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

Carole Mertz Enjoys Reviews Poet Wilda Morris' Moby Dick Inspired Poems

Pequod Poems: 

Subtitle: Gamming with Moby Dick

by Wilda Morris

Genre: Poetry Collection

ISBN  9781949229608

Reviewed by Carole Mertz

It’s Fun to Go Gamming with Morris’s Pequod Poems

Wilda Morris’s latest collection, Pequod Poems, is delightful for its vibrant story telling through poetry. Its publication commemorated the 200^th anniversary of Herman Melville’s birth. It consists of poems written in an outstanding variety of forms, some rarely used, and even some invented by the author. Each poem relates in some way to Melville and his famous whale and each one attests to Morris’s artistry and vivid imagination.

Organized into five sections. The poems in Part I introduce us to major characters in Moby-Dick treated here in unique fashion. Morris presents Ishmael by way of a Mesostic poem. In this form, all the printed characters of the epigraph weave vertically through the poem and form the sentence: “What a fine frosty night; how Orion glitters…” “Oceans” uses the Pleiades form, seven lines of six syllables each, in which the first letter of each line is from the poem’s title. “The Captain,” is rendered as a spiraling (and double) Abecedarian.

The full enjoyment of Morris’s poems derives not only from her abundant variety of poetical forms. Her clever wielding of content brings us so clearly into the whalers’ experiences. “A Pequod Sailor Speaks,” imagines the watery vistas the captain and crew might have seen.

 

Sudden winds bellow, curdle foam.

Sword-sharp, they rip the sails, shriek

and break the mast. Lightning stabs…

 

We read of Ahab considering the wind, learn  of Pip, the tormented cabin boy, and encounter poems written from the viewpoint of Ahab’s wife. Using the sestina, Morris describes Stubb pondering the shadows he sees

 

…when the Angel of Death knocks and I hear

the window of my life closing…//

…I try to be bold, look into the face of death.

Ahab vows the finish of the great white whale in “Prophecy.” In “White” we find “…like tempestuous / wind and breakers, the spun / water that the white whale / whipped into a fury…” The Captain’s monomaniacal quest to avenge himself of his dismemberer is ever present in the lines. 

In Part II, Morris uses the bouts-sonnet form, an erasure poem, the “a gram of &s” form, and other playful narrative styles, one of which takes end words from Shakespeare’s Sonnet No. 80. Throughout, the poet deftly maintains her theme.

The poet speaks in more philosophical tones in Part III. Here she sometimes addresses Melville directly. In Part IV, unexpectantly she brings out a bit of backtalk, assuming a new pitch. In “Meditation by the Water,” a speaker asks just what the psalmist means when he declares “the Almighty will keep you / under his wings.” And in “No Harm in Ahab,” a poem significant for our current times, Morris delves into the theme of evil and the question of righteousness.

Five poems in Part V bring the volume to a close. Here we come upon the “Golden Shovel,” the “lipogram,” and a form Morris herself devised.

With its rich content and variety, the skillful manipulation of words into logical form, and Morris’s imaginative imagery, Pequod Poems forms an engaging collection. One can read it for story, for reconnection with Melville’s novel, for pure delight in the richness of Morris’s descriptions, and for her skillful rhyming techniques. 

About the Author:

Wilda Morris serves a wide community of poets both through her own published poems, and through the many workshops and courses she has taught in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa. In addition, she holds leadership positions in major artistic organizations throughout Illinois. These include the Illinois State Poetry Society and Poets & Patrons of Illinois, both for which she has served as president. 

About the Reviewer:

Carole Mertz, poet and essayist, has reviewed for Arc, Eclectica, Main St. Rag, The Bangalore Review, The Compulsive Reader, The League of Canadian Poets, World Literature Today, and elsewhere. She is the author of Color and Line, with Kelsay Books, 2021. Carole lives with her husband in Parma, OH. Her chapbook, Toward a Peeping Sunrise is available at Prolific Press.

