Bull by David Elliot

I prowl 

    The senseless alleys 

         Of the maze

In the darkness 

     And asphyxiating 

          Solitude. 

There used to be a monster. Half man and half bull. Often ridiculed, he became the face of the evil. Then came a prince who slayed the monster and everyone lived happily ever after. It is quite heard of Greek myth. Goodness triumphs over evil and that's how a great tale is born which is told over and over to the generations to come. But what happens when the evil side is given a voice. 

David Elliot has done a wonderful work in this retelling of the tale of Minotaur.

Cover page

The cover contains the illustration of a bull which, no doubt, is Minotaur. Inside the face of the bull is the nursery that Asterion sings. The idea to keep the cover page simple is lovely. The slight glimpse of different narrative style in the book is interesting. The composition is great.  

Characters 

The book is essentially the story of Asterion or Minotaur as we all know it. But each character is given a voice of his own. 

The sea god Poseidon is offended by a deed and he decides to punish. He is naughty and proud. He is a god and he knows it. 

Minos is the king of Crete and half father of Minotaur. Pasiphae is the wife of Minos. She is also the bearer of the animosity between Minos and the God of the sea. There are several other characters which are mentioned in the myth too, each serving their part well. All the characters are great epic. 

Content 

It is the story of the non-winners in a mythological tale. This is what makes the story extraordinary. 

Minotaur here is given a chance to narrate his side of the story. The book begins with the pride of Poseidon and anger of Minos. Poseidon, when disrespected, casts a spell of Pasiphae as a result of which she fornicates with a bull. This unusual copulation gives birth to Asterion. Pasiphae is advised to throw the child off the cliff or into the ocean, but the mother's affection does not allow her. Asterion lives but his life is a living hell. He does not make friends. Hell, he cannot even talk because of his thick lips. He grows up to modified nursery rhymes and self-loathing. 

Mommy had a little calf.
Little calf.
Little calf.
Mommy has a little calf.
His nose is black as tar. 

The entire book reveals the depressing side of Asterion's story, even though the myth remains the same. 

Language 

The way the story is written is the highlight of the book. The book originally meant for teenage reading is sure to become a sensation among other age groups too. The bluntness and pride of Poseidon, the anger of Minos, the helplessness of Pasiphae and the self-hatred of Asterion is aptly described. 

The poetic narration is catchy. It keeps the story rolling and helps you understand the temperament of each character. There is a mix of literary tools used, which convey the skill possessed by the author. 

Adriane, Minotaur's sister promises the Bull that there is a plan. The thrill is revealed in one word in each page. The spaces are used in narration with panache. The thrill and the sorrow are aptly expressed with the spacing amongst each word and sentence. 

This is definitely the best-narrated books I have read in a while. 

Good points 

The cover is beautiful. It is definitely one to own hard copy of. The characters are unique, we all know. But here they are quite relatable. The content is from the perspective of the losers. It is definitely to watch out for. But it is the narration that takes the cake away. A book which is narrated well makes a mark on the readers for life. This one surely has done the job well. 

Bad points 

The length is short. The book finishes soon. It leaves you wishing for more. But isn't it with all great books? 

Overall 

This is definitely one of the best books I have read this year. 

Whom do I recommend this to 

This is for those who like a great narration. Those who like the retelling of classic tales are going to enjoy it too. I recommend it to all the readers alike. This one is not to be missed. 

Quotable quotes 

Poseidon 

What?
You think a god should be more refined?
All touchy-feely?
No bump and grind?
Never uncouth?
Pure of mouth?
Pure of heart?
Never belch
Or swear
Or scratch himself
Or fart?
Never
Bawdy
Raunchy
Racy
Rude?
News flash:
You don't want a God.
You want a prude. 

Asterion 

I'd fly away. I"d leave them all behind.
Then they'd look up.
Instead of down on me. 

Asterion 

I watch Androgeos and try
To be like him.
But a rock can never fly.
A stone can't swim.
Poseidon
I'm talkin' 'bout physics.
If it goes up, baby,
It's comin' down. 

Adriane 

There's danger in sanity. 

Poseidon 

Along with that sorry hive
Of thirteen sacrificial goats
Don't tell me.
I know: Since I said hive
I should call it bees.
But I'm Poseidon.
I do what I please:
Call heaven a hell,
A ceiling a floor.
So I mix my metaphors,
Grin and swallow.
I'm Poseidon. Not Apollo.

I received an ARC of the book from the publisher. The opinion is my own, completely uninfluenced. 

Neon Soul by Alexandra Elle

This compilation of poems by Alexandra Elle is a wonderful read for anyone at all, simply due to its very appealing writing style. Here is my experience of reading this poetry book that came out very recently.

DNF: I Love My Love by Reyna Biddy

This is one of those books which you believe you will love but ultimately you tire of how much time it takes for it to make sense to you. I gave it up in between. I was half way through he book and I gave it up. It was testing my patience a lot which annoyed me towards the end. 

I love my love is essentially a poetry collection which focuses on your own insecurities, self discovery and letting yourself fall in love. While the collection seemed quite interesting in the beginning it started getting repetitive pages after pages. The same emotions are depicted in different words. The similar feeling of melancholy is spread over the book like dull clouds. Some of the lines in the poems are beautiful while the others are just crude. It does not even give you enough time to delve on the previous poem. I took enough breaks between reading the poems but I still couldn't get through the entire book. I DNFed it.

Alternate Opinion: Bitter Sweet Love by Michael Faudet

Bitter Sweet Love, as the title suggests different flavors of love as we come across it. The book is a collection of poetry and short stories prodding the many dimensions of love. Some poems are deep and some are very simple. But what I liked the most in the book is short prose. They display a physical and mental escapism which is alluring. 'The Boardwalk' being my favorite, explores time travel. Other stories display his love affair with multiple women over the period of time. Lucy is the star of the book, though. The stories featuring her are more attention grabbing than most. 

The poems and one-liners are beautiful too, but they somehow fail to hold attention. Frequent use of 'electricity' to describe any tingling feeling is annoying. 

The author hates goodbyes. Therefore he invites the readers down the rabbit hole. It is a sweet parting message. 

Overall, I liked the collection. Loved some of the writings but just liked the book as a collection.

the princess saves herself in this one by Amanda Lovelace

My recent interest in different forms of poetry and feminist literature has brought me to 'The Princess Saves Herself In This One'. This book of poems has been appreciated by many poetry lovers and book bloggers alike. Therefore I decided to give this one a shot. Also, the title drew me in at first sight. Who doesn't want to be her own knight in shining armor. This book turned out to be everything I had hoped for. 

Cover page 

The cover page is a glimpse of the poetry inside. It is plain and simple. The title is off-centered on the page, like some of the poems inside. There seems to be a no-nonsense approach in the poetry inside and that is seen in the typography too. The same is reflected in the cover page. 

The straight to the point approach of the cover is much appreciated. It is a brilliant cover design.

Content 

The book is divided into four parts. The first section is called 'the princess'. Here the poems are more juvenile. The content inside focuses on the ripe age of a girl where she is mostly dependent on others. The poet writes about fat shaming, parental negligence, her indulgence in books due to lack of friends and first love which hurt. The poet here is trying to be the daughter that her parents had in mind. She is waiting for the knight in shining armor without realising that she could rescue herself. The first section of the poems is filled with innocence. 

The second part of the book is about 'the damsel' who is rescued from a tower without realising she was only trading one tower for another. There is again, some love and a lot of hurt. At this point, she is already fearing big bad wolves. She is also coping with the death of a loved one. 

The third section is that of 'the queen'. Here she is the sole ruler of her kingdom. She has realised that she can be her own happy ending. The poems are strong and direct. There is a glimpse of rejoice seen in the lines. She has also learned to believe in love and give it a chance. 

The fourth and final part is of 'you'. The poet here is directly talking to the readers. She is encouraging and accusing. 

The poems are very direct and hard hitting. The poet asks people to treat others better if they do not want to end up in other's poems. She is brash and unapologetic. The text inside takes the shape of the feelings inside. Sometimes the letters form a heart and sometimes they are just scattered like stars in the sky. The words are far apart, like the poet is counting words. Like she wants every word to mean something, hit hard like a stone in the ear. 

Language 

Poems are very simple to understand. These are just a few words put out on paper, arranged in a way to convey the direct message. The poet often talks in terms of 'I' and 'You', directly addressing the readers. There is no escaping from the truth and the pain that you have caused her. The poems seem to reach you till your bone, there is no hiding from what you have done.

Good points 

The cover page is beautiful. Not to look at but to feel it. Once the content inside is read the cover feels like a poem on its own. The poems are stunning. They are outrageous, accusing, but stunning all the same. The aches of being a woman and other personal tragedies have been let out in the book, stripped bare. The language is simple and hauntingly direct. 

Bad points 

At times the book feels too full of accusations. It may come across as the author is writing it to put all those who put her through bad times on a scaffold. 

Overall 

Even though at times I felt like the book was treated as a channel to let out the angst, I still enjoyed most of the poems inside. They are to the point and scream for attention. 

Who do I recommend this to 

This book is for all those who are new to poetry and different forms of it. Those who enjoy feminist literature are going to love this one too. 

Quotable quotes 

You have
Been the
Star
Of each
& every
One of
My
Nightmares
-You left but you stayed 

I'm not scared
Of the monsters
Hidden underneath
My bed
I'm much more scared
Of the boys
With messy brown hair,
Sleepy eyes,
& mouths
That only know
How to form
Half-truths
-my dragons

Bitter Sweet Love by Michael Faudet

Thanks to the internet, the world is a much smaller place, and gives us many opportunities to connect with netizens from across the world. It is a wonderful medium to come across amazing talent, which would either never reach us, or would –very late. Having seen the Poet’s writing on his social media, I always wanted to read more by him. So, when I got the review copy of Bitter Sweet Love, I was simply elated to be reading it.

Cover

The cover is an illustration of portrait of a girl, it is a sketch and a picture morphed together. It is a clever interpretation of the content of the book - which is a mix of magic and reality, it also seems like an evolution of the cover of the previous, and his first book- Dirty Pretty Things which is a really interesting concept and I am quite eager to see how the next cover turns out. Coming to the title – it is self explanatory and talks of love in all its glory ( and the not so glorious side!).

Characters

The poems don't revolve around one person,  but touches upon relationships between various people. It is about life and lovers, love and heartbreak. The emotions captured in the book are the real protagonists of this one.

Content

Talking about love and all sides of it, Bitter Sweet Love is a beautiful compilation of poems long and short, that touch upon the various emotions co-existing with love. The poems are laden with love, heartbreak, lust and are infused with a hint of magic that makes these sensuous musings all the more interesting.

Good Points

The  poems come in varied sizes. Some, a mere two lines, some spanning a few pages- this mix of sizes doesn't make it a monotony of long poems, nor are there just lines that touch and go.

Each poem tells a story in just a few lines in the most concise and appealing manner. The emotions captured really tug at your heart and the writing style does full justice to what the Poet intends to convey.

The poems are sensuous without being vulgar and they are written in very simple language that is very easy to relate to and understand. Lastly, the touch of magic takes these poems to another level.

Bad Points

Though I enjoyed most of the writing, some of them were lengthy and almost prose like, standing out awkwardly in pages of words that flow very poetically.

Overall

A book full of bitter sweet shades of love, this one captures emotions so beautifully without complicating it. Thoroughly enjoyed the magical elements that are sprinkled generously with a heady mix of sensuous writing!

Who do I recommend this to ?

Poems aren't everyone’s cup of tea mostly because the writing is complicated and multi-layered.

So if you have been contemplating on reading some poetry, grab this new release now!

Quotable Quotes

To speak of unconditional love is like building a palace on quicksand..

