It Will Have Been So Beautiful by Amanda Shaw

(Thank you to Poetic Book Tours for providing me with the opportunity to review this book!)

 

about book:

With urgency and compassion, humor and wonder, Amanda Shaw’s It Will Have Been So Beautiful examines the many dimensions of what it means to call anything “home,” including the earth as we know it. In a manner reminiscent of Eugène Atget, who wrote “will disappear” on his photographs of turn-of-the-century Paris, Shaw captures the unique melancholy of living in a time of unknowable change.

As she explores the line between love and loss, Shaw implores us to find a more profound commitment to life in all its forms. At times playful and ironic, the poems celebrate language’s sonic capacities, probing art’s potential to move us from mourning to joy.

Advance Praise:

Alan Shapiro, acclaimed author of “Life Pig,” describes Shaw’s debut as “a beautiful and troubling book.” Shaw’s intelligence breathes life into every line, offering a rich, complex, and startlingly vivid exploration of the impact of the “enlightened” West juxtaposed with a poignant portrayal of the best and worst aspects of humanity.

Nathan McClain, author of “Previously Owned,” praises Shaw’s collection, noting that it is as interested in language itself as what language can create. With an “ear attuned to silences,” Shaw navigates the complexity of human interactions, addressing topics such as illness, home, love, and loss. The energetic collection uses a rich, musical dialect that resonates with the reader.

About the Poet:

From the time she learned to read her first word — “Boom!” — Amanda Shaw has been in love with literature and language. She earned a BA in English from Smith College and has advanced degrees in education and writing. Equally at ease in a high school classroom and a World Bank boardroom, she is an expert teacher who continues to share her belief in the power of words with students of all ages.

Amanda began her career at a public high school in Brooklyn, where she was committed to student-centered curriculum and staff development as part of NYC’s small schools movement. After nine years in the city, she moved on to teaching ESL internationally and domestically, first in Rome and now in Washington DC. Witnessing poetry’s unique impact on students’ intellectual and emotional development galvanized her own writing. In 2020, she received her MFA from the Warren Wilson Program for Writers.

In addition to actively participating in local and online writing communities, Amanda is the book review editor for Lily Poetry Review Books, where she supports emerging writers. Lily Poetry Review Books will publish her debut collection, It Will Have Been So Beautiful, in March 2024. The poems, written over 15 years, explore love and loss in personal and global contexts. For the past four years, Amanda has divided her time between New Hampshire, where she was born, and Washington, DC. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

my thoughts:

Poetry is thoughtful and precise. It can be endearing and heart wrenching. I love reading poems - they wake me up and shake me up. So, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of Amanda Shaw's debut collection of poems titled, It Will Have Been So Beautiful. Talk about the perfect treat to remedy a months-long reading drought. I picked up this book and could not stop reading. I fell in deep and loved every second spent with these poems about life, loss, identity, and home. It was all about the human experience and it was ace. I loved it!

Shaw's creativity thrummed throughout the pages. There was humor and candor within the vivid images and her clever observations were peppered with insight. What a wonderful book of poems! I highly recommend any and all fans of poetry to grab a copy ASAP - you won't want to miss out on Shaw's poetic prowess!

Thank you to Poetic Book Tours for providing me with the opportunity to review this book!

If The Sky Won't Have Me: Poems by Anne Leigh Parrish

(Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

The poems in If The Sky Won’t Have Me weave a brilliant tapestry of the human condition, focusing on nature, the female experience, family drama, aging, politics, and regret. Images of water feature strongly, as do rebirth and regeneration, both physical and spiritual. A perfect sequel to the author’s debut collection, the moon won’t be dared, these poems expand and deepen our understanding of what it means to be alive in a complex world.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love National Poetry Month. I find myself devouring poems every day and just savoring them throughout the week. It's such a treat in April, especially, when the weather is so crazy and the news is so dire. So, imagine how happy I was to get my hands on a copy of new-to-me poet, Anne Leigh Parrish's,  latest poetry collection, If The Sky Won't Have Me: Poems - hurrah! I was thrilled to bits!

This beautiful book is filled with amazing poetry that I can't stop thinking about, along with beautiful images scattered throughout. It is such a lovely book to get lost in and spend time with. The poems are chock full of powerful lines and vivid imagery, that you can't help but imagine so clearly in your mind. I really enjoyed this book so much. It's definitely one of my new favorites. 

