Sunday 6 September 2015

NetGalley Reviews: Poetry and Orchestras.

Status: The Invisible World Is In Decline
Author: Bruce Whiteman
Genre: Poetry, Short Story
General Thoughts: Meh, good and bad.
Rating: 2.25/5 stars.

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Intimate Letters is a collection of short poems, that vary in theme and length, but can be all related by the same drive of finding poetry in everything.
Short and concise. That's how I like my poetry. And that's what this book is. Small little stories, fast to read.

At times, there were some very beautiful passages through this book, very true and honest. Small little ways of expressing a thought or a moment, that just enchanted me. I even marked some of them, because I really loved them. Here, have some.

"Even in the face of trees that will outlive me, the world seems beautiful."  
"Every small-town psychic knows that the greatest urgency is to live inside the moment." 
"Love is obsessive or love is nothing at all." 
"Press yourself against my chest and sigh." 
"Books pile up like laundry, ready to be recycled." 
"We sleep to much or yearn to. Down the line there's only more of the same." 
"The worst part of being alone is thinking to much."

The whole poem "Elegy" about his mother's death, specially the beginning, was completely beautiful.

But then at times, it felt like this was too personal to understand. There were to many references or small things said that I think I would have liked best if I knew this person, or if I was this person. The whole book feels too personal, really. And poetry is very personal, but not to the point where you don't really understand. At times it felt like juts a bunch of random thoughts put down in a haste, just to get them before they leave, without any string of consciousness that connects them.

And also, you can tell this man lives and breaths poetry. The way he talks about everything in such a simple voice. But at the same time, I think he over did it. He was so worried to form a poetic sentence that at times you don't understand what you're reading.

I liked it, not completely enjoyed, but it was nice and sweet to read.

Title: Zoo Orchestra
Status: Stand Alone
Author: Manuel Diaz
Genre: Children, Music
General Thoughts: Ok, just that.
Rating: 3.25/5 stars.

Zoo Orchestra

Zoo Orchestra, is a children's book that talks about the instruments found in an orchestra, and associates them to animals in a funny way. In here, we get a little information of both the instrument and the animal, while having fun!

I think this book was actually good. It was meant for kids, to teach about the instruments in a fun relatable way, and that's what it did. It served its purpose.

I thought the drawings made for the book were beautiful and original. And the association between animal/instrument was well done.

Also, I love how he gave information of not only the instrument but the animal as well, and how he also added a small tip of what to listen if you're looking for the instrument.

But I think the execution could have been better. A little more information about each instrument wouldn't have hurt, because it really just said the obvious at sight. And the same for the animals. And a little more structure was also missing. Some information given in some places was missing in others, and I think that with a better organization and polishing, it would have been ok.

And not exactly a flaw, because I understand, but I would have liked to see a tiny bit more of instruments. Just saying.

Nice book overall. I can see myself showing this to kids. But small ones. And then searching for something else. But I think you should buy it for your kids, specially because more music should be taught in general.

Thanks to Mill City Press and ECW Press for sending me this copies, respectively! 

I received this copies in exchange of an honest review, for so, none of my feelings were affected or biased by the author or publisher.

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