A Poem/Review for Bob Dylan's Memoir

BOOK TITLE AND SUBTITLE:

Chronicles - Volume One

AUTHOR: Bob Dylan

GENRES: Nonfiction - autobiography

ISBN-10 : 0743244583 

ISBN-13 : 978-0743244589 

LINK TO AMAZON 

 

Reviewed by Leslie Klein

 

LESLIE'S REVIEW POEM

HIS CHRONICLE

Reading of Dylan’s 
education in the city —
making friends of heroes
and like-minded musicians.
Learning history and selfhood
simultaneously constructing
the icon of music and poetry
he will become.

At this time he is a rover
a student of life and people —
absorbing every note he observes
and experiences
while sleeping on couches
roaming the clubs
devouring book shelves of philosophy
and microfilmed news.
Facts to plant in his mind
for a song to pen…later.

Now he is the young lad 
in the classroom of the life 
he yearns to establish.
His interests and connections
feed his developing soul.

Yet when his star ascends
privacy and peace are stolen.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Dylan has released thirty-eight studio albums, which collectively have sold over 120 million copies around the world. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature and has been awarded the French Legion of Honor, a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor. His memoir, Chronicles: Volume One, spent a year on the New York Times best seller list.

MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Leslie Klein is an artist and writer, living in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Her op-eds, feature stories, and poetry have been published in various newspapers and magazines. 
Her book of poetry, Driving Through Paintings was published by Shanti Arts LLC. 
Klein has had a long career teaching and showing her work in galleries and juried exhibitions. She was commissioned to create the sculpture for The Boston Freedom Award.  Reach her at clayforms@aol.com. Learn more about her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/leslie.klein.399/.

MORE ABOUT BLOGGER AND WAYS TO GET THE MOST FROM THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too!

 Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Review of Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer" in Poetry Form

Note from Blogger Carolyn Howard-Johnson: 

Recently, this #TheNewBookReview blog has attracted more interest from poets and readers of poetry and the idea of accepting reviews of books, especially classics and poetry books written in poetry rather than prose came up. My answer? Of course! This from Leslie Klein who was recently interviewed by another #poet, Carol Smallwood! Enjoy! 

Title: Prodigal Summer

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Leslie Klein (reviewer)

Fiction

ISBN-13 : 978-0060959036 

ISBN-10 : 0060959037

Reviewed in poetry by Leslie Klein

Wild Pages

Another book
has come my way
after abandoning
the read of two others
unable to attach
my interest
for more than mere pages.

This one that
ensnares
is riveting
with passion, flora
and carnivore scat.

Enchanting is my
imagined sketch
of backwood events.
All is pulsing—
moths, bats
and milk-gorged teats
consume
as do the kisses
and long stares
of the lovers
entwined in their
discovery.

                       ~ Copyright by Leslie Klein 

                         

More About the Author of The Prodigal Summer

Barbara Kingsolver is the author of nine bestselling works of fiction, including the novels, Flight Behavior, The Lacuna, The Poisonwood Bible, Animal Dreams, and The Bean Trees, as well as books of poetry, essays, and creative nonfiction. Her work of narrative nonfiction is the enormously influential bestseller Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life. Kingsolver’s work has been translated into more than twenty languages and has earned literary awards and a devoted readership at home and abroad. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal, our country’s highest honor for service through the arts, as well as the prestigious Dayton Literary Peace Prize for her body of work. She lives with her family on a farm in southern Appalachia.

More About the Poet-Reviewer Leslie Klein

Leslie Klein is an artist and writer, living in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Her op-eds, feature stories, and poetry have been published in various newspapers and magazines. Klein has had a long career teaching and showing her work in galleries and juried exhibitions. She was commissioned to create the sculpture for The Boston Freedom Award.  Reach her at clayforms@aol.com. This poem was originally published by Shanti Arts LLC in Leslie's book, Driving Through Paintings.  

More About the Blogger and Ways to Get the Most from #TheNewBookReview

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too!

 Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Carol Smallwood Interviews Poet Leslie Klein

 

 

Interview by Carol Smallwood

 

 

                   "Leslie Klein writes with the eye of an artist and voice of a poet." 

        ~ Liza Gyllenhaal Bennett, past president and current executive board member, 

           Academy of American Poets 

 

Smallwood: How has where you live influenced being a writer and artist?