I would happily recommend If The Sky Won't Have Me: Poems by Anne Leigh Parrish to anyone and everyone looking for a new poetry book  - you are going to fall in LOVE with this one! Make sure to check it out!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Our Wolves by Luanne Castle

(Thank you to the Poetic Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book: (summary from Goodreads)

Our Wolves looks at the identity of wolves in our everyday lives and the varied ways of viewing the wolf. For example, this character cannot be seen as merely bad or even redeemed or misunderstood, as in some interpretations of the fairy tale. Similarly, “Little Red” is not simply a victim or a representation of innocence. Instead, this collection reveals the tale as a conduit for many voices and interpretations of gender, identity, and feminism.

my thoughts:

Love, love, love! Luanne Castle's new poetry book, Our Wolves, is creative and unique. Inspired by the classic fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood, she writes poems that reimagine the characters and reinterpret their story - talk about a clever way of exploring gender and identity. These poems were heartfelt and engaging. I enjoyed slipping in and out of the book, so that I could devour each piece slowly. These poems depict "Little Red" coming of age and sometimes her journey is not an easy one to take in. 

Castle has created a fantastic collection of poetry that her readers will enjoy reading again and again. I would happily recommend Our Wolves to anyone and everyone looking for their next poetry fix - you are going to fall in deep with these poems.  So, make sure to check out this book ASAP!

Thank you to Poetic Book Tours and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

Review & Giveaway of Dear Jane by Allie Cresswell

(Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

The final installment of the Highbury trilogy, Dear Jane narrates the history of Jane Fairfax, recounting the events hinted at but never actually described in Jane Austen’s Emma.

Orphaned Jane seems likely to be brought up in parochial Highbury until adoption by her papa’s old friend Colonel Campbell opens to her all the excitement and opportunities of London. The velvet path of her early years is finite, however and tarnished by the knowledge that she must earn her own independence one day.

Frank Weston is also transplanted from Highbury, adopted as heir to the wealthy Churchills and taken to their drear and inhospitable Yorkshire estate. The glimmer of the prize which will one day be his is all but obliterated by the stony path he must walk to claim it.

Their paths meet at Weymouth, and readers of Emma will be familiar with the finale of Jane and Frank’s story. Dear Jane pulls back the veil which Jane Austen drew over their early lives, their meeting in Weymouth and the agony of their secret engagement.

my thoughts:

As a fan of Austen's beloved novel, Emma, I just knew that I would be in for a treat with Dear Jane, the final book in Allie Cresswell's fantastic Highbury trilogy.  A story that focuses on the personal history of Jane Fairfax, a somewhat mysterious character from Emma - how could I resist, right? Plus, this last book in the trilogy reads like a standalone novel, so I don't feel like I'm missing out since I haven't read the first two books (although that will soon be rectified).  Talk about a fun and exciting read! I couldn't wait to dive right in.

In Cresswell's story we learn about Jane and Frank Churchill and finally get to understand how these two fell in love.  We see them adjusting to their lives and learning to navigate these new worlds they are now a part of, but don't feel a part of. We see Jane as fun, engaging, thoughtful, and itching for her independence.  And we see the story of Emma from Jane's perspective - her take on the situation, which I thought was just great. I loved meeting familiar characters (Emma, Mr. Knightley) in this book - Cresswell does a wonderful job with them. Plus, getting to know Frank was terrific - to finally be able to gain an understanding about his actions was great. I absolutely enjoyed every minute I spent with Jane and Frank. Such a delightful read. I would most definitely recommend Dear Jane to fans of Cresswell and fans of Austen - you will LOVE this book to bits!!

GIVEAWAY:
Enter to win a copy of Dear Jane as part of this book blog tour using this Rafflecopter link - good luck!!

Here's the link to the Poetic Book Tours schedule for: Dear Jane

Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

How to Love the Empty Air by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

(Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

Vulnerable, beautiful and ultimately life-affirming, Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz’s work reaches new heights in her revelatory seventh collection of poetry. Continuing in her tradition of engaging autobiographical work, How to Love the Empty Air explores what happens when the impossible becomes real―for better and for worse. Aptowicz’s journey to find happiness and home in her ever-shifting world sees her struggling in cities throughout America. When her luck changes―in love and in life―she can’t help but “tell the sun / tell the fields / tell the huge Texas sky…. / tell myself again and again until I believe it.” However, the upward trajectory of this new life is rocked by the sudden death of the poet’s mother. In the year that follows, Aptowicz battles the silencing power of grief with intimate poems burnished by loss and a hard-won humor, capturing the dance that all newly grieving must do between everyday living and the desire “to elope with this grief, / who is not your enemy, / this grief who maybe now is your best friend. / This grief, who is your husband, / the thing you curl into every night, / falling asleep in its arms…” As in her award-winning The Year of No Mistakes, Aptowicz counts her losses and her blessings, knowing how despite it all, life “ripples boundless, like electricity, like joy / like… laughter, irresistible and bright, / an impossible thing to contain.”

How to Love the Empty Air brilliantly illuminates why we read poetry, and why poetry is needed. We read it to see another person’s unique experience, but also to help us clarify our own. And we read it to reassure ourselves that what we experience and feel it part of a larger human drama that we all share. Cristin reminds readers how huge, life-shifting events are totally unique and personal—and yet, they are also universal.

my thoughts:

Wow. Just wow.

Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz' book of poems titled, How to Love the Empty Air, is absolutely amazing.  It is filled with beautiful, heartbreaking, and unforgettable poetry.  Every second I spent with this book was pure bliss. I am a lover of words and a lover of poetry.  This book was seriously one of the best books of poetry I've read in ages. It was thoughtful, engaging, and emotional. The poems were extraordinary in their ability to capture the essence of grief and loss so authentically and realistically.

I can see myself reading this book again and again; highlighting, memorizing, and writing these poems down in my journal. This book will sit on my shelf for years to come and I will pick it up when I need to be reminded of the universal nature of grief and loss.  Aptowicz is a must-read poet.  She creates emotions and truths with her words in such a relatable manner, you can't help but connect with her poetry.  I would definitely recommend this book to her fans and to poetry lovers looking for a new book of poems to fall in love with.

Here's the link to the Poetic Book Tours schedule for: How to Love the Empty Air

Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Kinship of Clover: A Novel by Ellen Meeropol

(Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

He was nine when the vines first wrapped themselves around him and burrowed into his skin. Now a college botany major, Jeremy is desperately looking for a way to listen to the plants and stave off their extinction. But when the grip of the vines becomes too intense and Health Services starts asking questions, he flees to Brooklyn, where fate puts him face to face with a group of climate-justice activists who assure him they have a plan to save the planet, and his plants.
 
As the group readies itself to make a big Earth Day splash, Jeremy soon realizes these eco-terrorists devotion to activism might have him and those closest to him tangled up in more trouble than he was prepared to face. With the help of a determined, differently abled flame from his childhood, Zoe; her deteriorating, once rabble-rousing grandmother; and some shocking and illuminating revelations from the past, Jeremy must weigh completing his mission to save the plants against protecting the ones he loves, and confront the most critical question of all: how do you stay true to the people you care about while trying to change the world?

my thoughts:

What a book! So many important topics tackled - environmental issues, mental health, memory loss, activism, etc. - in such an engaging and thought-provoking story.  I just loved Meeropol's writing - fluid, smart, and imaginative.  The characters she creates are relatable, strong, and forthright in their beliefs - I enjoyed getting to know them all. Especially, Flo.  She was my favorite part of the entire story.  An elderly gal struggling to maintain her identity as an activist, all the while dealing with the effects of Alzheimer's.  Talk about a tough cookie!

Kinship of Clover was a terrific story that truly tugged at the heartstrings. I found myself rooting for these characters - hoping they would thrive and survive whatever battles they faced.  I read late into the night, unable to put this book down for anything. I enjoyed Meeropol's storytelling so much - it was captivating!  I feel like there is so much to say about this book, but I can't seem to find the right words.  Just know that I loved every minute I spent with it. I would definitely recommend it to fans of Meeropol's works and anyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE Kinship of Clover to bits!!

Here's the link to the Poetic Book Tours schedule for: Kinship of Clover

Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!

Stranger Than Life: 1970-2013 Cartoons and Comics by M.K. Brown

about book:

M.K. Brown is one of the funniest cartoonists of the last four decades — or ever, take your pick — and her body of work has long been savored by aficionados but never comprehensively collected — until now. Stranger Than Life is the first retrospective of Brown’s cartoons and comics from their original appearances in the National Lampoon, Mother Jones, The New Yorker, Playboy, and other magazines and underground comics.

M.K. Brown’s comics stories satirize suburban anxiety and post-modern ennui by the sheer force of her gentle but piquant, off-kilter observations, along with her slightly pixilated but winsome characters, all of which are perfectly captured in her restless pen line and delicate jewel-tone watercolors.

In these pages: Read instructions for the use of glue, making a pair of pants, home auto repair, coping with chainsaw massacres, and jackknifing your big rig. “Another True-Life Pretty Face in the Field of Medicine” introduces Virginia Spears Ngodátu, who (with a bit of a name change) would go on to star in “Dr. Janice N!Godatu,” Brown’s series of animated shorts that appeared on The Tracy Ullman Show alongside the first incarnation of The Simpsons. Plus, enjoy aliens, old people, pilgrims, mermen, monitor lizards, tiny floating muggers and other weirdos in Brown’s side-splitting single-panel gag strips.


my thoughts:

I love reading the comics in the paper.  Its the first thing I do on a Sunday morning, because they always make me laugh.  I have to admit that Dilbert is my favorite.  Back in the day, I used to love Cathy, Peanuts, Marmaduke, Garfield, and Family Circus. So, yeah, I've been reading them for quite some time.  And cartoons were my jam. Who didn't love watching cartoons growing up?  Of course, I still watched them when I was grown up - The Simpsons! Oh, and Arthur - yes, that adorable aardvark who loves to read. Even now, I re-watch old episodes of Daria - my sis bought me the DVD and I can't resist watching Daria and Jane mocking their classmates.  So, when I was asked to read Brown's anthology of her cartoons and comics - how could I resist?  I am always looking for new and interesting things to read.  Plus, I just knew that this book by revered cartoonist, M.K. Brown, would be a treat to read. And boy, was I right!?

M.K. Brown has a reputation for creating smart, quirky, warped, funny comics with a rather zany and oddball sense of humor.  They are the kind that make you think and laugh at the same time.  They are chock full of astute and very skewed observations on life - think hilarious and insightful combined.  This compendium provides a thorough sampling of her work, ranging from the 1970s to 2013.  You can see how she grows into her work over the years - the cartoons just get sharper and funnier. She really hones her sense of humor and provides quite the interesting social commentary on a variety of topics. Getting to read through her work was so much fun.  I really enjoyed getting to know her work through this amazing book.  Fans of her comics and cartoons will devour Stranger Than Life with glee.  And anyone looking for something new and great to read will just love this book!  It truly is a must-read!  I absolutely loved it!

Here's the link to the Poetic Book Tour schedule for: Stranger Than Life

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book!!

Chaos Comes to Longbourn by Victoria Kincaid

(Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!)

about book:

This humorous Pride and Prejudice variation begins at the Netherfield ball. While attempting to suppress his desire to dance with Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy flees the ballroom only to stumble upon a half-dressed Lydia Bennet in the library. After a shrieking, nerve-stricken Mrs. Bennet discovers them in this compromising position, Darcy is forced to make Lydia an offer of marriage.

A few weeks later, Bingley returns from London to discover that a heartbroken Jane has accepted an offer from Collins. Bingley instead proposes to Elizabeth, who accepts with the hope of reuniting him with Jane. Now Darcy must cope with jealousy toward Bingley and a fiancée who longs to get her hands on the grand estate of “Pembleton” (or is it “Peckersly?”). Lydia, in turn, is jealous that Wickham has proposed to Charlotte Lucas—who (much to Wickham’s dismay) does not find red coats nearly as appealing as clerical collars.

Although Darcy yearns for Elizabeth, he feels honor bound by his promise to Lydia. Elizabeth has also developed feelings for the master of Pemberley, but he has never seemed so far out of her reach. How can Darcy and Elizabeth unravel this tangle of hilariously misbegotten betrothals and reach their happily ever after?

my thoughts:

Chaos most certainly comes to Longbourn in this Pride & Prejudice variation by historical romance writer,Victoria Kincaid.  Yep, we have a bevy of mismatched couples that will have any Austen fan hyperventilating with shock and dismay.  I'm one of those Austen fans, so believe me its true! I was horrified to see Darcy paired with Lydia - the horror, the horror!  He happens to be in the wrong place at precisely the wrong moment and before you know it he's forced to propose to her - ack!  Oh, and don't get me started on the other three mismatched couples: Jane and Collins; Lizzy and Bingley; and Charlotte and Wickham.  Can you imagine!?! Well, Kincaid did and it made for quite a funny and engaging read.  I absolutely enjoyed getting caught up in all of the drama that ensues as a result of these four unlikely pairings.  Its pretty obvious how miserable and unhappy these couples are, but they manage to "keep calm and carry on."  Okay, not really.  Instead, they plot and plan to get themselves reunited with their true loves, which made for quite an unputdownable read.

I just LOVED Chaos Comes to Longbourn - it was such a treat to read! The writing was smart, the characters familiar and beloved, and the story was terrific!  I can't wait to read more of Kincaid's works. And I would happily recommend Chaos Comes to Longbourn to fans of Kincaid's writing and fans of Austen - you will fall in LOVE with this book!!

Here's the link to the Poetic Book Tour schedule for: Chaos Comes to Longbourn

Thank you to the publisher and Poetic Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!