Poetry Books that Changed My Life by Patricia Furstenberg - Guest Post for the As Good As Gold Blog Tour

Today, I'm re-featuring author and poet Patricia Furstenberg. You may have seen Pat on my blog before, when I reviewed her children's novella Joyful Trouble and her children's poetry collection Puppy: 12 Months of Rhymes and Smiles.

Today, I'm featuring her newest poetry book As Good As Gold as part of a blog tour with an exclusive guest post on the poetry books that have changed Patricia's life.

Poetry Books that Changed My Life by Patricia Furstenberg
(Exclusive to Nadaness In Motion)

“Poetry is when an emotion has found its thought and the thought has found words.”- Robert Frost

We belong to a generation of readers, me, writing this guest post for wonderfully talented and supportive Nada Adel; you, reading it - a generation I am happy to be part of.

The world had seen the Lost Generation of the World War I and the G.I. Generation of World War II, followed by the Baby Boomers and Generation X (that’s us!), then the Millennials and the iGeneration (my children!). But did you know that our generation, Generation X, was without a name for 30 years? We are to thank a photographer (Robert Capa), a musician (Billy Idol) and two journalists who wrote a book - for giving us a name. The book that sealed the deal was written "to get young people talking about their hates and hopes and fears."

But isn’t this what reading is about?

Poetry as well.

What I love about poetry, WHY I love poetry is that it lends itself to interpretations. Very much like art does. If I look at a painting or listen to a piece of music - my brain will perceive the colours in a different way (different shades) than yours; the music I hear will be transmitted through my middle ear and will create a response in my brain - yet a different one than in yours. Because we are unique individuals, each one with a unique genetic code that, furthermore, has been differently and exclusively shaped by our individual, life-long experiences.

Yet we are all readers, a Generation of Readers. J

For today, I have chosen five poetry books from my bookshelves. Five books that, I feel, have shaped me.

1. A book of Shakespearean sonnets.

These were some of the very first “grown up” poems I read as a teen and I still remember the feeling of awe and revelation. How many times I’ve read them and how close to perfection I thought they were. I still do.

“Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove”

(William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116)

2. Poems by Emily Dickinson and Emily Brontë- Please do not make me choose. I enjoy them both for their ecstasy and insight into soul and nature. It was only natural that I would read their poems after devouring their prose. And repeat. This is why classics are at the top of my reading list; one can enjoy their writing time and time again, each life stage revealing yet another layer of their writing.

"Hope’ is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –"

(Emily Dickinson - ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers)

3. Poetry by Robert Frost - of course “The Road Not Taken” so intensely brought to life in “Dead Poet’s Society”.  I love Frost’s poetry for vigour and sense of direction and for its metaphors. I love the way he conveys great significance to simple objects. Here’s how Frost describes the way a poem comes to life: “It begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a loneliness. It is never a thought to begin with. It is at its best when it is a tantalising vagueness.”

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.”

(Robert Frost - “The Road Not Taken”)

4. Poems by Maya Angelou - for her strength as a woman, first, and for the electricity that springs out of page when reading her poetry.  Maya’s poems, especially her work on love and struggle, bubble with positive energy and power. Her poetry is so close to a life performance, it almost reads by itself!

“I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.”

(Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman)

5. Poetry by Ana Blandiana, one of the most outstanding, leading contemporary Romanian poets. Romania is my home land, so reading Blandiana’s work is like going back home. Ana Blandiana has grace and charm; her poems are like honey on your tongue. Her work is both visual and auditory, it pulls at the strings of your heart and it surrounds you. Allow it to.

“That sense I had, when I dreamed what I would be
Before I came to earth, altered long ago
Into hope forgotten. Now, it wells in me,
Changing all order, makes me a witness, grows -
A chain of mystery deferred, living”

(Ana Blandiana, Self-Sufficiency, Translation by Paul Scott Derrick, Viorica Patea)

Now for the book, meet As Good As Gold, a book with an enormous heart for readers of all ages, it includes 35 poems and haiku accompanied by expressive portraits of our canine friends.

As Good as Gold synopsis

As engaging as a tail wag!

Celebrating the simple things in life as seen through the eyes of our old time favourite furry friends, As Good as Gold is a volume of poetry revealing the talent and humour we always knew our dogs possessed.

Dogs are full of questions, yet they are famed sellers of innocence especially when it comes to explaining their mishaps and often foolish effervescence through ponderings such as “Why IS a Cat Not Like a Dog”, “As Brown as Chocolate”, “Silver Stars and Puppy Tail” or, best yet, “Dog or Book?”