 

Klein: I have been fortunate to live throughout the northeast—from Vermont, the Hudson Valley in NY, and here in the Berkshires. The natural world—its colors, shapes, sound, light, plants, animals inspire both my writing and art.  Each day is a visual feast. At night the owls serenade!

Smallwood: Please share with readers any formal, academic training you’ve had:

 

Klein:  Bachelors from State University of New York at New Paltz in Sociology/Education. 

 

Smallwood: What types of writing have you had published?  

 

Klein:   Most of my published writing has been op-ed, feature stories and some poetry for newspapers and magazines.   

 

Smallwood: What are some galleries and juried exhibitions you’ve taken part?

 

Klein: A sampling includes: 

            510 Warren Street Gallery, Hudson, NY

           Lauren Clark Fine Art, “Small Works,” Great Barrington, MA

             Gallery 35, Great Barrington, MA, Guild of Berkshire Artists

             Boston 2000, Inc., Boston, MA; Created sculpture for “The Boston Freedom Award,” presented by Coretta                   

            Scott King and Boston Mayor, Thomas M. Menino, to Dr. Charles Jacobs, Founder and President of The   

            American Anti-Slavery Group

 

Smallwood: Please share your affirmation expressed in “Magic”:

 

Klein:  If we open our eyes to really see all that surrounds us in the natural world, we would be in awe of its complexity and beauty.

 

Smallwood: Another lovely poem that caught my eye was “Library”. What was your first visit to one and how do you use them now?

 

Klein:  Though the memory of my very first visit is vague, I always remember feeling like I was in a peaceful space with so much to see and touch. Just about every book I read is borrowed from the library.  Even now, with the virus, it is great to be able to order books and movies online, and pick them up at my local library. I do miss being able to go inside. I often use their computer and printer.  All librarians are wonderful, and have all the answers!!!!!  My love of the library, is also very much influenced by my travels. I am inspired when a library in a small town comes into view. They are so architecturally beautiful and solid—reminiscent of ancient structures holding sacred texts—truly, works of art.

 

Smallwood: You make many references to birds. Have you always been so aware of them and what do they mean to you?

 

Klein:  I “discovered” birds when I was in my late 20’s, after seeing a flock of cedar waxwings land on a tree to share berries. They actually fed each other. They were so exotic looking, with black eyeliner and feathers like Chinese silk. That was the beginning. I am fortunate to live in a lovely, rural area, with a small brook.  I am surrounded by birds and their melodic songs.  Many are familiar and have personalities. They are truly beautiful, delicate creatures. Though, considering the perils of migration or just daily survival, they are so strong. Their ability to fly makes them seem so free and happy.

 

Smallwood: One of your poems says: “We are all artists”: when did you come to this conclusion and please explain:

 

Klein:  That poem was the result of one of those long, into the evening, conversations with a friend. That’s why it is titled “Letter,” because I wrote it for him later, restating what was said about art and creativity. He was lamenting that he was not an “artist.”  I was trying to explain to him that even though he was not a painter, sculptor, writer, his life path was one that would leave its mark, and inspire others, just as a painting or a poem.  

 

Smallwood: Has there been subjects you wanted to work on as an artist that ended up as a form of writing or the other way around—or didn’t fit either?

 

Klein:  Not that I can think of. I have, however, created numerous sculpted trees (including The Boston Freedom Award) which are perceived by each viewer with their own impressions. I think my poem “Trees” is more descriptive of the feelings that I have for them, than the actual sculpted pieces can convey.

 

Smallwood: Are you working on a new collection of poems?

 

Klein:  Yes, I do have more poetry that I am compiling and changing and changing some more!!! ha!  I also have an idea for a book on libraries, and two children’s books that have taken a back seat of late.

More About the Interviewee's New Book

Leslie Klein's new book of poetry, Driving through Paintings, was released June of 2020 by Shanti Arts Publishing. Find it at http://www.shantiarts.co/uploads/files/jkl/KLEIN_DRIVING.htm 

 

 More About the Interviewer

Carol Smallwood, MLS, MA, and Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, is a literary reader, judge, and interviewer; her 13^th poetry collection is Thread, Form, and Other Enclosures (Main Street Rag, 2020).

More About this Blog

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. She also writes fiction and poetry. Authors, readers, publishers, and reviewers may republish their favorite reviews of books they want to share with others. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read and love. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and in a tab at the top of this blog's home page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites so it may be used a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing