Book Review: Exits: Selected Poems by Stephen C. Pollock

06/07/202305/07/2023Non-Fiction, Paul Flanagan, Poetry, Stephen C. Pollock2 Comments

Book Details:

Author: Stephen C. Pollock
Release Date: 12th June 2023
~~Series~~:
Genre: Poetry, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book
Pages: 54
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Every life is finite. Though circumstance and timing may vary, death remains the one inescapable attribute of the human condition. Awareness of this inevitability and recognition of the transient nature of our biological selves profoundly affect each person’s perspective on their life and its meaning.
Stephen C. Pollock’s debut poetry collection nods to the literary tradition of years past while simultaneously speaking to the present moment. Multilayered and musical, the poems in Pollock’s “Exits” have drawn comparisons to the work of Eavan Boland and Seamus Heaney.
With bold imagery, attention to form, and a consistent through line rooted in the theme of mortality, his collection responds to contemporary anxieties surrounding death and decay and the universal search for meaning in life’s transience.

Review

Exits: Selected Poems by Stephen C. Pollock is a collection of beautifully written poems that evoke vivid imagery that makes one think about the meaning of not only life but also death and the afterlife. Writing on bold and dark themes, the author had done a wonderful job of creating an atmosphere for each and every poem so distinctly that you could taste it on the tip of your tongue and can distinguish them accordingly with your eyes closed.

The writing is captivating, moving and at times very strong (in a good way, of course) and makes one reminisce after each and every piece. I would definitely recommend this poetry collection to all poetry readers and even to those who don’t go for non-fiction/poetry books as their usual go-to genre, as this book has a lot to offer to its readers.

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Book Review: Brothers and Strangers: A German-Iraqi Memoir by Junis Sultan

27/06/202329/06/2023Humor, Junis Sultan, memoir, Non-Fiction, Paul FlanaganLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Junis Sultan
Release Date: 11th January 2022
~~Series~~:
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Format: E-book
Pages: 330
Publisher: Brandylane Publishers, Inc.
Blurb:
Born in Mosul, Iraq, to a wealthy intercultural family, Junis Sultan’s happy, privileged childhood is abruptly cut short by the start of the Gulf War in 1991. With their home destroyed, Junis’s family flees to Germany, settling in a small conservative town near Frankfurt. As his family struggles to adapt to their new circumstances, Junis finds himself increasingly torn between two worlds—fighting to carve out an identity for himself between his family’s expectations and a culture that demands his assimilation. After the 9/11 terror attacks, Junis begins to keep a diary, in which he reflects on questions of family, friendship, religion, and politics. These deep insights gradually expand beyond cultural borders, as Junis begins to explore the universal human needs for bonding and freedom.

Brothers and Strangers is a unique, heartfelt memoir of endurance, forgiveness, and self-actualization, offering a timely message about the importance of acting with openness and love in a global reality.

Review

Brothers and Strangers: A German-Iraqi Memoir by Junis Sultan is a beautifully written memoir that will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. This book is full of emotional ups and downs and has a great payoff in the end. The author presented a unique perspective in the book, making readers consider the era and issues raised in the book.

I would recommend this book to all readers as this is a story that EVERYONE must read.

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Book Review: Carving Up Riley (Riley MacLeod Series # 1) by Paul Flanagan

15/06/2023Humor, Paul FlanaganLeave a Comment

Book Details:

Author: Paul Flanagan
Release Date: 27th March 2023
Series: Riley MacLeod (Book #1)
Genre: Humour
Format: E-book
Pages: 78
Publisher: –
Blurb:
Meet Riley MacLeod…loving husband…caring father…faithful friend…successful writer…and the world’s biggest idiot. Of course, in Riley’s insane mind he sees himself as the world’s biggest…well…hero. However, when Riley’s wife insists they take a romantic drive from Vermont to Minnesota to spend Thanksgiving with her family who is far from normal themselves, the man who is hated by his neighbors and loathed by an angry tom cat, sets out to prove that he isn’t an idiot…under duress, of course.

The trip begins with Riley getting tied up by his best friend, his clothes stolen by a group of mischievous teenagers, and a tow truck driver with a happy gun finger. Determined to keep pushing forward, under duress of course, Riley continues down the road desperately trying to leave the state of Vermont only to encounter a killer truck driver, a girl with strange colored hair, and a pair of old people who turn out to be drug dealers. Yet, through it all, Riley somehow turns out to be a hero…well, kinda.
Will Riley MacLeod and his wife make it to the Thanksgiving table in one piece or will they end up in a mental hospital locked away in little padded rooms?

Review

Carving Up Riley by Paul Flanagan is the first book in the Riley MacLeod series. This book is a fantastic read and full of funny situational scenarios. The author has an impeccable sense of humour which comes out in the book well and makes the reader laugh heartily in many places (at least it made me chortle and chuckle in many instances.)

I would definitely recommend this book to all humour and comedy fiction fans and to those who are looking for a light-hearted book that they can finish within a couple of hours.