View Carole’s writer profile at http://www.pw.org/directory/writers/carole_mertz

MORE ABOUT THE #SharingwithWriters BLOGGER

 Howard-Johnson is the multi award-wining author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is 

also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (http://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered by Modern History Press in its third edition. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page (http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile). Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (http://bit.ly/Last-MinuteEditsII) is one of her booklets just released by Modern History Press in its second edition--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal (http://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) helps writers who want to be traditionally published. The Frugal Editor (http://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques (http://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews here at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com)

Writer-Artist Deborah Lyn Stanley Reviews New Little Editing Reference

Title: Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers

Edition: 2nd Edition

Subtitle: The Ultimate Frugal Reference Guide for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper-Perfect Copy

Series: Multi Award-Winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers

Author: Carolyn Howard-Johnson

ISBN: 9781615995240

Reference: Nonfiction/Writers, Editing Reference 

Available as paperback, hard copy, and ebook on Amazon, https://amzn.to/2RInuea 

Reviewed by Deborah Lyn Stanley originally for Goodreads

My favorite self-editing book just got better, with its second edition addendum of Great Little Last-Minute Tips. Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a friend and co-contributor to Writer’s On The Move, is a constant source of encouragement for every writer’s journey!

I enjoy Carolyn’s down-to-earth and humorous writing style. It enlightens, is a kick and prevents headaches too.

 

This little book is powerful with pointers from the depth of her knowledge, writing and editing expertise. This is NOT a boring grammar/editing book. Carolyn’s Word Trippers are full of surprises and fun to make us better writers, better communicators, and better at doing the job we set out to do.

 

I highly recommend this book. It’s enlivening, instructive and strengthens our writers' journey.

 

Thank you, Carolyn Howard-Johnson for providing me a review book copy of “Great Little Last-Minute Editing tips for Writers."  I was not required to write a positive review, I receive no compensation, and it was my choice to write this review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

 

Thank you, Carolyn Howard-Johnson!

Carolyn Howard-Johnson has been promoting her own books and helping clients promote theirs for more than a decade. Her marketing plan for the second book in the HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers, The Frugal Editor, won the Next Generation Millennium Award for Marketing. See my review of The Frugal Editor  here: https://deborahlynwriter.com/2020/05/11/book-review-the-frugal-editor/. Carolyn's just-released third edition of The Frugal Book Promoter published by Modern History Press, is also new, expanded, and updated. Learn more at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Learn still more at 

 

https://howtodoitfrugally.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Little-Last-Minute-Editing-Writers

http://www.writersonthemove.com/

 

 

More About the Reviewer

Deborah Lyn Stanley is an author and artist. Learn more about her at: 

My Writer’s Life: https://deborahlynwriter.com/

Writing for Caregivers: https://deborahlyncaregiver.com/   

Artist’s Website: https://lynstanleyart.com

 

Dr. Wesley Britton's Reviews Always as Entertaining as His Reading Choices

 

The Ascension Machine

Author: Rob Edwards

Genre: YA, 

Publication date : September 1, 2020

Publisher : Shadow Dragon Press (September 1, 2020)

ASIN : B089HNNVFM

Available on Amazon 

Reviewed by: Dr. Wesley Britton originally for Book Pleasures 

 

Maybe I'm showing my age, but my first thoughts when meeting the lead character of Grey in The Ascension Machine, I thought of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series.

 

 That's because, like Harrison's Jim Di Griz, Edward's Gray starts out as  an amoral con artist on the run from one space station to the next. He's very good at finding hiding places to elude capture all over the galaxy.   Like Di Griz, Gray's yarn is told in the first person, allowing for his personality to be expressed in nearly every sentence of the saga.

 

 Like the Rat books, Edwards' story is full of clever humor. For example, when we begin meeting the young students wanting to be "space alien super heroes," one is named Gadget Dude. Another calls herself Sky Diamond, born simply Lucy. But these young would-be heroes aren't in Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearths Club Band.  Nor are they candidates for Professor Charles Xavier's Institute where young mutants learned teamwork, how to use super-powers, and how to combat bigotry.

 

 Gray isn't anything like an X-Man. He only goes to the super-hero school to pretend to be a student, has no obvious powers, and has no drive to benefit anyone other than himself.    Well, he spends much of the novel in a wheelchair and ultimately becomes the leader of a team of young super-heroes out to save a planet from nasty invaders. I must admit, beyond the main baddie, Gravane/ Dr. Gravestone,    those powerful invaders aren't especially well-defined. I confess, the contrivance of villains being constant bad shots, even with super-weapons,  is a trope rather overused by now.