 Add As Good as Gold on Goodreads

About Patricia Furstenberg

Patricia Furstenberg came to writing through reading. She always carries a notebook and a pen, although at times she jots down her ideas on the back of till slips or types them on her phone.

Patricia enjoys writing for children because she can take abstract, grown-up concepts and package them in humorous, child-friendly ideas while adding sensitivity and lots of love. What fuels her is an exhilarating need to write and… coffee: “How many cups have had this morning?” “None.” “Plus?” “Five cups.”

Between her books you can find the beloved Joyful Trouble, The Cheetah and the Dog, Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes and Smiles.

She is a Huffington Post contributor and pens the Sunday Column for MyPuppyclub.net as well as dabbing in freelancing. After completing her Medical Degree in Romania she moved to South Africa where she now lives with her husband, children and their dogs.

Purchase As Good as Gold by Patricia Furstenberg via Amazon UK, Amazon US, Amazon Canada

Connect with author Patricia Furstenberg via her Author Website Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest and find her books on Amazon UK / Amazon US / Amazon Canada

Keep up with the rest of the blog tour for exclusive guest posts, interviews, and book reviews via Patricia Furstenberg's website.

Odinsmal, the Rise of Jotunheim by Sammy Zakaria – Book Review

Book: Odinsmal
Author: Sammy Zakaria
Publication date: 31 March 2017

Synopsis:

Forced to flee from his home on the island of Algir Oya, young Odin finds that the evil he'd barely escaped is already causing death and destruction on mainland Midgard. In a bid for survival, the humans of Midgard have united and taken up arms in a battle which Odin unwillingly must join against the forces of Jotunheim whose ruthless ruler, Loki, is enslaving humans to mine for the precious metal, Blóstein.

Befallen by a lack of strength and resources necessary to stand against Loki's army of savage footmen and bloodthirsty wolflike berserkers, Odin must venture with his friends Thedrick, Vili, and Ve beyond the boundaries of Midgard in search of an ally to stand with them against the Jotun invasion.

Book review by Nadaness In Motion

Odinsmal, the Rise of Jotunheim by Sammy Zakaria is a tale of Norse mythology unlike the popular Marvel comics and movies we have been watching for years.

The story follows Odin, a young warrior from the distant realm of Algir Oya. It opens with Odin’s father preparing to attack Jotun soldiers, but his plan fails because of wolf-like beasts called berserkers that were created and brought by the Jotun. After that Odin and two of his friends are forced to flee after their land is attacked and brought to ruins by these soldiers.

After that Odin, an Oyan or half-breed from the marriage between a Jotun and a human, begins a journey in which he thinks he is simply running away from the invaders only to have to befriend one of them.

The first in a series,Odinsmal, the Rise of Jotunheim is a story of discovery, curiosity, and prophecies. There are many mysteries surrounding several of the characters, particularly the young Odin.

“The berserkers continued to enter the Muspel capital. They channelled through the small roads and paths of Ginnungagap like a dark substance poured into a clear stream.”

One of the things I liked about Odinsmal was Zakaria’s cinematic technique in narration. It gave great visual and I could picture the story unfold as if it were a movie.

The downside to this technique, however, was that it made the novel longer and often made the language distant from the reader. Some parts, mostly in the passive voice, felt like they were stage directions in a play rather than storytelling.

I think the novel would be an easier read with a map at the beginning detailing the places the characters live in and visit. There were several parts where I was not sure which way the characters were moving. It would also help to know which domains are occupied by the Jotun and which are not, especially since the novel does not take up after any of the Marvel movies.

As the novel progressed, I had contrasting feelings about the book: There were too many characters that at some point I got lost as to who sided with whom and how some characters related to the novel. I realise that much of this will be revealed in part two but having a map – as I mentioned earlier – may help with that as well, since it would show which characters are located where and why would they be important to the story.

Although the novel is mainly about Odin, we do not see him in every scene. There are many intertwined events taking place at the same time. Some intersect, while others keep moving parallel to each other.

The Odinsmal series has great potential, especially with the revelations that come at the end. But it definitely needs editing – and I’m not talking about grammar, that was well done. No, I’m talking in terms of showing rather than telling, avoiding certain repeated words that jar the flow of the novel, and in some cases removing unnecessary dialogue.

Would I recommend this series? Yes.

One of the characters I absolutely loved was Gialp, a friend in the form of a foe. I will not divulge much about Gialp because that would entail spoilers. But he was kind, wise, and fierce all at the same time.

