Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Postcards from Poland, by Joseph Kuhn Carey is the author's graceful description of the Polish cities of Krakow and Zakopane through poems. The poems describe the history, sights and life in these cities in a brilliant writing style. From people, buildings, art, culture, food, social life and everything in between, Joseph Kuhn Carey uses his words to paint vivid pictures of these two cities - the life that was and the life that is. With each new poem, he finds something fresh about his visit to these two beautiful cities.

Postcards from Poland by Joseph Kuhn Carey is a collection of deeply descriptive poems about the cities of Krakow and Zakopane, their history, set up and life in general as seen through the eyes of an avid poet. If you have been to Krakow and Zakopane, these poems will rouse fond memories and if you haven't been there yet, you will be left with a deep longing to visit. With each new poem, something new and exciting about these cities is revealed, and page by page, Krakow and Zakopane unfold right before your eyes.

And it is not just about the brilliantly described sights and history of the cities; these poems evoked a serene feeling in me. Reading Joseph Kuhn Carey's poems felt like sitting by the fire reading postcards from a dear friend who cannot wait to share beautiful memories of their travel. Postcards from Poland by Joseph Kuhn Carey is a well-crafted traveler's journal with a poetic twist; a unique way to document a traveler's memories.

Reviewed by Teodora Totorean for Readers' Favorite

Bleeding Gull: Look, Feel, Fly by Raed Anis Al-Jishi is a collection of poems exploring universal themes such as life, death and love as well as more contemporary ones like cancer and autism. The poems are short, fitting on one page, but the imagery and the messages are strong and thought provoking, leaving the reader in a meditative state. Verses like “My habit is being free/ And it could torture me” (A Habit), “Why can’t I/ Have a simple answer/ For a simple question?” (Blindness) or “Faces are deceiving/ Without their masks” (Masks) are philosophical observations expressed in simple but powerful words. The voice is sometimes feminine (when talking about breast cancer or waxing) offering readers many facets that one can identify with. In other words, there is a poem for everyone.

I read each poem at least twice before getting to the next one and so on. These are the kind of poems that need to be taken in, assimilated and consumed slowly. The collection is unitary regarding the style and voice. Each poem is carefully polished so they all belong together in this volume. The poems are sensitive and feminine so I wasn’t surprised when I learned that Raed Anis Al-Jishi a feminist and a human rights poet. Written in free verse, the collection Bleeding Gull: Look, Feel, Fly has a poetic rhythm that incites you to look within yourself, feel love, sadness and happiness, and fly into the abyss of your own universe.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

The Last White Ruby: The Vanishing Polar Circles is a collection of poetry written by Ronnie J. Smith. Smith is a professional aviator whose flights took him over both poles, and he was also the in-theater Commander of Operation Deep Freeze which enabled him to spend 2005-2008 in Antarctica. His poetry shows the deep inspiration he gathered from his flights over, and time spent, on the ground in the polar regions. Many of his works are free verse and rely upon the pairings of sound and sense to impart their own internal rhythms. In Iluliaq, the sound and sense pairings work with the repeated refrains to heighten the tension and reflect the subject of the waves lapping on the ice.

Smith’s work is rich in imagery that builds the mood at the same time that it creates endless vistas in the reader’s mind’s eye. He frequently uses alliteration and the repetition of vowel sounds to marry the form of his words to the sense of his subject. In The Only Road, the lines: “Star-eyed falcons stun/ Those frozen seas” illustrate his use of alliteration in a palindromic form that’s evocative, pleasing to the ear and dramatic. At times, Smith’s use of refrains creates a chant-like rhythm; a music that seems to stamp and roll and immerse itself into the reader’s consciousness.

I must confess that I have long been enraptured by the polar regions, and have spent untold hours enchanted by the tales of those explorers Smith memorializes in his poetry, and awed by the photographic images of those icy wastes and the harsh grandeur. And while I’ve never been more than an armchair adventurer in those polar climes, I felt, reading The Last White Ruby, as though I were in the presence of a kindred spirit, albeit one whose adventures are indeed first-hand.

Smith’s words capture the magic, mystery and majesty of his subject, and I frequently found myself reading the same lines aloud over and over, letting my tongue and mind taste the meeting of form and sense. His images are crystalline and flowing all at once, and his style is reminiscent of that of the Victorian poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Edgar Allan Poe. I was drawn to Smith’s tributes to Amundsen, Shackleton and Hillary, and bemoaned anew the plight of Scott’s ponies in Sonnet to the South Pole Ponies.

The Last White Ruby is the real deal. It’s a collection of marvelous poetry that spoke so directly to me that I’m still seeing vast white canyons, summer dusks flowing into dawn and the ineffable sadness of what has been irretrievably lost. The Last White Ruby: The Vanishing Polar Circles is most highly recommended.

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Life, Sex & Death - A Poetry Collection (Vol 1) by David Ellis is an intriguing collection of close to a hundred beautiful poems touching on a broad range of vital topics from inspiration, way of life, love, and everything in between. David Ellis shared a ton of deeply insightful knowledge through these poems and every reader will find something that speaks to them, irrespective of mood and/or situation. It is simply amazing how he captured meanings so deep and versatile without the need to use too many words. Each poem brings something new to the table and adds an extra layer of emotions and intrigue; whatever your mood and whatever you are searching for, you will find something in here that you will relate to or learn from.

Life, Sex & Death - A Poetry Collection (Vol 1) by David Ellis has a poem for everyone and for every mood and occasion; whether you are looking for a heart-warming read about love and romance, some words of inspiration and self-help, or just an unprejudiced take on life, there is something in here for you. You will be beyond amazed by how diverse the content is, and how all the poems stay genuinely relevant, irrespective of theme. For each poem, the title is as intriguing as the main content is filled with moving depth. David Ellis perfectly blends the emotional depth of the poems with writing that makes them light and fun to read, ensuring that readers enjoy a balanced and captivating experience.

Reviewed by Sarah Stuart for Readers' Favorite

Letters: Building an Alphabet with Art and Attitude (ABC… the Art and Poetry of the English Alphabet Explained in a Philosophical Verse of Rhythm and Rhyme) by Peter N. Liptak is a light-hearted discourse on the twenty-six letters that make up the English alphabet. Cleverly and colourfully illustrated by Lynn Tsan, it is a fascinating book for adults, and very possibly one that would prompt a lively discussion in a high school classroom setting. The poems each have their own rhythmic flow that deludes the reader into viewing them as traditional rhyming verse; they are actually freestyle, crafted by a talented poet with a love of language and the art of creating life with words.

Peter N. Liptak has fashioned twenty-five truly brilliant freestyle poems and combined them with apt illustrations by Lynn Tsan in his book, Letters: Building an Alphabet with Art and Attitude. Twenty-five, not twenty-six, because The Archways of m & n combine two letters. I loved them all, but I do have a favourite. It is Sifting Through Circles of C: “Open-ended at its inception, Your eyes led to the circled reception Of the perception of C’s conception.” That is an ideal example of Peter N. Liptak’s freestyle rhyme; two of the earlier lines end in fit and moon, and all vary in length. Letters: Building an Alphabet with Art and Attitude is a book to treasure and every reader will enjoy choosing their own favourite poem.

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Paintings: A Collection Of Lyrical Tales is an inspirational mix of poems, photographs and art composed by Kelley Lee McDonald. Each poem is preceded by a photograph or illustration that creates an impression echoed by the poem. Some poems discuss the author's past life and memories, while others reflect the nature photographs that precede them. The poet writes in a loose mix of free verse and rhyme, which creates a stream of consciousness effect. The reader is invited to read backwards and forwards and see how the words of each line merge and gain meaning. There are a number of graphic and city images, as well as an impressive collection of nature photographs.

Kelley Lee McDonald's eclectic inspirational poetry collection, Paintings: A Collection Of Lyrical Tales, is a heart-felt and ferociously brave memoir in verse. I was enchanted by her nature photographs: you can see the delicate hairs lining the iris and almost see yourself in the reflection of a hawk's eye. There are marvelous sunsets, cloud pictures and snowy winter landscapes. The poet's poem, His Name Is My Father, is perhaps my favorite, and is, in my opinion, the strongest piece in the collection. McDonald's poetic voice is clearest in this work, and her focus is laser-sharp on the images she remembers of this man, the nuances of their relationship and the legacies he left her. The photograph that precedes this work speaks loudly and eloquently to the poem and its subject. Paintings is also a beautifully prepared and presented work that is a joy to look at and appreciate. Paintings: A Collection Of Lyrical Tales is highly recommended.

Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Kernel of Vedic Truth by Dev Bhattacharyya, as the title suggests, is a synopsis of some of the most revered and ancient Vedic texts from India. Kernel of Vedic Truth borrows from and explains the religious and spiritual contexts stated in the Bhagavata Purana and the Bhakti Sutra of Sandilya. Both of these texts are ancient Hindu Vedic texts that have tried to explain and answer many of the fundamental questions that we, as human beings, still ask ourselves today: Who are we? Where did we come from? Where do we go after this? What is the meaning of life? Kernel of Vedic Truth tries to capture the essence of these two great texts and convey the meaning in short, simple paragraphs that almost read like a beautiful poem. A glossary of Sanskrit words and their meanings is also provided at the end of the book.

Dev Bhattacharyya has done a wonderful job translating and, more importantly, conveying the original meaning and message of these two great texts. I absolutely loved taking my time and reading about the cosmos, the cycle of life and death, Karma and how good and bad deeds affect your life, the spiritual path to becoming Brahma or Enlightened, the practice of Yoga and meditation, and so much more. The book is written in a ballad style which is very easy to read and understand. Many of the verses tell a story within a story and some have layered meanings. This is definitely a book worth reading many times over, as I got a sense that the more times I read it, the more I will get out of it. Overall, I loved this book and would very highly recommend it.

Reviewed by Lisa Jones for Readers' Favorite

Goddess In The Silence by Robert Ahanes is a beautiful book full of the most delightful poetry. The author offers some diverse and interesting pieces. Greek mythology is an obvious influence in several of the poems and for me, personally, they were by far my favourite. There was a mixture of stanzas used which was wonderful as it added an air of freshness to the book. The other interesting aspect was the darker and deadlier pieces which stood out for me. They were imaginative and made this book unique.

Robert Ahanes delivers his exceptional poetry in the book entitled Goddess In The Silence. This is such an apt title for his work. It was an explosive book from start to finish and the opening poem about Medusa has got to be one of my all time favorites. I loved the author's darker side and my imagination was on overdrive the more I read. This book is creative and adventurous, which I found very exciting. There is something for everyone and for me it has got to be in my top three in the poetry genre that I have read this year. I would recommend this to anyone who wants something new and different which can awaken the senses, as this book certainly does that. The author is extremely talented and has put his heart and soul into his work, which is clear to see. I look forward to reading more of his exciting work in the future.

Reviewed by Charity Tober for Readers' Favorite

Lessons: Shattered Pieces Being Restored by LaDonna Marie is an inspirational and self-motivational read. The book follows the stories of three different girls, Chantel, Casey and Mandy, as they navigate this hard journey called life. The author writes a short scenario for each girl, explaining their current place in their lives, along with their feelings, and then utilizes multiple thought-provoking poems to further express the feelings and resolutions for each situation. LaDonna Marie covers a multitude of common situations, such as bullying, past regrets, anger, parental loss, self-esteem and love, to name just a few.

I found Lessons: Shattered Pieces Being Restored to be such a beautiful book. The poems were inspiring, lyrical as well as reflective. The author takes a Christian viewpoint to show people that life is worth living, each person has worth and no matter what, everyone can prevail if they just try. Nothing is too hard or too bleak to overcome. The book directs readers to have faith that God will see you through, and to believe that you can beat all odds and make it. I would recommend this book to young (tween to teen) girls especially, as I believe they can relate to the struggles and lives of the three young girls mentioned. Parents with teen children can benefit from reading this book as well, as the author provides so many inspirational and motivational solutions to dealing with life issues. A positive mindset is a powerful tool when dealing with life’s hardships. Kudos to LaDonna Marie for providing such an empowering book.

Reviewed by Nandita Keshavan for Readers' Favorite

Ballad Divine is a unique translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Dev Bhattacharya, written in verse form. The Gita was intended to be an epic poem and, in translating it into verse form, the English reader can appreciate the beauty and drama of this form. The emotions and moods of the two camps preparing for battle are captured well and then ensues one of the greatest treatises in Hinduism where Krishna instructs Arjuna as to why fighting the enemy is his moral duty, and several other gems of wisdom regarding human life and spirituality.

The passages are organised into chapters, named to highlight the content. Due to the dramatic and poetic quality of the verse, this book could inspire adaptations of the Gita in play or film format. For a modern day audience, it is essential to have clear translations of spiritual texts. Not only can one appreciate the philosophy and logic in this work, but also the aesthetic beauty of the verses which explain the meaning and importance of yoga and balance for spiritual well being.

Being secure in the supreme is an important theme in this work, which many spiritual seekers in Kali Yuga will pursue in understanding. I highly recommend this translation of the Gita to anyone interested in a straightforward version without extra commentary. At the end of the book, the author has included the original verses in Sanskrit, and also a transliteration with English meaning in brackets. This would appeal to learners of Sanskrit and also readers interested in appreciating the beauty of the original Sanskrit verses. I highly recommend this work for spiritual seekers and philosophers alike.