Solo Novo's Wall Scrawls Inspired by Ohio Farm House

Title: Solo Novo Wall Scrawls Vol 1

Edited by Paula C. Lowe

Publisher Web site: www.solopress.org

ISBN: 09411490506

Pages: 92

Genre: Literary Journal/Poetry

Literary Journal Selects Best for Wall Scrawls

 

Editors of the literary journal Solo Novo Wall Scrawls Vol 1 was just published. It will include the poetry of UCLA Extension Writers’ Program instructor Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

The journal is published by Solo Novo Press, Carpinteria, CA and North Wilkesboro, NC. Editor Paula C. Lowe says, “Wall Scrawls” is inspired by an Iowa farm house wall. Eighty years abandoned and orphaned, it is a “hive of letters, a busy kitchen of words. Every kid with a can of spray paint somehow gets here and leaves his or her native tongue on the walls.” One of those walls has become the cover art of this journal.

The selected poem by Howard-Johnson is "Inevitably Walls.” It is inspired by the poet’s extensive travels where she has come upon walls that only occasionally impart hope for the future of mankind. A quote from the poem:

[This wall] like the one we found

years ago when we lost our way

in a dark forest somewhere

in Germany, cried when we

found it there—unexpected…

Howard-Johnson’s poetry has appeared in literary journals like the Mochila Review, Banyan Review, Pear Noir, Manzanita and Poetic Voices. One of her poems won a reader award at The Pedestal Magazine.

Howard-Johnson has studied at UCLA with Suzanne Lummis, editor of Speechless the Magazine (http://www.speechlessthemagazine.org/ ) which featured her chapbook Tracings, winner of Military Writers Society of America’s Award of Excellence and published by Finishing Line Press.

The poet's literary novel, This Is the Place, won eight awards. Her book of creative nonfiction has won three. She is developing a new Celebration Series of poetry chapbooks with Magdalena Ball. Among them are She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood  (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook) and Cherished Pulse: Unconventional Love Poetry (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse ). She also advocates with authors as the author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers (www.howtodoitfrugally.com).

Learn more about Solo Novo and how to order a copy at: http://www.solopress.com .

Learn more about Carolyn Howard-Johnson at http://carolynhoward-johnson.com.

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Support Materials available on request.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

By Dammit, We're Marines! Veterans Stories of Heroism, Horror, and Humor in World War II on the Pacific FrontBy Gail Chatfield
www.bydammitweremarines.com
Memoir/military
Military Writers Society of America Silver Medal 2009
Branson Stars and Flags Silver Medal 2009
View PowerPoint presentation at http://www.bydammitweremarines.com/photos.html
ISBN: 9780977903948


Reviewed by Col. Steve Fisher, USMC (Ret.)

Stephen Ambrose once said, "As I sit at my computer, or stand at the podium, I think of myself as sitting around the campfire after a day on the trail, telling stories that I hope will have the members of the audience, or the readers, leaning forward just a bit, wanting to know what happens next."

In "By Dammit, We're Marines! -- Veterans' Stories of Heroism, Horror and Humor in World War II on the Pacific Front," a collection of remembrances from Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen, Carmel Valley author Gail Chatfield gathers us around the campfire with 52 heroes of the World War II Pacific campaigns.

Culled from Chatfield's interviews with these representatives of the "greatest generation," she presents unique perspectives on the war as seen through the eyes of officers and enlisted personnel, cousins and neighbors, frontline combat and support troops, corpsmen and chaplains.

Their stories provide detailed, firsthand accounts of some of the most horrific fighting in that theater. They take us through America's entry into the war; their induction, training and deployment; combat; and reintegration into a demobilizing society. The short tales are candid, poignant and sprinkled with humor.

Many of the combat stories focus on the Iwo Jima campaign, the battle immortalized by the famous flag-raising photo taken by Joe Rosenthal on Mount Suribachi. The veterans in "By Dammit, We're Marines!" openly speak of their fear in battle on Iwo Jima, where approximately one-third of all Marines killed in World War II died. Looking back, the Marines try to assess why they survived, and what enabled them to endure and accomplish the mission despite fierce enemy resistance. Some credit the training. Some owe their survival to their buddies.