There were not many notable lines or images in Odinsmal but I enjoyed the action nonetheless. Odin’s character development was minimal, although there was some progress at the end. This is understandable particularly that there are more books in the series; although a little more development especially Odin would have given more depth to the novel.

For those who like mythology, particularly the Norse tales, Odinsmal would appear to them greatly. It’s a clean read (at least this book) with several fight scenes.

Odinsmal by Sammy Zakaria would make its own great action movie.

Overall rating for Odinsmal: 3 stars

Add the book on Goodreads

Note: I received a free copy of Odinsmal from its author Sammy Zakaria in exchange for an honest review.

About the author:

Sammy Zakaria, author of Odinsmal

Sammy grew up in Denmark, but today resides in the land of meatballs and IKEA, Sweden. By day he works as an IT professional; by night a progressively balding couch potato. Aside from channel browsing and being fascinated with Norse mythology, he enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with his family.

Follow author Sammy Zakaria on Goodreads and Facebook.

Purchase Odinsmal via Amazon

Take the bait by Nada Adel Sobhi - Poem

Take the bait

Feel the weight

You think I'm the prey

Think again

I believe you've lost your way

Hold on tight

I'll drag you to the depths

Where it will be alright

(For me!)

By: Nada Adel Sobhi

This poem was inspired, a spur of the moment, by the above image posted by Realistic Poetry via Twitter.

Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes & Smiles by Patricia Furstenberg – Book Review

Book: Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes and Smiles

Author: Patricia Furstenberg

Independently Published with Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Publication date: 31 October 2017

Target audience: 2 and up

Genre: Children's, Animals, Humour

Synopsis

A puppy's first year is filled with findings, wiggles and laughter.

 

Puppies squirm in all the odd places, sniff all the strange objects, lick everything they can and find something to splash into even when we don't want them to!

This book of poems explores the first year of a puppy's life, going through an adventure after the other, one month at a time.

Puppy's first days, puppy's first weeks in a new home, puppy's encounters with snow and the school bag, puppy's duty to protect... What happens when puppy is full of good intentions, yet his actions go wrong?

Read the rhymes and laugh with your little one.

Book Review by Nadaness In Motion

Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes and Smiles by Patricia Furstenberg is a fun, exciting, adorable, and a must-read children's book.

Chapters are divided into months, in the form of puppy paws at the beginning, each a phase in the puppy's life until it turns one.

Contents Page from Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes & Smiles by Patricia Furstenberg 

With lots of colours, lots of love, humour, and puppies, children will want to read this book over and over and over.

Having lived with dogs her whole life, it's no wonder Patricia Furstenberg would choose a puppy to be centrepiece in this book.

I loved how the puppy referred to its human owner/friend as a "human pup".

"My human pup was there

And we spent the day together"

Loved the chapter where the puppy learns that it will get a name but has no idea what a name is. It was funny and innocent like children themselves.

Grown up or not, Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes and Smiles is a must-read for children that will teach them love and tenderness towards animals.

Overall rating: 5 stars

Note: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) of this book from its author in exchange for an honest review.

Note 2: Above images are courtesy from the author, Patricia Furstenberg.

Note 2: The hard copy version has more colours and font-play than the e-version.

Purchase link:

Order Puppy, 12 Months of Rhymes & Smiles by Patricia Furstenberg.

About the Author:

Patricia Furstenberg came to writing through reading. She is known to carry a book or pen and paper everywhere she goes.

Patricia enjoys writing for children because she can take abstract, grown-up concepts and package them in attractive, humorous, child-friendly words and pictures, while adding sensitivity and lots of love. What fuels her is a need to write and… coffee, “None. Plus? Five cups.”

After completing her Medical Degree in Romania, she moved to South Africa where she now lives with her husband, children, and their dogs.

Connect with author Patricia Furstenberg via her Author Website, Amazon UK, Amazon US, Huffington Post SA, Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Magora: The Bridge in the Fog by Marc Remus – Book Review

"Creativity is as blurry as the line between fantasy and reality. It is not written in stone."

Magora: The Bridge in the Fog by Marc Remus is the third instalment in the six-book Magora series. Unlike the first two, which can be read as standalones, The Bridge in the Fog requires background from previous books. In fact it starts right in the middle of the action!

The Bridge in the Fog has a darker and eerier setting and feel as opposed to the first two books. Once again, Holly and her three friends Brian, Rufus, and Amanda, go back to Magora, world of art and painting and where they attend school. They travel to Magora through a painting.

