The chapbook explores our diverse society, exploring taboo subjects, people and events which, in turn, repulse and intrigue us. 'THIS IS NOT A SPECTACLE' is the first anthology from Fly on the Wall Poetry. Buy Links: https://www.amazon.com/THIS-NOT-SPECTACLE-Isabelle-Kenyon-ebook/dp/B075D86TBS (kindle) https://www.amazon.com/This-Spectacle-Isabelle-Charlotte-Kenyon/dp/1976074894/ www.amazon.com/This-Spectacle-Isabelle-Charlotte-Kenyon/dp/1976074894/(paperback) ~My Review~I love poetry in that it draws you in almost immediately. It uses emotions to spin an entire world for you and either lifts you up with encouragement or transport you to new places, new sounds, sights and smells. The visual in this chapbook was stunning. I saw it, "the corpse body of children with their ballooned stomachs," from the poem, Mumbai and "We are drink, we are music; we are pretending, we are stumbling, we are lost -" from Teenagers at a Bus Stop. Each poem felt like a snapshot that may have derived from the poet's own experiences. Perhaps, she felt a pull to some of these places and used that emotional tug to pen anger or a passerby's quick interpretation of a culture. Very well done. My complaint that I shared with the poet was that I wish it was longer. I'm excited to see that it's part of a volume and can't wait to read where she takes me to next. Great job, Isabelle Kenyon for creating something that made me feel like I was there as the person whose lens you used and being simultaneously drawn into this world with horrified fascination and knowing that "this is not a spectacle" for me to witness. ***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.*** About the AuthorIsabelle Kenyon is a Greater Manchester based poet and a graduate in Theatre: Writing, Directing and Performance from the University of York.
Her poems have been published in many poetry anthologies, such as the Inkyneedles anthology, the Great British Write Off, the Wirral festival of Music, Speech and Drama, The Tiny Tales anthology and the Festival of Firsts, as well as achieving third place in the Langwith Scott Award for Art and Drama. Her microchapbook, published by Origami Poetry Press will be out soon! Social Media: https://inkyizzy4.wixsite.com/flyonthewallpoetry https://www.facebook.com/flyonthewallpoetry/
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A poetry collection divided into three parts. Debut, The Plot Thickens and Ever After. Each part represents the struggles of life on themes of adversity, love, inspiration, faith, identity and healing. You will be lead through the plot and by the end you will have vanquished your villain. Everyone can be a hero. You just need to be yours first. Buy Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sahira-Javaid/e/B003F6MQHQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1503703094&sr=8-1 Website: essentuatelife.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bittersweetbook Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SahiraJavaidPoet/ About the authorSahira Javaid is a writer who is currently working on a YA fantasy. She is a poetess from Ottawa who shares her poems on her Facebook page and her website. Fond of animals, nature and learning, she passes time with reading about the world around her, nature’s healing ways, chatting with friends and making others smile and laugh every time she gets. You can find her on Twitter as Bittersweetbook. Her other two poetry books Bittersweet and Hot Ice are available on Amazon and other online retailers. Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bittersweetbook
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SahiraJavaid/ Website: http://essentuatelife.com/ ‘Remember Me in Sleepless Nights’ promises to be that friend who will console you in solitude and lead your way into a compelling journey of life along its pages filled with passion, rhythm and verse. This collection of poetry endeavours to bring the Korean poetry form Sijo to the avenue of English poetry, which has been seldom attempted before. With a comprehensive mix of standard English poetry, English Sijo and a bout of Hindi poetry, the author wishes to indulge you in an assortment of poetic styles. Each poem, interestingly, also embraces a Korean title as the final touch of its cultural amalgamation ~ My Review ~For me, this collection oscillated between anger and distress. There were a few poems here that I could hear in my head with an angry tone and I'm curious, seeing as Shefali Banerji is a spoken word artist, what these are supposed to sound like. Spoken poems aren't meant to be read and in the random bout of quietness I had at home, I read them outloud. I felt the anger. I heard the rage in these words. I also heard distress. Like, the poet felt trapped and needed a way out. Or maybe it was the switching between different styles that reflected my own distress. I like for things to flow and the choppiness and back and forth felt unfamiliar. Mind you, Shefali does an excellent job with different poetic styles. Perhaps, given my post-Hurricane Harvey situation, I was more prone to anger and distress and took it out on words that were meant to soothe rather than cause friction. We all react to things differently and for a poetry collection meant to act as friend, I had a lot of emotions throughout and some of them were friendly, some were stronger than others, but most of them definitely to Remember (me) in Sleepless Nights. ***I received this book in exchange for an honest review. However, these thoughts and opinions are my own. I'm not required to write a positive review.*** About the AuthorShefali Banerji is a poet, writer and spoken word artist from India. She graduated with an Honors degree in English from St. Xavier's College Calcutta (India), and is currently pursuing Master's in English from the University of Calcutta. She has two poetry books to her name, published independently, 'A Circus of Emotions' and 'Remember Me in Sleepless Nights'.
