!! 💞
A well-written and interesting review, Selma. Barbara’s book is in my inbox. I look forward to reading it. I enjoyed her posts prior to launching her book.
Thanks, Michele Lee, my sweet. Glad you found it interesting. I had some more to say but… gosh, sometimes I need to reprimand myself.
But in the course that lectured me on how to review books, I was instructed to entice & tell prospective readers why they should consider that particular book. I cannot say that in just one paragraph, you see. And so, I tend to say too much.
I didn’t get to read Barbara’s piece before I reviewed Wounds I Healed (I would have mentioned her then for sure— I enjoy her work) BUT I read/mentioned YOUR piece in my review of Wounds I Healed. Yours was/is lovely.
Doing all I can for people I admire.
I bought your book in print. Will review after I read.
So many books, so little time. 👏
Blessing you. XoXo
You are most welcome, Selma. Yes, hard to contain those thoughts to one paragraph. I understand. 😁 Thank you so much about my piece. I am grateful beyond measure. 🙏🏻 To read that you bought my book sends my grateful heart into overdrive! Thank you! Which one did you purchase? What a gift you have delivered to my day. Blessings and hugs to you too. 🌻
Being a Woman— Overcoming (orange cover) 👏
Oh, special! That is the first and includes the poem, “My Curves.” A poem written at the start of my writing journey, just over, three years ago. 💗 I wrote that poem, then put it away. I returned to it when I realized it was the first of many poems that needed to be written about this womanly path. It is hard for me to comprehend how many lines I have written since that collection and how much healing I have experienced. ✨ Thank you so much, Selma, for reminding of that meaningful project. 🙏🏻
💃🏼 💃🏼 💃🏼 👏
A wonderful review, Selma, and richly deserved by Barbara. Thank you!
My pleasure, indeedy. 👏
It sounds like a must read. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
What a beautifully written review, Selma. Your comments are like poems in themselves <3
Pingback: A New Wish For Three-Penny Memories In The Hotel – Selma