There are several ideas running through the story. Holly, a Gindar, which is like a bloodline for master painters, wonders if the evil Cuspidor, an unfinished Gindar, is her father. It scares her but it seems she is not the only one thinking that. Other students in her school have the same thought.

Unfinished are paintings that were left incomplete by their artists, which means they roam in the form of pencil lines and need blood to become 'finished'.

"If a painter makes up something exclusively from his mind, it is creativity in its purest form."

In the meantime, Holly learns that one of her favourite professors isn't teaching this year and sees her as depressed. With a little digging, Holly learns that professor LaPawnee is sad because the bridge to her world has been closed.

More questions arise about Holly's grandfather, Grandpa Nikolas, who was the reason she had discovered Magora in the first place. Even though he had passed away, Holly learns that he may have created doubles from the real world, so she goes in search of her grandfather's double.

Magora: The Bridge in the Fog flew, rather than flowed, at a much faster pace than its predecessors, with tons of twists and turns. It was an absolute thrill! And I loved every bit of it!

In his newest instalment, Remus adds expands his cast of characters and races, adding more to the world of Magora and increasing the mysteries.

There were parts in the book when I was literally mumbling to myself "No Way!" and pretty much addressing the author in my mind. There were times when I was gaping and rereading parts just to be sure I read correctly. It looks like Remus has got lots of tricks up his sleeves and I can't wait to get my hands on the remaining three books!

The Bridge in the Fog is about a hundred pages shorter than books 1 and 2, and the pace is much faster.

As with the first two, Remus adds notes or quotes about art, writing, and creativity at the beginning of each chapter. The reader is still unsure who is saying these words, or whose thoughts they are, Holly's, the author's, or someone else entirely. It is worth noting, however, that these quotes take on a more personal aspect in Magora: The Bridge in the Fog.

"You might think creativity is something special, something that is far beyond your reach. But I believe that creativity is in every single one of us."

Holly's self-doubt continues in the third instalment. Even though she is certain now that she is a Gindar, she still doubts her artistic abilities and herself in general. This aspect gives the protagonist a lot of realism, and makes the reader connect with her.

I was hoping to see more of Brian, the sarcastic one in the group. I liked his creativity. He always makes me laugh.

I haven't felt a thrill for a series in a very long time, not since the Harry Potter books were still in the publishing process.

With Magora: The Bridge in the Fog, you won't be able to put it down! Trust me!

Overall rating: Definitely 5 stars!

(Note: Book 4, titled Magora: The Uprising is coming sometime this fall. Who knows, may be October? I have my fingers crossed!)

In 2017, I've read the first three books in the Magora series and I look forward to reaching the fourth.

The Magora series has so far won 12 awards! I can bet on more to come.

Check out Nadaness In Motion's book reviews of Magora: The Gallery of Wonders (book 1) and Magora: The Golden Maple Tree (book 2)

Update: Magora: The Uprising (book 4). Note to readers: Read book 3 first before starting book 4)

Connect with author Marc Remus via Twitter and Facebook.

Crazy Crab, children's picture book by Mark Evans – Book Review

Book: Crazy Crab

Author: Mark Evans

Illustrations: Steve Page

Publication date: 25 July 2017

Number of pages: 28

Review by Nadaness In Motion

Crazy Crab is a short, fun, children's picture book by Mark Evans, with illustrations by Steve Page.

Crazy Crab is about Steve, an excellent Hermit crab marketer, who "can sell fried calamari to a squid", but who is unhappy with his life despite his success.

Steve is a crab with a dream, an ambition to become an astronaut. All his friends think he is crazy to dream such a dream, but Steve, with his hard work and strong ambition, ignores them and works hard to attain his goal.

Crazy Crab is a beautiful story with a lesson at the end. If you work for it, your dream will become a reality.

The illustrations are vibrant, interesting and exciting.

Full of hope and encouragement, Crazy Crab is a must-read for all children and parents.

Note: I received a free copy of Crazy Crab by Mark Evans in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author

Mark C. Evans was born in Perth, Australia and studied Theatre and Film and Drama Teaching at university. He has spent most of his career as a professional actor performing on TV, film and stage.

As an actor he toured schools during Book Week performing as characters from children’s literature and it was during these tours he discovered the wonderful influence that a great story can have on children.

He has been a writer and director of many short comedy films and loves to spread laughter through his words and cheeky, off the wall sense of humor. He lives with his family in Perth and has a serious addiction for finding new picture books at his locally library so he can read them to his children and be inspired by other great writers.

To learn more about Mark Evans, please visit www.mark-c-evans.com. Or connect with him via his Facebook author page and Facebook book page.