Social media links: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16207810.Shefali_Banerji https://www.instagram.com/weaving_poetry https://www.facebook.com/weavingpoetryinsta https://twitter.com/ShefaliBanerji From Amanda Lovelace, a poetry collection in four parts: the princess, the damsel, the queen, and you. The first three sections piece together the life of the author while the final section serves as a note to the reader. This moving book explores love, loss, grief, healing, empowerment, and inspiration. the princess saves herself in this one is the first book in the "women are some kind of magic" series. Buy Links: Amazon but available at a bookstore near you! www.amazon.com/princess-saves-herself-this-one-ebook/dp/B01N3TPKRP/ ~ My Review ~I will admit, I had a hard time getting into this book. The beginning wasn't what I expected when I read all these rave reviews about power and how uplifting it is. It was when I "crossed over" from the princess and into damsel that I "got it." the princess is hard to relate for me as a 35 year old so far removed from the imaginings and hurt from my adolescence. But I remember the bitterness, pain and visceral image of love and heartache. I remember the scars that have never really healed. And from damsel on, I couldn't stop reading. I couldn't stop breathing this book in. My older sister attempted suicide in 2008. She would have left behind 3 little girls had she succeeded. Her older daughter, my 16 year old niece has attempted to take her life three times over the course of five years. "the worst part is never being able to know if it was suicide or not. -the truth will free me. " This part in Lovelace's story brought tears and I had to walk away from it. And there is something more than bitterness and pain here. then the damsel becomes the queen. She pens very uplifting and powerful verses that will make any one of us believe that we "never needed those wings" to escape our imposed towers. So I continued to read about dragons, mermaids, starfish, and how a the princess saves herself in this one. About the Authorgrowing up a word-devourer & avid fairy tale lover, it was only natural that amanda lovelace began writing books of her own, & so she did. when she isn't reading or writing, she can be found waiting for pumpkin spice coffee to come back into season & binge-watching gilmore girls. (before you ask: team jess all the way). the lifelong poetess & storyteller currently lives in new jersey with her fiancé, their moody cat, & a combined book collection so large it will soon need its own home. she has her B.A. in english literature with a minor in sociology. the princess saves herself in this one is her debut poetry collection & the first book in the women are some kind of magic series. the second book in the series, the witch doesn't burn in this one, will be published in 2018. her official website is amandalovelace.com. you can also find her as ladybookmad on twitter, instagram, & tumblr. (she hasn’t quite figured out snapchat yet.) Should I be Thankful Or Regretful That my only idea Of love Is You? ~ My Review ~I've been obsessing about poetry, lately and I was super excited to find another Filipina poet! This wasn't uplifting like some of the others I've read. This was heartbreaking. The poet takes us on this high of romance and where fairy tales meet their ever after.....and soon enough, the sexiness and desire wears out and all that is left are tear stains and heartbreak. This was hauntingly beautiful and you can feel her pain but towards the end, you get the sense, like most end of romance hangover heartbreak that she starts to heal and begins again. I sincerely hope for the author's heart that "this is the last time [she'll] write about you." About the Author:Dawn Lanuza started writing stories when she was just a kid (they weren't good or even finished). She's a music elf by day and a meet cute writer by night. 'The Boyfriend Backtrack' is her first book. She currently lives with her family and an adopted dog. She sometimes blogs at www.dawnlanuza.com.
These pages contain the lives of sixty people. Sixty glimpses into psyches and souls of emotionally driven individuals. People like you and me, filled with anger, jealousy, joy, and wonder. Spend time getting to know them, forging connections. See who you fall in love with, who you disdain, who you want to invite out for coffee and who you’d like to forget by the end of the book. Jump into the water and see who and what you’ll be flooded by. Quote: "Iunctus is my "why" for writing. Latin for connected or adjoined, this word encompasses my reason for writing and for living." - T. Haven Morse About the AuthorWriting character-driven, emotionally engaging poetry and fiction stories is what T. Haven Morse lives for. Some of her work will make you laugh, some will make you cry, and some will leave you utterly speechless wondering what just happened. From the rich persona poetry of Morse's book "Flooded By" to the unique, out-there poems in her forthcoming sci-fi/fantasy poetry collection due out this fall, she loves to give readers a chance to spend a poem in someone else's shoes, connecting. For more information about Haven or her work, visit www.bountifulbalconybooks.com/thavenmorse or find her on social media outlets @thavenmorse. A powerful poetry and prose collection about the journey through love, loss, healing, and hope. This book is for anyone who loves deeply, has bad days, and searches for happiness in the world around them. It is for those who have been hurt and have the scars to prove they're still alive. ~ My Review ~I read this while listening to the sound of a summer thunderstorm playing right outside my bedroom window. Shelby's words cocooned me and while they were beautiful, I felt the tears between the pages. I can imagine a soft spoken walking heartache waiting to scream but all that is left are words that are haunting on paper. I've been on a poetry kick lately and out of the ones that I have read, this one has been my favorite... not just in the delivery of the poems but the sadness that still echo within them. Well done, Shelby Leigh! About the AuthorShelby Leigh is a debut poet from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After completing a poetry challenge in which she wrote a poem every day for a year, her readers encouraged her to publish a book. Her first poetry book, It Starts Like This, is a collection of her favorites. Shelby is currently working towards a B.A. in communications and professional writing. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter, and Goodreads @shelbysleigh and on Tumblr @nothingwithoutwords. Her official website is www.shelbyleigh.co. Uncaged Wallflower is for those who feel trapped in the thoughts their minds produce, unable to express them with the rest of the world out of fear of critique or disagreement. For the people who need an extra dose of positivity in their day. This is not a poetry book for you to read and relate to in a sorrow filled way. It is for you to read and say yes, I can be better, and I will. ~ My Review ~It took me a few days to read this short collection but I feel like it needed to be that way. I wanted some of Jennae Cecelia's words to not just flow over through me, but to live inside my heart for a bit. Plus, I didn't want to rush into a collection that clearly needed to have moments of self reflection. I've become such a fan in her work and I'm probably (most likely) reading her collection of out of order. But I'm a firm believer that nothing in life is coincidence and this book of encouragement need to be in my hands. Most of us, at some point in life, look at the edge of this great beginning to something and hesitate. What if I fail? What if this is what my family and friends laugh at me or be upset with this leap? If some of my life experiences have taught me, it is this: you will fail. You will be laughed at, mocked and some people will be upset......but you know what? It's YOUR LIFE. Whose life are you living for right now? I am in awe that in her age, she understands this. She tells us this in multiple poems, in between lines, and phrases. I'm about to be 35 years old. In my early 20s, I was still living for my parents' goals and expectations of me. In my early 20s, I was "fine" being in the background. I was "fine" keeping the peace as I was shy but, it's funny that being a mama has changed me. You would think I appreciate fading in the back and letting my children bask in the light. But isn't parenting and to some extent, how your children behave, a reflection of you? I don't want them to stay silent and live in regret later in life. I want them to grow up knowing that yes, things are still possible; yes, things can be painful but those scars of words and hurt left behind tell our stories of where we were and serves as a reminder of who we are now. I want to tell them, yes, "speak your thoughts." It's also okay to be want to stay in the background just as long as you no one but you