 

If it sounds like I'm describing a comic book in novel form, that's pretty much what Ascension Machine is. Nothing wrong with that.  Ascension Machine is intended to be light reading, straight-ahead action-adventure, and is quite suitable for YA readers. For example, it has a character arc where a young grifter finds his identity, finds a purpose greater than himself, and we see how important teamwork is in solving complex problems. In short, the very sort of comic book I'd be happy to give the grandkids to read, knowing they'd enjoy the colorful ride.

   

Me too. Reading the final coda in this debut novel, it seems clear we're going to be seeing more of the young heroes taking on new super-villains.   Here's your chance to get in on the ground-floor of an entertaining new series. With any luck, Edwards will spark up some romances among the new "space alien super-heroes" and the team will encounter some memorable new opponents.

 

More About the Reviewer

Dr. Wesley Britton is the author of the The Beta Earth Chronicles. His reviews appear in  BookPleasures.com and this blog. Learn more about him at: 

 

Explore the Beta Earth Chronicles website:

 

Follow Wes Britton’s Goodreads blog:

 

Check out Wes Britton’s Beta Earth Chronicles Facebook page:

 

Enjoy the videos at Wes Britton’s YouTube Channel:

More About the Blogger and What This Blog Offers

  

 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 about other #TheNewBookReview free services: 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!

Lois W. Stern, educator, anthology editor, and authors' advocate, offers a way for authors, readers, and publishers to find new reviewers for their books. It's also a way for reviewers to find new books at no charge. Find her submission guidelines in the tabs at the top of The New Book Review home page.  

 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

Wanda Luthman Shares Her Process for Producing Videos to Promote Reviews

Guest Post by Wanda Luthman

If you’re like me, creating graphics for your Blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc feels overwhelming. I usually wind up putting this task off and then, at the last minute, I think, ‘Oh, I should create a graphic and promote that (like for a new release or upcoming event).’

I use Canva, the free version, and it is pretty user friendly. I have made some graphics that I’m fairly proud of, but I know a professional would probably have something to say about them. LOL

Anyway, recently, on Canva, I created a graphic about a Midwest Book Review I had received. I was super happy and grateful for it and I wanted to thank my reviewer. Once I had created the graphic, I saw a new button up on the left side that said, “animate.” So, I clicked on it and it made the words and picture fly in from the side. I thought it was super cool!

So, I asked my friend, who is a professional video producer to take a look at it to let me know what he thought. I was so proud and thought he was going to love it!

He told me that it was great, but that the words flew in and didn’t stay on the screen long enough to read them.

“Uh oh!” I didn’t know that. They appeared to fly onto the screen and stay there when I watched it on Canva, but when I posted it to Facebook, they did indeed fly off too quickly.

But, he came to the rescue and said he would do something even better. And boy did he!

He actually created me a short video with my picture, my book cover, the review, my thank you, etc. coming in at different times and moving across the screen, plus he added some awesome background music! And guess what? The words stayed on the page long enough to be read.

I was blown away at his talent!!

I’m sure my reviewer appreciated having such an awesome video too saying his name and title and being thanked for his review. 

That’s the beauty of the author community. We share on social media and it helps not just the author get exposure, but the reviewer. By the way, Gary is awesome. He loves to read and review books, so get in touch with me, if you’re interested in reaching out to him or check him out right here on #TheNewBookReview where contributor Carolyn Wilhelm posted her interview of him!  See below for the link.

But, today, it’s not so much about exposure for me so much as I’d like to highlight my friend’s video business. It’s a win, win, win!! Together, if we all are sharing a beautifully done professional video, everyone gets exposure!

If you are interested in having a video made for promotion, he’s your man. He is so easy to work with and does a great job at reasonable prices. Take a look at the video he made me and I think you’ll agree, it’s awesome! Here it is: 

You can email him, Blaise Carafello, at Blaze4ep@gmail.com

And you can read Carolyn Wilhelm’s interview of Gary S. Roen at this blog. Yes! The same prolific reviewer who gave my “Frankie” such a beautiful writeup! 

More About #TheNewBookReview Blog

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. 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 in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the form at https://www.bit.ly/FinishedReviewSubmissions. Authors and publishers who do not yet have reviews or want more may use Lois W. Stern's "Authors Helping Authors" service for requesting reviews. Find her guidelines in a tab at the top of the home page, too. And know that Carolyn Wilhelm, our IT expert, award-winning author, and veteran educator, makes an award image especially for those who volunteer to write reviews from Lois's review-request list and post them in the spirit of her "Authors Helping Authors" project. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's 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

Author-Review-Request-and-Readers-Sign-up

Author-Review-Request-and-Readers-Sign-up

Authors, want book reviews?

Readers, want free books to review? 

Sign up at these links!

Requests prior to November 19, 2020

Anthologies

Book Marketing

Business Books

Christian

Environmental

Fantasy

Fiction Books

Historical Fiction

Inspirational

Mainstream Fiction

Memoirs

Mysteries

Nonfiction

Poetry

Politics

Religion

Romance

Science Fiction

Self-help Books

Spiritual Books

Tales2Inspire

Teen Reads

Travel Books

True Crime

Western

Writers and Authors

YA Young Adult

More About #TheNewBookReview Blog The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. 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 in a tab at the top of this blog's home page or go directly to the form at https://www.bit.ly/FinishedReviewSubmissions. Authors and publishers who do not yet have reviews or want more may use Lois W. Stern's "Authors Helping Authors" service for requesting reviews. Find her guidelines in a tab at the top of the home page, too. And know that Carolyn Wilhelm, our IT expert, award-winning author, and veteran educator, makes an award image especially for those who volunteer to write reviews from Lois's review-request list and post them in the spirit of her "Authors Helping Authors" project. Reviews, interviews, and articles on this blog are indexed by genre, reviewers' names, and review sites so #TheNewBookReview may be used as a resource for most anyone in the publishing industry. As an example, writers will find this blog's 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

Lois W. Stern's Inspirational Anthology Reviewed for The New Book Review

TALES2INSPIRE ~ THE RUBY COLLECTION

Gifts of Compassion

Title: Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection

Subtitle: Gifts of Compassion

Series: Tales2Inspire

Author and Editor: Lois W. Stern

Genre: Inspirational Anthology 

Publisher: Tales2Inspire

Contact: tales2inspire2@gmail.com

ISBN-13:  978-1495940088

ISBN-10: 149594008X

ASIN: B00Q7H4ZTM

Page Count: 129

Price: $11.25, PB, $4.99 Kindle

Format: Paperback, Ebook, PDF

Reviewed by Midwest Book Reviews 

Ruby is the gemstone symbolizing friendship and love, according to Lois W. Stern. Winning writing contest submissions are included in this anthology. Some stories center on the ability of animals to feel emotions and express them in uncanny ways. Some are about the Idea that when we give, we often get more in return. Some of the protagonists sacrificed something significant to help others. A ten-year-old decided to run seven marathons on seven continents and the amazing tale of how she did so Is told in these pages. Jack’s Holocaust experiences will touch your heart, as it did for the million and a half of people he has shared it with as a speaker. A tough prisoner turns his life around when the prison changes from punishment to rehabilitation. 

This book is filled with compassion, kindness, and love. In a word, inspirational. Each story includes photographic proof. It is difficult not to be impressed and moved.

Did you know Tales2Inspire has an annual no-fee inspirational writing contest and winning entries are published in an anthology? Do you have a special story to share, along with a photo or two? 

Lois W. Stern hopes you will submit one if you do! 

Contest information: http://tales2inspire.com/contest-2/

Lois W. Stern is a former teacher. She is motivated to help other aspiring authors on their individual paths to discovery. She has published ten anthologies to date and earned two National Indie Excellence Awards. 

On her site, a free ebook is available at tales2inspire.com/gifts to read sample stories. If you sign up for the newsletter, you will find out when she runs reduced book price specials, as well. 

Be inspired, or even inspire others! 

Thank you for reading TheNewBookReview!