Whatever it was, they certainly weren't fighting for the money: One of the Marines calculated that he fought on Iwo Jima for $1.53 a day. They fought tenaciously and prevailed because, in the words of retired Sgt. Maj. "Iron Mike" Mervosh, "By dammit, we're Marines."

At the time, most didn't know why they were ordered to take the tiny island of Iwo Jima -- they didn't need to know why -- until the first crippled B-29 airplanes returned from bombing Japan, and the pilots found a safe haven on which to land them.

While many initially enlisted for the challenge or to fulfill a patriotic duty, in combat they kept fighting for the Marine to their left or right, for the Marine who counted on them to protect their flanks. And, when wounded, they knew they had to get back in the fight as soon as possible.

Retired Lt. Gen. Lawrence Snowden summed it up best. After being wounded and evacuated to Guam for medical care, he found a Marine colonel and said, "'I would like to go back to Iwo Jima -- that is my family up there.' I hadn't seen my wife or infant son for two years by that time, but my family was on Iwo."

When I was boxing at the Naval Academy, our coach, Emerson Smith, once spoke of his years in the Navy during World War II. Just as many of Chatfield's veterans did, Smith married just before deploying to the South Pacific for several years. He once confided to me that the scariest experience he had was at the end of the war: He had arranged to meet his wife in the lobby of a hotel and was afraid that he would not recognize her.

I highly recommend this book. These warriors cum schoolteachers, librarians, husbands and fathers are part of this country's legacy. Chatfield, whose father served in the Marines, says it best as she ends: "Without Marines we're toast!"

As our nation is again engaged in a global conflict, Chatfield provides a window to our past, a look at the timeless horrors of war up close and personal, the sacrifices and dedication of our military and their families, and a chance to gather around the campfire.

~ Reviewer Steve Fisher of Fallbrook is a Vietnam veteran and retired U.S. Marine colonel who is working with the First Marine Expeditionary Force.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Title Reveals New Book's Link to Filmmaking

Book Title: Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot

Author: Guy Magar

www.kissmequickbeforeishoot.com
Genre: Memoir/Filmmaking
ISBN: 978-0982866344
Publisher: Sea Script Company; First edition (May 4, 2011)

Reviewed by  Vonnie Faroqui  for Inkslingers Whimsey

Rating: 5 Stars, 2 thumbs up

Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot, is Hollywood filmmaker Guy Magar’s memoir detailing his journey from child immigrant, through college, years of filmmaking, and love along the way to becoming an accomplished director, writer and producer. In an industry known to gloss and glamorize a turd until it looks appealing, this book is being given all the best hype and promotional backing you might imagine the autobiography of a recognizable celebrity and talent would get. However, in this case the hype is REAL. Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot deserves every bit of praise and recognition it gets and more.

For those of us that love the movies or have ever dreamed of, aspired to, danced around, or dived into a career in motion pictures or television, Kiss Me Quick is a “director’s cut” commentary of life on the road to and inside the industry. When I read Guy’s recollections and experiences, I wept just thinking of all the hopeful seekers and dreamers struggling for a break that never get one. The detailed behind-the-scenes knowledge and wisdom he so generously shares is beyond priceless to any aspiring film or television talent seeking entry into the industry. This is “must” reading for acting and directing students seeking film and television careers. Theater and film school do not prepare you for the cold reality of the industry, but Guy’s conversational and revealing memoir sure will.

Readers looking for a Hollywood fix, an insider’s candid perspective on breaking into the business or stories of life among the stars will lock themselves behind closed doors to indulge their celluloid passions with this master story teller. I think I’m in love. Too bad Guy is taken. Which leads me to another aspect of this book, which I think places it a cut above other memoirs and books of its genre. Kiss Me Quick is more than a Hollywood success story, it also relates the very real human drama and love story between Guy and his wife, Jacqui; sharing intimate details of her diagnosis with Leukemia and of the trial medical treatments that saved her life. Guy opens his heart and with incredible spirit, courage, and candor shares it all.

