Poetry Review: soft magic. by Upile Chisala

Self Published
Published Sept. 7, 2015
122 Pages (Kindle)

‘soft magic.’ is the debut collection of prose and poetry by Malawian writer, Upile Chisala. – Goodreads

*Short Review*

I was going to hold off on publishing this review until April. Because you know national poetry month is April but I really wanted to share this with you all because I was stunned by this book.

As a 27-year-old woman, you don’t think that there are things you need to hear or see but as I was reading this book the words hit me hard and I was able to reflect on my experiences without actually feeling as if something went wrong.

I liked how Upile was able to show a softness in her words and at the same time make you feel the strength in them. That is what surprised me the most and even though some passages had a repetitive tone the overall book was amazing and emotional. For me the passages that spoke more about family did more for me then the broken relationships and intimacy. This is not to say that they were not powerful but we are all in different stages in our lives and family had a bigger impact on me.

The poems were not long and drawn out with fluff. But this is not a book in which you can speed through. It took me a little over a week to finish this and I would recommend you to take your time with, honestly as long as you need because this needs to be valued.

Overall,

4 Pickles

 

 

 

The Frustrated Reader©: The Love Triangle

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The love triangle is such a complicated part of a story that authors can easily mess up. And let’s be honest, a lot of authors screw this up. So let’s start with the definition of a love triangle from Urban Dictionary, which I feel is most appropriate.

When two people both love a third person, and that third often loves them both. The object of their love may be conflicted as to whom he/she wants, and generally nobody emerges from these very happy. Love Triangles, as it is widely agreed, really f**** suck.

In most parts, I don’t have an issue with love triangles but they are being over used in almost all stories and it is the same scheme. For instance, the girl is in love with the newbie but her male best friend is the one that love her the most and she leads him on because she really doesn’t want to break his heart because she really doesn’t love him like that anymore. This is done in the reverse, with wolves and vampires, humans and fairies whatever the author feels like creating.

The love triangle doesn’t need to be predictable if you are going to use it. Nor does the girl, boy or whatever creature being used need to experience insta love or do they need to have the worst personalities to be found on earth. The worst personalities include: no personality, I get everything I want and will continue to do so personality, my parents are dead/hate me/ don’t care about me and I hate the world but not really personality etc. . . . I can go on and on about this. But I won’t.

No every book requires a love triangle to make it interesting. The best friends can be together without a dark stranger showing up out the blue. The protagonist can choose the new person, without feeling guilt or the protagonist doesn’t have to choose anyone and go about their merry way.

As stated before this issue isn’t the love triangle itself but more so how it is done. Crap happens and sometimes (although it may be rare as a teenager) you fall for more than one person. The best way to do a love triangle is to not do it. If you are on a writing path of the protagonist having to choose between two people who are completely polar opposites, then stop. Please let it go.

I do not need another three part book over someone who cannot make up their mind and enjoys leading people on.

BUT in the event that you still do it anyway, give your characters some substance . . . please.

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Quick Five© Patsy Jawo

Courtesy of Patsy Jawo

Name: Patsy Jawo

Twitter: @patsyjawo

Website: www.vewbooks.com

Book: For The Love of I: Inspirational Poetry

Buy: www.vewbooks.com

Poetry is an acquired taste; some people either love it or hate. I am one of those who love it. It is intense emotion in a few lines and for me poetry makes me feel human.

Pasty Jawo is one of those writers, who is able to convey connecting emotions with ease. It is my pleasure to not only introduce her to poetry lovers but also haters because she will make a lover out of you.

Enjoy.

Out of all the genres in the writing world, why did you choose poetry as a way to express yourself and your ideas?

A great question Tanya, poetry chose me and I am forever humbled and grateful.

What or who inspired you to write? 

Inspiration dictates and I scribe.

Was there anything you were doing, such as a job or schooling before you published your first work? Has writing always been a part of your life?

Vew Publishing
Published Jan. 5, 2016

I owned a consulting firm within the financial services industry. Yes, writing has always been a part of my life and I started writing poetry around 10 years ago.

What was your thought process when you was writing this book?

There was no thinking. This book is pure inspiration from start to finish and there were many times I woke up during the night to capture the inspiration that went into For The Love Of I. I only write when inspired because as soon as I start thinking the flow of inspiration is blocked and nothing comes.

Finally, what do you want the reader to know about you after reading your book?

That I am grateful for all our worlds colliding.

Also that For The Love Of I is a reference book that can be picked up at any time and you can be inspired to open any random page where hopefully the right and perfect thing for you will be presented.

And lastly that For The Love Of I encompasses who I am on so many levels so having read some or all of it you will have an idea about what lives in my heart which is a very special place for me.

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Poetry Book Review: Freefall into Us by Tess Rosa

Urbane Publications
Published Oct. 1, 2015
304 Pages

Considered a new powerful voice in American literature, Tess Rosa released a collection of poetry and short stories on love, lust and everything in between. 

*Short Review*

Again, if you didn’t know then I will sat it again short stories are not my favorite. But in this book, I liked the short stories better than the poetry.

