This book had me hooked from page one. I wanted to know what happened to the main character Sofia and why she was hellbent on revenge but it was easy to see that betrayal, sabotage, and utter adultery were just a few themes that left Sofia on the path to give all those who wronged her a pure unfiltered taste of revenge.
Also enjoyed how it was told in first person perspective so you could see everything from Sofia’s point of view. Great read from a young talent.
Lang Leav returns with a second book of poetry that is made to sit beside your bed on the nightstand almost like a sort of dream-catcher to sing you to sleep when sleep is hard to come by.
Lullabies showcases a stronger writer as Leav’s poetry in this collection is very melancholy but highly emotive.
One of my favorites in this collection is Her Words because it is a poem about a girl who writes, need I say more.
When I was a junior in college, I finally had my own room for the first time in my life.
Naturally, I was excited for how I would decorate my sacred dwelling since the choice was solely mine.
I decided I wanted to have a poetry wall in one corner of my room and who’s poetry was showcased along the long wall near my door but the Tumblr poet, Lang Leav. Soon after this, I found out she was publishing her first poetry book and I was totally stoked for her as I had followed her literary career from the ground up.
Boasting hand-drawn artwork and poetry from the author, Love & Misadventure is a book anyone who is hopeful for love despite all their misadventures and mistakes in love should own, and wants to reminisce every emotion that entails.
I admit to Instagram stalking Nikita Gill and her poetry.
The first time I ever read a poem by Ms. Gill I was in awe.
Then, a few months later, NetGalley sent me an email blast to tease new books
Normally, I delete them without reading because I have a queue of 80 books, do I really need anymore books?
The voice in my head always whispers, “Yes!”
This time I was glad I opened it as I had the chance to read Nikita Gill’s book Wild Embers.
Since this National Poetry Month, I figured this was the perfect time to share my review and reaction to Wild Embers.
Basically, it is a well-rounded book of poetry. There was only like five poems I did not read but skim so that to me says that the sparks I was ingesting lit a fire within me that I felt the burn within each sinew of my bones.
And I remembered my identity: a supernova burning bright to discover pathways and planets uncharted, in order to make a new way for those that come after me.
My absolute favorite poem in the collection was this one because it made me cry which sometimes leads to a clearer perspective:
I’ll be honest, I’m not Rupi Kaur’s biggest fan
BUT
I definitely came around to seeing her talent more so with her second poetry collection The Sun and Her Flowers
With this collection, Rupi discusses some of the relationship she delved into in Milk and Honey but in more of a metaphorical way with talking between the lines about the aftershocks of love (especially love that doesn’t last) instead of a literal way with imagery of sex.
It is apparent that Kaur believes sex equals love in some shape or form, but she does do a fantastic job of discussing society’s perception of using sex to get someone to love you, when they are all wrong for you.
Discussed in this poetry collection are themes of love, grief, self-abandonment, honoring one’s roots, and empowering oneself.
My favorite poem in the entire collection was “What Love Looks Like” because of the word choice Kaur uses to poetic describe love by using dialogue she may or may have actually had within the walls of a therapist’s office.
So many women have daddy issues because their dad didn’t give them love in a healthy way which makes young girls go out for looking for love in all the wrong faces, and almost becoming society’s biggest joke because of it.
Love sometimes gives us all rose-colored glasses but the worst part of heartbreak is having to remove them and come to terms with the reality that you fell in love with an idea of someone who didn’t really exist. And that hurts you more than them because you almost feel as though you can’t trust your own judgement anymore for a while.
Subjectivity is poetry’s secret talent. Whether or not you find the words on the paper poetry, if a poet labels it poetry, no one can argue that it isn’t because poetry unlike fiction is more for the free-spirited and those who are exploring it’s free range in the field of writing.
For example, my favorite poet is Lang Leav and my sisters are die-hard Rupi Kaur fans.
Poetry has to use the right combination of imagery and emotion, and has to make me feel like I read something that was between the lines on the page. Few people can achieve the knock me off my feet feeling with their poetry but for me, Lang Leav comes pretty darn close.
With La La Love, Katie Lewington is in a league all her own. All poems within the chapbook showcase the different levels of vulnerability love unravels in us as we experience it within a relationship or develop the feelings.
Picture this was one of my favorites because it reads like a spoken word poem. It has rhythm, cadence, and an overall musicality that could be performed. This also further proved that Lewington’s talent for poetry was multi-faceted, and although her book was themed with love poems, she could have you in a crowded pub or restaurant aware of every sound or gesture made by the people that were inhabiting the space between the walls.
Katie Lewington was recently featured in a poetry anthology called
It is a book of mental health themed poetry with proceeds that are going toward the mental health charity out of the UK, Mind. Click the image above in order to purchase the anthology.
60 minutes is all I was told it would take to read the books offered to me that share facts on historical figures and topics.
The two I managed to read contained viable information but it only took me about half an hour to read each book.
These books make for great references but are not good reading unless you enjoy reading biographies for leisure.
They left me feeling like I learned something but reading felt like more than a chore.
For more on In60Learning, please visit: their website.
Written in vignette-style sections and sonnet-like eloquence, “Love In Between” showcases strong writing from a young author who also makes a statement about young love being very real, and practically unavoidable.
With themes of young love, unrequited love, and torturous heartbreak, even loving someone who pines for someone else, Mercy’s poetry gives me still the same “you aren’t alone,” calm sensation that I have while reading the work of International best-sellers like Lang Leav.
Mercy’s poetry overall will leave you falling in love with the writer behind the few but powerful words.
CALLING ALL POETS and MICROPOETS! April is National Poetry Month and as always, I celebrate all month long by showcasing a new poem every day on my social media pages and by reviewing primarily poetry books all month long. So if you are a poet who knows it, and you have a book already out or about to come out, please email me by March 26, 2018 to be featured for the month of April. And yes, you get to skip the wait list line for free due to the high demand!
Send me your poetry graphics, Instagram poet recommendations, and poetry book review requests to wittywriterpoet26@gmail.com
So much love,
The Smart Cookie
I don’t know about you but one thing I never realized was what was actually in my food. Read any ingredients label and you find some strange terminology. Even organic products are always 100% natural.
This caused me to want to read Food Forensics by Mike Adams.
Despite the textbook-like feel of this book (which the author warns you on from the first page) there is a lot of information that anyone would and should be aware of especially those who are trying to eat cleaner.
Dr. Oz is even noted within this book as showcasing it on his show a study he did that revealed this somewhat disturbing truth.
Despite the science and nutritional jargon, this book was incredibly in-depth and could be used as a reference for anyone who really wants to know what’s in your food. Chances are though, if you didn’t read Fast Food Nation like I did in high school, you won’t read this.
Sometimes ignorance is bliss until it makes you sick.
