Frank Herbert is not an English graduate, nor does he ever pretend to be a talented writer. Part of the magic of this novel, a classic in soft science-fiction, is that Frank breaks one of Stephen King’s cardinal rules on writing: do not share the thoughts of different characters within the same chapter. Frank. WhoContinue reading “Dune (novel, 196?)”
Category Archives: Book of the Month
This guy likes seagulls | Beginnings, a chapbook by Robert Burt (poetry, 1985)
A Canadian poet, I discovered this spiritual looking chapbook of poetry at the Goodwill in Bedford, Michigan. The question is who is Robert Burt and why is he so obsessed with seagulls? I’m not sure if I actually enjoy Burt’s more pastiche style, but it is refreshing to read a contemporary poet who likes toContinue reading “This guy likes seagulls | Beginnings, a chapbook by Robert Burt (poetry, 1985)”
Thrift store finds: Daily Stepping Stones by Helen Steiner Rice (book of poetry, 1989)
Presented as more of a series of prayers and devotionals, this slender hardback book of poetry by Helen Steiner Rice, entitled Daily Stepping Stones, is an impressive collection of religious fluff. I say that lovingly, mind you, as fluff is like cotton candy, and while sweet and simplistic in design, can often bring joy andContinue reading “Thrift store finds: Daily Stepping Stones by Helen Steiner Rice (book of poetry, 1989)”
Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me (poetry, 2006)
A small poem by author Maya Angelou. More endearing and simplistic in its expression than actual intellectual stimulation, the charm in Angelou’s words lie more in the poem’s simplicity and earnestness in expression. An inspiration in clean lines and clutter-free verse that every poet could take a note from…
Crying while hoping for poetry in Almost Home, a book by Madisen Kuhn
Christ, I’m in a bad mood, and here is a book I purchased from a Goodwill full of narrow lines and one word bars. Please William Shatner, read this poetry for us… I jest, but Christ, is every contemporary poet a fan of Charles Bukowski? Uncapitalized first person pronouns, lack of grammar, and diarrhea ofContinue reading “Crying while hoping for poetry in Almost Home, a book by Madisen Kuhn”
indeed… and very dearly – A Book of Reflections by the Franciscan Sisters of Tiffin, Ohio (chapbook, 1973)
The history of poetry, and all of human writing, doesn’t exist in established publishing houses or clever marketing departments. Most poetry we read was never intended to even see the light of day, with Robert Greene and Emily Dickinson being the most obvious examples of writers who never found much fame or fortune during theirContinue reading “indeed… and very dearly – A Book of Reflections by the Franciscan Sisters of Tiffin, Ohio (chapbook, 1973)”
How to Cure a Ghost (poetry book, 2019)
Fariha Róisín’s debut book of poetry, How to Cure a Ghost, is a classic example of how Walt Whitman’s free-spirited form of prose and Charles Bukowski’s unapologetic unconformity of lacking grammar, proper line breaks, and capitalized personal pronouns completely decimated what people consider “expressive” contemporary poetry these days. Every poet, including myself, started out withContinue reading “How to Cure a Ghost (poetry book, 2019)”
The things we don’t talk about (poetry book, 2018?)
I don’t know who Pandora Owl is, I don’t know if they’re a boy or girl, I don’t know their age. Looking for a new book of poetry to review at my main library in Toledo, I fingered upon this mysterious black chapbook tightly packed in between much bigger and important hardcover collections of poetry.Continue reading “The things we don’t talk about (poetry book, 2018?)”
All the Words I Kept Inside (book of poetry, 2024)
Simple, elegant, and yet very frustrating in the details that are left out rather than kept inside. Poet P. J. Gudka is clearly a follower of Sylvia Plath, a fellow poet who was unafraid to share her depression and all of its ugly heads it rears. There’s hurt and loneliness in Gudka’s words, but whatContinue reading “All the Words I Kept Inside (book of poetry, 2024)”
Prose poetry in the mask of spirituality | A review of Reduced to Joy by Mark Nepo
Mark Nepo is good at reflecting on emotions and creating meaningful snippets of memories he’s clearly reflected on. Spirituality, perhaps even a hint of Buddhism, is found sprinkled throughout his book. As a poet, maybe not so much. Nepo makes the mistake most SERIOUS contemporary poetry make, which is that they write prose broken upContinue reading “Prose poetry in the mask of spirituality | A review of Reduced to Joy by Mark Nepo”
The Verse Universe 