The poetry was too blunt and for me it didn’t display the class I expect from poetry.  I didn’t feel the imagination was within the poetry because I had no issue with the topics; that was actually my most favorite thing within this book. But this is not to say that I hated the poetry because the first few after the initial shock shook off was pretty good.

The short stories, which in my eyes were better than the poetry, showed so much talent and structure.  Rosa was able to create a story and write it beautifully and her bluntness was more fitting in this type of writing.

I want her to write a novel now. I do not care what it is about but I think she can handle it.

I apologize for the short review in regards to this novel but I can’t give much about the book. It is one of those you will read and understand type books.

2.5 Pickles

 

NetGalley Review: The Reluctant Duchess by Sharon Cullen

Loveswept
      To Be Published Nov. 10, 2015
               Kindle Edition

Lady Sara Emerson has lived an isolated life since the murder of her cousin. Two years later the killer now wants Sara. So she turns to the only person she believes that can help, her cousin’s fiance, the Duke of Rossmoyne.

Ross never really noticed his fiance’s cousin but now that she has come to him he can the beautiful woman she became to be. But Ross will not let his attraction to her stop him from returning overseas away from the unforgiving society. 

But what are Sara and Ross supposed to do when their attraction turns into something deeper and Sara’s stalker gets closer to his kill?

The thing about historical romance is people are expecting a complication romance that involves either a bad boy and/or a outspoken woman. People feel that you can’t have a love at first sight romance. People forget that historical romance provide a fantasy of unfiltered passion and love. People forget to just enjoy the cuteness of it.

Okay I am off my soapbox.

I love this book. Finished it in one sitting. I loved Ross much more than I loved Sara. He wasn’t a bad boy, which I appreciated the author for not going that route. He was a grown man who knew what he wanted and was honorable. He was also a man that loved and loved fiercely. He was perfect to me. I loved reading his point of view.

Just because I loved Ross more than Sara doesn’t mean I didn’t like Sara. I enjoyed the fact that the author didn’t make her an extreme. What I mean by that is Sara wasn’t an outcast because either she was plain or because she was too modern. She was a perfect mix of what society wanted from her and being her own intelligent person. Sara was cute, shy but not stupid by any means.

The actual story was written well too. There was some slight predictability but nothing too major that made me want to roll my eyes. The pace was wonderful the downtime didn’t actually feel like downtime.

My only issue with this book is I wish there was more tension or for the lack of better term more focus on the murder and someone coming after Sara. I felt that it became too much about their relationship and less about the pending danger.

Overall I really liked this book.

4 Pickles

 

NetGalley Review: Hector and the Secrets of Love (Hector #2) by François Lelord

Penguin Books
Published Jan. 1, 1900
288 Pages

If you haven’t read the first book Hector and the Search for Happiness, go read the book. I read it some time ago and completely fell for it. Maybe I’ll do a review on it????? Anyway there is also a movie, which was really good.

Hector has been given the opportunity to help research love. What makes love? What breaks love? What’s true love? Within his research he is told to track down a doctor, who was developing a drug that makes people fall in love with each other on different levels. 

His search takes French psychologist Hector to parts of Asia that in his previous journey he has never been. But mentally and emotionally, Hector goes on a journey that he could have never prepared for.

This novel was a bit more fast paced that the second one. But it still held the same thoughtful questions and passionate emotions just like the first one. What I liked about this book was how human Hector was. He was/is (how ever you look at it) conflicted with not just love but with understanding people and their needs. But most importantly understanding himself. He was just a very confused man and it made me think of what I was always told about psychologist “In order for them to help people with such mental issues, they need to be a bit crazy themselves.”

Hector doesn’t know what to do, even when given solutions, even when the answer is obvious, he just doesn’t do anything. It makes for a very complicated but interesting story. I couldn’t stand Clara, who is extremely selfish, EXTREMELY SELFISH. Every time she came on the page I rolled my eyes. I was done with her.

I also, towards the middle and end of the book, felt some type of way about Hector; he was selfish too but in a different way from Clara. Without getting too much into detail, I don’t feel that he uses a (the woman not Clara) woman but he also didn’t change the situation either.

The pace of the novel was great once it got going. It took a little bit but I wasn’t unhappy when it started moving better. Although this book was originally (so it says per good reads) published in 1900 a lot of what is in the book hit home to modern times.

I hated the ending. It could have been better. It was sloppy and it was obvious the author didn’t want to write anymore.

Overall,

3.5 Pickles

 

Graphic Novel Review: This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki (Illustrator)

First Second
Published May 6, 2014
320 Pages

Every summer Rose and her parents go to Awago beach, their escape from the world. There Rose’s friend Windy wakes, whom like herself visits during the summer. Their relationship is like family and they cannot wait for the summer.

But Rose’s parents won’t stop fighting and the distance between Rose and her mother is growing. So Rose and Windy are left to themselves and by doing so these girls grow up a bite faster than necessary. 

I was not expecting such an intense read. This is a really powerful book about family and growth.