Each falling leaf, a fallen tear.. the autumn came with winter near. Now all that's left of love is death, a story told with frozen breath...

When we plant weeds in a beautiful garden, it is often tears of regret that water them..

No fond farewell in silence made, just falling tears  in falling rain.

All sunshine gone, no warmth remains, in empty cups, our autumn came.

I think somewhere in a parallel world, we made love in a garden of wilted flowers. Our trembling hands reaching out, trying to grasp the last watery rays of a dying sun . Where our hearts collided and shattered into a   million tiny stars.

The Universe Of Us by Lang Leav

My first ever Lang Leav book was a present to me. After a little procrastination I read it. And thus began my love for poetry. I do not call myself a poetry geek. But what I am, is a lover of beautiful words that seem like they are everything you will ever need to hear. It is this love that keeps bringing me back to Lang Leav. The new book by Lang Leav is all about romanticizing the universe of you and me, of us. 

Cover page 

Every book by the author has its own language. On the cover is a beautiful illustration of the author herself. The cover is a shade of pink with cursive white lettering. The cover as usual is simple and elegant. The back cover contains a line from inside the book which says 'he and I collided like two predestined stars and in that brief moment I felt what it was like to be immortal'. Kudos to the publishers 'Andrews Mcmeel Publishing'. 

Content 

We, as humans, are dreamy. We get stuck in the humdrum of life and monotony of surviving but we dream of stars. These stars when stationary form traces of imageries. And when they break we close our eyes for a wish.

We, as humans, have all romanticized the universe. Sun, moon, stars, Jupiter and the space. Lang Leav has revisited the romanticism clung to the universe in her new collection. She has explored the joy of love, the sorrow of loneliness, the vacuum of losing the ones you love; in all different forms. Some poems are deep as the sea and some are just lyrical, overwhelming your heart like a longing. Some of these poems are just rhyming bits, a little childish. 

There are people in the book who are floating in space, around Jupiter, watching the waves of the ocean, wanting to uncover the blanket of stars and accumulate them to quantify the love they have for someone.

There are some, just lines, that make you delve into them like everything in the world can wait. 

Language

The poems are very dreamy, lyrical, as they usually are. They are very simple to understand or they need not be understood. Just enjoyed.

Good points 

The book cover is just beautiful. I plan to pre-order my copy right away. The content is 'out of the universe'. The poems are just brilliant. Some slightly better than the best ones in the book. There is an illustration by the author at the beginning which is, again, beautiful. 

Bad points 

I am having some trouble here. But let me just say, I was expecting more illustrations from the author this time around too. Was a little disappointed here. 

Overall

Lang Leav lives up to all the expectations. This book is just brilliant!

Who do I recommend this to 

This book is for all those who like good writing. For all the dreamy ones!

Pre-order your copy here

Quotable quotes

Choose Love My mother once said to me there are two kinds of men you'll meet. The first will give you the life you want and the second will give you the love you desire. If you're one of the lucky few, you will find both in one person. But if you ever find yourself having to choose between the two, then always choose love.

When
When did you stop caring? he asked.
When did you start noticing? she replied.

Lover's Paradox Tell me that story again - the one where the world ends how it began with a by who loves a girl and a girl who loves a boy. And she is deaf and he is blind and he tells her her loves her over and over and she writes him every day but never hears a thing back.

From 'Time Stands Still' In cemeteries
of memories
our love will lie
in caskets.
My time with he
an eternity -
neither present
nor future
can past it.

From 'All I Ask'
Stay''til our present
slips into the past-
it is all that I ask.

I received this book from the publishers via Netgalley. The thoughts on the book are uninfluenced and my own.

Broken Pieces by Dr. Gowher Yusuf

When a dear person asked me to review this book, I was only delighted to be doing a review of a book written by someone in my close circles. The Author was kind enough to provide a copy of her book for the purpose of this review. This fifty odd page book is  a documentation of a few of her poems written two decades back.

 

Cover

The cover is a mixed palette of pinkish purple, probably depicting the dusk, with a bush with flowers confined by a wall. The entire hazy image is overlay-ed with a shattered glass. With the title of the book written in bold white letters on the lower right side, followed by the Author’s name in smaller letters, the cover page sways between average and unpleasant. The cover would have notched up on the positive side, had the shattered glass not been there.

Though I do understand that the cover is trying to portray a person who has been confined, who’s dreams and hopes have been shattered, it is all forced into the cover page making it a mishmash of one too many ideas.

Characters

It is a book that documents poetry written by the Author over two decades back, she has written about herself and her struggles, and a few poems talk about her daughter, Sana.

Content

This collection of poems written by this amateur writer two decades back was published by Educreation Publishing in 2016. The Poetess mentions that these poems were written at a time of emotional distraught , and how she found relief in these words.

The poems encompass varied emotions and notions like hopes ,and shattered hopes, dreams and broken dreams, pondering over life, loneliness, faith etc. Some of the poems also showcase her love for her daughter, and talk about revived hope.

Language

Written in first person’s perspective, the poems have been written in a simple poetic  manner, that is easy to grasp and relate to. However, the language needs more refining and the grammatical errors irk you some and awaken the grammar Nazi in you.

Good Points

Unlike some poetry that uses complex language and intricate words leaving the reader a little confused, the writing is simple and direct and easy to relate and comprehend. The poems convey whatever they wish to in a very direct manner, and yet leave you contemplating, trying to dwell a little deeper.

I for one believe that poetry should be read in small doses, and then analysed word by word, peeling away each layer and revealing another dimension, and the size of the poems and the book are perfect for it. It is not very long or exhaustive, and you can finish it at one go and gives you enough fodder to mull over, without emotionally exhausting you.

Bad points

The language and the grammar needs immediate attention. Though I personally believe that the grammatical rules adhered to for prose, don't hold good for poetry, it irks me just the same that some sentences need to be reworked on. It is also a little expensive for the size, and any poetry enthusiast might be apprehensive to spend that much on a Poet(ess) he hasn't read before. Last of all, the cover needs some re-configuring ( you’ve already read all about it).

Overall

I really enjoyed reading this book in spite of the few glitches. The content is raw and worthy of appreciation. It is very relatable and the simple writing really helps. Having said that, dwelling a little deeper displays many more emotions than what’s just printed.

Who do I recommend this to ?

Anyone who is looking for food for thought, snippets about life and all its ups and downs might enjoy this. It is thought provoking, and simple and someone who is confused and feels let down by the trails in his life might find solace in these words.

Quotable Quotes

Somewhere beyond the stars,

there is another world,

the world of our dreams.

Where love forms the sky; clouds outpour blessings on us,

rainbow depicts the various colours of life,

where life blends with love at the rising horizon.

Today, I carry my own dead body on my shoulders,

to the burial ground, with my very own hands

I dig my grave and lay my poor body to rest.

One day she was gone with the wind,

taking away the light from his life,

darkening his world forever

the pain of separation makes him,

weep in solitude and spend sleepless nights.

Love And Misadventure by Lang Leav

Lang Leav had made it to the top of the charts when her book of short poems won the goodreads award for the best book in the poetry section. There were mixed reviews seen on the book. Those who liked the book praised it to the heights and those who did not like it criticized the bad writing. A book is no book if it is not written well. Hence, even after receiving the book as a gift from a dear friend, whose choice in books I have come to trust, I did not start reading it immediately. It was after my book was borrowed and circulated around, I decided maybe I should be reading it myself! So, here I am, reviewing the first book of poems, perhaps, after graduating from school years ago.  

Cover page

The cover page is what I call a smart design. A book of poems is usually kept simple on the cover. This book follows the same rules, but it is far from boring. The author herself is an illustrator and there is a small illustration done by her on the cover. The illustration is an image of herself. It is, hmm, cute. The entire book is filled with a shade of brick red which helps to keep it minimalist. The font is eye-catching and shouts the title. 

It was a question I had worn on my lips for days - like a loose thread on my favourite sweater I couldn't resist pulling - despite knowing it could all unravel around me. 

"Do you love me?" I ask.

In your hesitation I found my answer.

Content

The book is a good mix of poems written by the author, probably at different stages in life, collected and divided into three parts. The book begins with a sweet dedication to someone very precious to the author, I guess. 

The first part of the book is called misadventures where the author talks about young love, the wait, the anxiety and not knowing what is to come. This portion of the book is filled with hope. These are sweet love poems about falling in love and wondering if it is right for you. It does not promise happiness but celebrates the spirit of adventure or misadventure as it says. 

The second part of the book talks about the sorrows and circus. It is where the feeling of running around in a maze begins. The infinite future brings confusion. Some hang in and some go on to look for more misadventures. 

The third part is where the promise of forever comes. If someone believes in true love and likes all the rosy bits in a story, this is the section to visit. 

Towards the end the index comes, which is the surprise element in the book. The author cleverly puts down all the poems in alphabetical below the respective sections. It feels like the author wants to keep reads looking for direction until towards the end. 

Do you remember the song that was playing the night we met? No, but I remember every song I have heard since you left.

Language

Lang Leav possess a craft which puts her on the map with other renowned poets! There are poems in the book that take your breath away. You would want to hang on to those words forever. The language is less than flowery. The readers of the generation can identify with her words, Unlike Frost and Shelly who demand an extensive background research before you read their poems. 

As a kid, I would count backwards from ten and imagine at one, there would be an explosion–perhaps caused by a rogue planet crashing into Earth or some other major catastrophe. When nothing happened, I'd feel relieved and at the same time, a little disappointed.

I think of you at ten; the first time I saw you. Your smile at nine and how it lit up something inside me I had thought long dead. Your lips at eight pressed against mine and at seven, your warm breath in my ear and your hands everywhere. You tell me you love me at six and at five we have our first real fight. At four we have our second and three, our third. At two you tell me you can't go on any longer and then at one, you ask me to stay.

And I am relieved, so relieved–and a little disappointed.

Good points

The cover page keeps its simplicity and sophistication without becoming too boring. The writings inside are even better. While reading through the poems you will find yourself being transported to different stages of your life. Every woman is going to identify with the poems inside. 

Bad points

The illustrations inside do not do justice to the writing. They seem too rigid compared to the thoughts of the author which are flowy to say the least.

Overall

This is the first book of poems that I have read in a long time and I am definitely not disappointed. This clearly lives up to the hype. 

Who do I recommend this to

For all the romantics who like simple pleasures in life, this book is made! 

Quotable quotes

I don't think all writers are sad, she said.

I think it's the other way around—

all sad people write.

What is she like?

I was told—

she is a

melancholy soul.

She is like

the sun to the night;

a momentary gold.

A star when dimmed

by dawning light;

the flicker of

a candle blown.

A lonely kite

lost in flight—

someone once

had flown.

She lends her pen,

to thoughts of him,

that flow from it,

in her solitary.

For she is his poet,

And he is her poetry.

Once there was a boy who couldn't speak but owned a music box that held every song in all the world. One day he met a girl who had never heard a single melody in her entire life and so he played her his favorite song. He watched while her face lit up with wonder as the music filled the sky and the poetry of lyrics moved her in a way she had never felt before.

He would play his songs for her day after day and she would sit by him quietly—never seeming to mind that he could only speak to her through song. She loved everything he played for her, but of them all—she loved the sad songs best. So he began to play them more and more until eventually, sad songs were all she would hear.

One day, he noticed it had been a very long time since her last smile. When he asked her why, she took both his hands in hers and kissed them warmly. She thanked him for his gift of music and poetry but above all else—for showing her sadness because she had known neither of these things before him. But it was now time for her to go away—to find someone who could show her what happiness was.

There was a man who I once knew,

for me there was no other.

The closer to loving me he grew,

the more he would grow further.

I tried to love him as his friend,

then to love him as his lover;

but he never loved me in the end—

his heart was for another.