put yourself there. I've only learned to be an "uncaged wallflower" myself.....and now I've taken a leap and still learning to fly. *one of my favorite ones but there are just so many here: Caged I felt bad for the bird in its cage. Looking out at the blue sky and trees. Because I too felt like I was looking at something I wanted but couldn't have. Until you were the one the one to set me free. About the AuthorJennae Cecelia is the self-published and best selling author of the poetry books, Bright Minds Empty Souls and Uncaged Wallflower. She has developed a strong passion for writing uplifting poetry that encourages her readers to reach their full potential. I Am More Than a Daydream is the next book in the positive poetry series titled, JC Collection. To get in touch with the author: Website: jennaececelia.com Instagram: @Jennaececelia Twitter: @JennaeCecelia This collection of poetry talks about a woman who has experienced what many have, heart break. In the midst of her pain, she takes on a journey to learn to love herself. Also, expressing emotions and looking back on memories that although left scars, have led her to sit at her table alone. Finding yourself is crucial and she explains how she accomplishes this day by day. ~ My Review ~I felt like this collection oscillated between wanting to find strength in whom the poet is as a woman, and a woman who is scorned trying to get her thoughts in prose. And I get that. I get the need to look through our heartbreak, and sifting through emotions to look for when, and where the relationship failed. I understand shaking the deluded thoughts of the 'what ifs' and 'if onlys,' as those thoughts will only do more harm than good. I could hear the frustrations from Laura Ashley in each word she wrote. I heard and felt her anger and saw her bitter tears, as she tried to form enough coherent thought to tell us what this heartbreak did to her. And whoever you are, mister, this woman absolutely did not deserve you. In between some heavy piercing pieces for this "character," she kept some pieces of strength for herself. Those pieces touched me. Here she is broken and haunted. But her sureness that one day she'll wake from this heartache is evident throughout. She still had hope within her. She still had love in her. Throughout this collection, her heart and mind battled between holding on to false promises and toxic love, and letting go of her insecurities. I applaud you, Laura, on your tenacity to fight for your heart. After all, when it comes to love and putting ourselves first, I'd rather have a Table for One than sit in pained and uncomfortable silence with mixed company. And in her own thoughts, "This is me and I am new and you can leave." Bravo, superwoman. About the AuthorLaura Ashley is an indie author who has published her first collection of poetry. She started writing from the 6th grade and has displayed her words as art on canvas for others to dive into. She plans on continuing to write and is ready to release more books to come! Stay tuned. Social Media: Blog: speakunspokenly.wordpress.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/LaNillaRose Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakunspokenly/ Smile Back is a series of six-word stories that follows a Muslim girl's journey. It covers the struggles of wearing the headscarf to loving nature. There is a battle between negative space and finding positivity. She is learning to love herself. ~ My Review ~I'll say it again that authors are "wordy." That may or may not be a word, but bear with me. It takes pages upon pages to get to the point of the story when surely it could be done with a couple of short sentences. This is the thing I'm finding about poems. A poet doesn't need pages to build an entire world, she can create, build up, and tear down worlds using only six words. I follow poet Fida Islaih on Twitter and Instagram. I've seen her, and been on the receiving end of, her encouragement and support for her fellow poets. If I could hear her speak, I'm guessing she's probably soft spoken but her voice would convey firmness, truths and give away her own convictions. I would love to hear her recite her poems to see if I'm right! This six word series takes you on a quick journey that'll make you think, make you pause for a moment about what it's like to be in her shoes, and offers a few pieces here and there that makes you just Smile Back. About the AuthorFida Islaih is a multicultural Muslim blogger and poet. She writes about her strong love for her faith and country. She shares her experiences with her faith and other life events. She loves to read realistic and historical fiction. Her other loves are chocolate and her two cats. |
Book Pick:I use Goodread's rating scale1 star – didn’t like it
2 stars – it was OK 3 stars – liked it 4 stars – really liked it 5 stars – it was so amazing, it's on my reread pile! Categories
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