The creativity and passion which infuses Guy’s film work also comes through in his writing. Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot has all the excitement , flare, human interest , and drama Hollywood promises the hopeful, with a measure of reality, and God’s grace thrown in. Both of my thumbs are up for Magar’s Kiss Me Quick Before I Shoot. Hand me the popcorn. I am reading that again.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Chick Lit Reviewed by Blogger/Reviewer

Title – Something Blue

Author – Emily Giffin
Author’s Website – http://www.emilygiffin.com
Genre - Chicklit
ISBN-10: 0312323867
ISBN-13: 978-0312323868

Originally reviewed by Lyndsay Digneo for her Simply Lyndsay blog

After reading and loving Emily Giffin's first novel, Something Borrowed, so much, I was anxious to read the sequel, Something Blue, which highlights the flip side. Again, Giffin didn't disappoint me. Something Blue is a must read after Something Borrowed.

Darcy Rhone has sailed through life by using her good looks and smooth charm. Rules? She didn't play by them. And karma? She never worried about it. However, her seemingly perfect life gets flipped up-side-down when she learns her "plain Jane," good girl best friend, Rachel, has had an affair and fallen in love with her fiancé. To add to her predicament, she finds herself pregnant and alone.

For the first time, Darcy is struck with the harsh reality that her life has become. While she doesn't fully grasp that her lack of sincerity and 30 years of not playing by the rules has led her to her current situation, Darcy decides to start fresh and flees from her luxurious New York City apartment to London, where she bunks with her childhood friend, Ethan, in his one bedroom flat. When Darcy first arrives in London, she's still very much the superficial Darcy. However, as her pregnancy progresses, Darcy's outlook on life, love, and what truly matters transforms as well.

One of the things I love most about Giffin's writing is her ability to characterize the characters of her books so well in addition to highlighting tough life decisions. I made a similar comment in my review of Something Borrowed, but I think it's worth repeating. Giffin makes a subtle case throughout the story that life decisions aren't always black and white. There is a lot of gray area, and sometimes you just have to live life to realize that truth and learn from it.

Something Blue was most definitely the other half of Something Borrowed. I was happy to gain more insight into Darcy's point of view, but more importantly, I enjoyed how Giffin tied up the loose ends of Rachel and Darcy's saga. If you haven't already, place Giffin's second novel on your summer reading list so you can find out exactly what is Darcy's "something blue!"

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

A Book Tour Parents of Young Kids and Teachers Will Love

Parents and teachers will love this book tour coming to you from author Kathy Stemke. Scroll down for trivia questions and how to win prizes (fun ones!), but be sure to read the synopsis of this great little children's book, too, and the sample workbook questions designed to make learning fun!

When Zachary puts on his thick black glasses, he becomes a super hero. This enables him to protect his new baby sister from all kinds of problems. In the process he learns how much he loves her. This action packed book with clever rhymes focuses on teaching consonant blends. The teacher supplement includes comprehension questions, songs, worksheets and activities.

In Kathy Stemke’s  book, Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep, you will find adorable rhymes for each of the following consonant blends: sh, br, th, ch, and gr. Parents and teachers will find these as well as the activities in the back of the book useful for teaching these blended sounds to children. As a retired kindergarten teacher, Kathy always includes comprehension questions, activities, songs, rhymes, and worksheets in her books to help children learn.  Here’s some additional educational activities to go with the book.

Teacher’s Language Guide  

Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep

Comprehension Questions:

·      Look over the cover. What do you think the story is about?

·      Name the letters in the title.

·      Note that SH is a consonant blend. Practice its sound. What does it mean?

·      Read the book using volume, pitch and tone variation.

·      Who is the main Character? Why do you think so?

·      Do you know anybody like Zachary?

·      What happened to Zachary when he put his black glasses on?