Firstly, I have to point out Windy. She is a plus size girl that dances eats and isn’t self conscious about her weight. I love it because she just enjoys herself and its interesting because when there was doubt regarding herself it was when Rose made a point to show that Windy either doesn’t take things seriously or isn’t honest enough in regards to other people’s issues.  I loved Windy.

Rose is having issues with her family and its really because she is left out of the know and the tension between herself and her mom is rough. Its hard to really see the relationship she had before this summer with her mom because she talks about her dad and how close they are. Its not to say she doesn’t love her mother but the relationship was tough to see. Her mother is going through a rough time individually which is causing issues for her husband as well as Rose.

Now the book is a coming of age because the girls talk about sex and boys. Rose finds herself infatuated with an older boy, who is a clerk at a store. Because of this infatuation Rose and Windy are exposed to adult themes and although neither act on these themes it makes them think about when they go home.

The art work was extremely detailed. It was beautiful and you cannot help but appreciate the effort the illustrator put into it. Its amazing and even after I finished reading a section, I would go back to the art that is how important it became.

Overall, a recommended read that leaves you wanting for more

3.5 Pickles

NetGalley Review: Love, Edy by Shewanda Pugh

Razor’s Edge
Published June 24, 2014
310 Pages

Edy Phelps has fallen hard for her best friend Hassan but if those feelings aren’t complicated enough, due to family traditions Hassan will grow to marry the woman his family chooses and forget all about Edy. 

But what Edy doesn’t know is that Hassan can’t forget about her. Thus creating a whirlwind of issues for surrounding friends and their families who have been friends for generations. 

Awesome cover. Seriously, beautiful cover and title. It leaves a lot to the imagination as if we will meet this amazing dancer who falls in love with her best friend.

Sadly to say there wasn’t much going on in the dancing world for Edy. The focus was less on dancing as it was to why she is constantly jealous of Hassan’s interaction with girls.

For once, it felt like I was reading a YA book. The entire plot was very childish and boring. There was no depth to Edy or Hassan. She was focused on Hassan and when she decided not to deal with it, she kept letting herself be trapped right back into it. Hassan was a selfish man. He liked Edy and couldn’t stand her not speaking to him or her speaking to someone else. So he would be extremely aggressive to get her attention or to make his point clear.

Edy was also a jerk herself which surprised me because for most of the book she was actually a nice girl boring but nice. But she proved to be almost like Hassan when it came to things she didn’t want to deal with or was frustrated.

I couldn’t stand the love triangle. It was forced and almost completely one sided.

What I liked about this book was the diversity. I cannot turn away from a book that actually shows someone other than a white female as the lead.

I wish the author took more time to develop personalities, excitement and not just a back and forth between kids.

Overall, this could have been so much better.

2 Pickles.

 

 

Book Review: The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Vol. 3 by (Editor) Joseph Gordon-Levitt

It Books
Published Nov. 5, 2013
128 Pages

“I want desperately to press you between the pages of a book and keep you forever.”

Volume three of short stories and illustrations depicting emotional, humorous, lonely and sad parts of life.

I love the “Tiny Book of Tiny Stories.”  It’s amazing how a few sentences can make you feel better, make you think deeply, smile or make you feel as if there is someone out there who understands.

This will be a short review because there is nothing bad I can say about this book and that is really because I was able to relate more and feel appreciative of these stories.

5 Pickles (the originality and the relevance)

Book Review: Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Published Aug. 15, 2013
420 Pages

*heart stops*

If you haven’t read my review for Throne of Glass read it here

At this point Celaena Sardothien is a full blown royal assassin. She still has no loyalty to the king but she is still kicking everyone’s ass. Chaol and Dorian are still questioning their feelings for Celaena and Celaena herself is questioning her feelings for just about everything.

But despite the conflicts of heart, Celaena has to deal with a bigger threat she never thought was possible.

Most second books in a series lack . . .  really bad. However, Maas has proved that she is an amazing writing. The suspense and the action in this book go hand and hand and although there are a few chapters that a bit boring it doesn’t let down the book. You have to remember second books usually cover the hanging question of why.

What I truly loved was the Chaol. He is a mess in this book. Like Calaena he does a lot of back and forth to see where his loyalty lies. However, he loves Calaena and I love him for that hahaha. I felt so bad for him because he only wants her to be okay . . . he wants to protect her and obviously love her.

Calaena is a bit annoying in this book. & that is all I will say about that.

Andddd to be honest I can care less for Dorian. Yes, he loves Calaena very much and would do anything for her. However, he cannot stand up to his father (he did once but ehhh) and he has to mind to look further to see what is really going on with the Kingdom. I felt that Dorian didn’t understand Calaena liked Chaol did/does and that Calaena liked him more because of the life she wished she had. Not saying she is a gold digger or anything; just simply saying that the connection I feel with Chaol and Calaena is real.

Maas didn’t focus on the love triangle which is more than appreciated. It was a story within the story that didn’t take away from Calaena job as an assassin.

Overall the book gets 9 out of 10. The book was amazing and it has everything every reader needs to love it. I truly hope that the third book will be the last not because I want it to end but I do not want the story to lose its essence by dragging.

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