Poetry Book Reviews | Self-Publishing Review

Every Awful Thing by S.E. Bourne

S.E. Bourne unleashes her life through language in the standout collection of flash fiction and poetry, Every Awful Thing.

This collection is an acknowledgment of struggle, a tour de force of vulnerability, and a celebration of life’s arcing flow. There is a gritty, matter-of-fact feel to Bourne’s early pieces, but the tone matures along with the writer as she moves through her own scattered memoir. From her youthful thieving antics and teenage chambermaid duties to Mexican road trips and cigars on the Mag Mile, the first half of this collection sparks with energy and potential in every direction. The flash […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-20T10:51:14+02:00May 25th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews, Short Stories Book Reviews|

The Humbling and Other Poems by Robert J. Tiess

A momentous and impressive display of carefully crafted poetry, The Humbling and Other Poems by Robert J. Tiess is a complex yet accessible collection.

Balancing experimental rhyme schemes and free verse poems with traditional patterns and melodic bursts of language, the breadth of Tiess’ technical skill is impressive. Meticulous in his meter and self-imposed structures, it is clear how much curation and editing has gone into every line of this collection. The imagery ranges from predictable and iconic to radically creative and clever, but the rhythmic flow of word choice stands out as the most exceptional element.

Broken into seven […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2023-06-05T12:57:00+02:00May 5th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Song of a Lotus Leaf by Renhui

With a reverent pen and an enlightened mind, Renhui delivers a restorative collection of poetry with Song of a Lotus Leaf. As the title implies, this is classic meditative poetry about the inherent and simplistic beauty of the world, but there is a strong base of self-examination beneath the surface of these observational pieces.

Acknowledging the clear divide in her years, between lifetimes in China and the United States, she also blurs the lines of experience and memory, making this polished collection both a memoir and a guidebook – a tome of appreciation, presence, and peace. While some of the […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-06T06:01:49+02:00March 29th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Rise by Henry Lee Thomas

Broken up into distinct thematic sections – “Love & Family,” “Spiritual & Inspirational,” “Nature,” and “Philosophical & Social” – followed by a short fiction section, Rise: Poetry for Lovers and Thinkers by Henry Lee Thomas covers an impressively wide sprawl of topics and poetic forms.

Some of the pieces follow traditional rhyme schemes in this varied collection, while others are more narrative and free in their flow. The romance-inspired poetry reveals an intense, hot-hearted passion that the poet doesn’t always know how to control. Desperation and deep desire conspire in these poems, along with a see-saw of joy and struggle […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-05-03T07:43:06+02:00March 28th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Review: Penelope and Ulysses by Zenovia

An unforgettable story of love, longing, and loss comes to life on a new stage in Penelope and Ulysses by Zenovia. The titular characters have been studied and admired for more than 2,500 years, so any author exploring such legendary lives must bring something truly original to the table, which Zenovia certainly achieves.

This work is written in the style of dramatic verse, with only a handful of acts and scenes, but stunning in its poetic grace and depth of storytelling. The eternal relationship between Ulysses and Penelope is at the forefront, as well as the machinations that led Ulysses […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-03-10T04:16:09+02:00March 9th, 2022|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Eternal Seconds by Andrew Chiniche

Poet Andrew Chiniche celebrates the concepts of magick and sensuality in the embrace of the goddess in his tranquil collection of poems, Eternal Seconds.

Themes of longing for love and the touch of his adored are visceral as each short piece brings forth emotions awash with reverie. Although each piece is meant to be read independently as a work in its own right, the book holds a narrative journey as each page turns, pushing the reader to explore cosmic ideas of time and space. A mystical love affair expands as the seconds tick down, and the poet pays tribute […]

Cate Baum2022-02-22T08:29:51+02:00February 22nd, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|

Rotten Fruit in an Unkempt Garden by Michael Nanfito

A raw, unusual, and unforgettable memoir, Rotten Fruit in an Unkempt Garden by Michael Nanfito is a collection of personal essays, poetry, art, quotes, and reflections that encapsulate a remarkable life and an inspiring worldview.

Exploring outlaw living, alternative perspectives, and universal themes of lost love and opportunity, this patchwork offering of thoughts and memories is powerful and intimate. The opening section focuses heavily on religion, and Nanfito’s experience with patriarchal betrayals, both psychological and physical, and closes on a damning note: “We’ve yet to evict these faithless landlords / from the spaces that were always ours.” The writing then […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-14T06:49:16+02:00January 14th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Memoir Book Reviews, Poetry Book Reviews|

The Living Wound by Shamir Kali Griffin

A stirring collection that feels both ancient and contemporary, The Living Wound: Conquering Hope and Loss (Urban Poetry & Soul Book 4) by Shamir Kali Griffin is a testament to resilience and healing, for individuals and for the world.

Like other books in this powerful series, this is a kaleidoscopic memoir in verse and experimental storytelling. As the title implies, these pieces reveal a myriad of griefs, both great and small, physical and abstract, societal and psychological. Painful confessions and nakedly honest revelations abound: “Today I took a breath praying to die / Hoping that this last one would be […]

John Staughton, Senior Reviewer2022-01-07T07:20:40+02:00January 7th, 2022|Categories: New Releases|Tags: Poetry Book Reviews|