·      How did Zachary stop Mr. Wind?

·      Why did the baby bird squawk?

·      How did the train wake up Layla?

·      How did the train help Layla fall asleep?

·      What did the grizzly bear give Layla?

·      What did Zachary learn by the end of the story?

·      What is your favorite part of the story? Why?

Finish the Sentence:

·      The baby’s blanket flew out of the _______________.

·      Zachary flew the baby bird right back to its soft ________.

·      Super Zachary zoomed up to the whistle and tied it down with a ___________.

·      “Come aboard,” said the friendly __________________.

·      At that moment a giant grizzly bear stomped out of the _____________.

·      Zachary leaped into action and jumped on the bear’s __________.

·      “I love my little _______________.”

Name the Shapes:

Mom smiled and handed him a book.

·      What shape are the wheels on the stroller/

·      What shape is the book?

·      What shape is the Kid’s Corner decal on Zachary’s shirt?

·      What shape are the eyebrows?

Consonant Blend Song

(Tune: Row, Row, Row Your Boat)

Sh, sh, sh don’t cry.

Quiet, not a peep.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Layla goes to sleep.

Br, Br, Br, it’s cold.

Mister Wind blows strong.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Layla sleeps so long.

Th, th, th thank you,

Said the little bird.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Layla never heard.

Ch, ch, ch the train

Whistled down the line.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Layla sleeps just fine.

Gr, gr, gr growled bear.

Won’t you come and play?

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,

Layla sleeps all day.

Consonant Blend Musical Chairs

·      Line up chairs in a circle facing out.

·      On 8” by 11” card stock write various consonant blends. Place them face down on the chairs.

·      Walk around the circle singing the consonant blend song. When finished, each child picks up a card and sits.

·      Taking turns around the circle, the children say the blend on their card.

·      If they cannot read it, they must leave the game. Remove their chair.

Consonant Blend Action Rhyme!

Consonant blends are fun to do.

Read them all with me, won’t you?

         Float and flutter in the sun.

Twist and twirl and have some fun.

Dribble and drive down the street.

Crawl and crouch on your own feet.

Swing and swim on the big lake.

Prance on in and bake a cake.

Try to fly up in the sky.

Fry some eggs and ask me why.

Consonant blends really rock.

Practice them around the clock!

There are more fun worksheets and activities at the back of the book! dancekam1@yahoo.com

SUPERHERO TRIVIA QUESTION: DAY 18

Which superhero can fly and gets stronger when he puts on his thick black glasses?

Come to http://educationtipster.blogspot.com  July 4^th for the answer.

SUPERHERO TRIVIA ANSWER: DAY 17

He's technically an alien, and he calls himself Clark Kent. His superpowers are said to derive partly from exposure to Earth's yellow sun, but which planet did he come from?

ANSWER: Krypton. He is, of course, Superman. He was introduced in 1932, by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shusterbackstory has evolved over the years, and details vary, but he always comes from Krypton, under the giant red star known as Rao.

Remember; Every answer or comment you make during this book tour puts your name in the hat for a fantastic prize, which includes amazon gift certificates, books, superhero figurines, and much more.

There will be drawings at the end of the tour from those who comment or answer a superhero trivia question on this or any other site during the tour from June 13^th-July 5^th. Please include your email address in a safe format like this one: dancekam1(at)yahoo(dot) com

Sh Sh Sh Let the Baby Sleep can be found:

Amazon:Use the widget on this blog post to take you directly to the sales page.

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Education Book Gets Late But Great Debut

Title: This Business of Children

Author: Chloe Jon Paul
Author's Web site link: http://chloejonpaul.com
Genre or category: fiction
ISBN: 978-1-60047-580-1

Reviewed by Teresa Morrow (http://www.teresamorrow.com)

 

 Chloe Jon Paul wrote this book in the early 90s and tucked it away thinking that it would never get published. She wrotge This Business of Children because I wanted to capture the elements of this profession in a way that shows the struggles so many teachers face in trying to do their jobs well. At this particular time in my career she wasn’t very happy teaching in the school district I had transferred to out of state. She was forced to “teach to the test” and my creativity suffered immensely. Administrative support was non-existent so she took a leave of absence for a year and went back to Maine where she had done the best teaching of her career, and wrote the book.

Chloe Jon Paul says, "The message of This Business of Children  basically this: We teachers are human beings coping with the problems in our own personal lives. When we enter that classroom each morning, we have to shelve those problems and deal with students whose problems may be far greater than our own."

Bill Page said it best in his review: Teachers will identify with every element of this insightful, riveting glimpse of the education world. Parents will enjoy comparing their own schooling with Vera’s portrayal of getting an education. And, every reader will savor the reminder that life goes on.

Bill Page is a teacher. He is also author of At-Risk Students: Feeling Their Pain; goes on. Understanding Their Plight; and Accepting Their Defensive Ploys. He has written 60 articles for www.teachers.net/Gazette 

About the author:

Chloe Jon Paul, M.Ed., is a retired educator and writer of several published articles and a previous book entitled “What Happens Next: A Family Guide to Nursing Home Visits” and More…   Her many achievements since the age of 55 include:

• Title of Ms. Maryland Senior America 2003

• Recipient of the Fulbright Fellowship Seminars Abroad award to South Africa, 1996
• Volunteer internship during the 2005 Maryland legislative session as a Legacy Leadership Institute graduate
• Lead facilitator for the Alternatives to Violence Project in prison and community workshops on conflict resolution for ten years
• State representative for the National Family Caregivers Association’s caregiver community action network 2006-2008
• Advisory board member: MD, Healthcare Commission and the Interagency Commission for Aging Services: Maryland Dept. of Aging
• Hospice and homeless shelter volunteer
• Coordinator for the Good Samaritan Project at her church
• World traveler – all 7 continents

~Reviewer Teresa Morrow does Online Book Promotion for Authors & Writers
at Key Book Promotions, http://www.keybookpromotions.com.

My blog: Key Business Partners Writers & Authors: Allow Your Writing Passion to Drive your Online Book Marketing

----- The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Well Known Poet Reviewed by Street Artist with Knack for Words

Title: Swallow

Author: Jendi Reiter

Author's Web site: www.jendireiter.com

Publisher: Amsterdam Press, 2009

Publisher's Web site:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/30258321/swallow-by-jendi-reiter

Genre: Poetry Chapbook

ISBN 10: 0—9822221—5—7
ISBN 13: 978—0—9822221—5—7

Reviewed at Ampersand Books website by Martha Rzadkowolsky-Raoli

Jendi Reiter created a tidy poetry book in which swallow means everything you can expect swallow to mean. She exhausts the word; its mashed remains a mix of cow meat, desire, intestines, bird. If you read the book, and you should, you’ll experience the beating of the word. Swallow. How else to learn something new ?(about the parameters of language) — – something only poetry can do, and these poems do it. Let me tell you how this book satisfies me.

I want a tight machine of a poem. The sound and look of its words should feel immutable, as movable type rendered tight, for letterpress. The first line of the book, seemingly fixed, knocked me out:

“We are all trying not to think about sex or food.”

So true, Jendi Reiter, so true. The line feels familiar, which is to say, it feels like someone ought to have said it. If it rings familiar it’s because it’s so right on. It should have been said.

Maxims and Tombstones

I can see it (“We are all trying not to think about sex or food”) engraved in Jenny Holzer’s marble slabs. Or on a tombstone. Or accompanying a New Yorker comic. Or as a bumper sticker (such an undervalued medium for speaking to a captive audience, considering the traffic in the city) Some of the other maxims suggest to me their own possible context:

“Beautiful women have not confided in you.” (found in a fortune cookie.)

“You can still tremble unstrung,” (emo song lyric.)
“You have to look at whatever the hand wants,” (salesgirl pitch)
“Every proposition starts with a cow,” (butcher treatise)
“Better to sit here with knives/ spinning the sun in a bowl,” (folk wisdom)

By suggesting disparate contexts, these aphorisms maintain a collaged-world view. I like Reiter’s objection to a poetics bound by singular points of view. I like when word-artists comply with the rules of our new universe (a mess of sources coming at you from everywhere: billboards, email, the doorman). This kind of work feels real. Reiter acknowledges this multi-media world when she asks of the swallows in “Goodbye Capistrano”:

“How would they know what lies ahead, without telephones, without magazines?”

Love this. Indeed, without our iphones and Vanity Fair, how would we?

Object-Crazy

I’m drawn to things. These poems are tactile; Reiter is object-crazy throughout. The objects in these poems bely an organized universe: objects that don’t belong together are crammed into a stanza. Including this passage, from “Pill”, which lets loose all kinds of matter:

“Pupil, meteorite crater, drill, data, cell, needle, library, wrecking ball, cowboy, funnel, dime bag, pill, camera, sparks, pinhole, eye.”

In “How to Fail a Personality Test”, the thing-y, evidential bent of the book, offers: Household cleansers, tailbone, bat, velvet cape, pelvis, tails, pictures, crab, toad, lace mantilla, clouds, horse, ceiling, map, clouds, popsicle stick, chair.

These things are responses to Rorschach blots. In the dialectic of this poem, the operative question is: What does the viewer see? How does what the viewer sees reveal his personality?

It’s the nature of Rorschach tests to determine meaning, to decode whatever the patient says he sees. Pupil, meteorite crater, drill, data, cell, needle. The things that are “seen” must first be coded, in order to be decoded.

When I read this poem, I don’t have a trusty code. Derrida (who makes small appearance in this poem) would ask, What do these things “signify”? What do these images say? and “Why this picture?” and not that? Neither I (nor the administrator of the poem’s Rorschach test) can draw from a tried-and-true semiotics.

Body I & Body II

I like the rhetorical dissonance between these two poems, with linear-sequential titles. They beg to be read and reread together. There’s a sphinx-dialectic at work within each one and between them too. They speak to each other, poem to poem. Here’s a line from each:

BODY I “Keep washing till it smells like nobody”

BODY II “I would have to become nobody”

Both Body I and Body II, with two really distinct rhetorical stances, share the shaky sense that the internal logic of the poem is slippery. The dialectic is established by non-sequiters. Some delightfully nutty ones that are very Theatre of the Absurd. Here’s some of the wacky interior logic at work:

BODY I        BODY II

“Here’s the body the body
was born in: In the ground”

“There is no way I would tell you these things without wearing my real hair. I would have to play the piano first…”

“Here’s the thing the body needed:
Take it away boys take it away.” (I love this little soft-shoe)

“You’re the salt in my coffee, the cream in my stew. There are a lot of people I would have to swallow first before you.”

Reiter’s rhetorical tricks can remind me of the riddle-ish catechism I was taught. The relationship between premises in these poems get downright eucharistic on logic’s ass. Mysterious pronouncements sound as zany as any church stories of body-magic: The body jesus lived in, the jesus body that is the eucharist, and the jesus body that you put into your body. Here’s Reiter’s esoteric cosmology of the body/soul conundrum:

“Here’s the thing about the body:
there’s no one inside”
“Here’s the body that went into the body… “There are a lot of people I would have to swallow first before you.”
“What holds the body becomes a body…”

These lines are really beautiful to me because they are honest about how little we know.

Hunger and Hungered

A sweeping hunger contains these poems, unites them, How to sate the appetite? Should it be sated? What terrors befall the One-Who-Swallows? The- One-Swallowed? And which one is which? Are they one and the same?

Is our hunger why we swallow? Or are we swallowed by our hunger? More importantly: Am I the body that went into the body? Or am I what holds the body? And if so, who did I become? And if so, did I swallow? And if so, I hope that I liked it. I’m sure I did.

~Martha Rzadkowolsky-Raoli is a street artist.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :