The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord by Emmanuella Hristova – Book Review

Book: The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord

Author: Emmanuella Hristova

No. of pages: 50

Publication date: April 2018

Synopsis:

The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Disorder is a short collection of poems that explores a tumultuous year of love, heartbreak and unimaginable loss. It documents the birth and death of a relationship, and the death of my sister. Each poem is an emotional time-stamp that plunges the reader into the depths of my feelings as they burgeon and wane. The book reads like a diary and chronicles the boundaries of the things that we all feel: passion, heartache, and pain that gives way to hope. 

Book Review by Nadaness In Motion

The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord is a raw and emotional poetry collection by Emmanuella Hristova.

At first I was at a loss with the arrangement and titling of the poems. But I realized that they're done in a historic kind of arrangement with some days having more than one poem written. Many pieces don't have titles just dates.

A note to remind oneself when reading poetry collections, especially those in free verse, not everyone breaks lines the same way. I disliked many of the line breaks in The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord but that could just be me and others might prefer them that way.

The poem titled "September 29th" is one of the beautiful ones I enjoyed in the first half, though I disliked the repetition of 'and' and some of the line breaks.

"Upon Success" is a short piece that every person everywhere in the world can relate to. It's short and I'll quote it; I didn't like the line-breaks here either.

"America is a weird place where/we leave the/people we love to/pursue little green pieces of/paper and ink to/fill empty slots on/our resumes."

I felt that the piece titled "October 5th" was more prose than poetry but I loved the imagery.  "October 9th" is brimming with stunning imagery, dark, and just wow!

"I hesitate when you kiss me because I/ am afraid you will taste the disaster/brewing underneath my skin. Or maybe/my kisses taste hot, like a dangerous/sun storm raging on the broiling/surface of our most familiar star."  - that's just a sample of "October 9th" which is a long and gorgeous poem.

Another important note about The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord is that there are many pieces handling sexual and physical abuse. The poems are powerful. Like these lines from "October 17th":

"Letting my lips touch yours/was a contract I signed/without reading the fine print: participant subject to hasty sexual advances/ without warning."

I couldn't get the poem "November 14th," it was odd with a dry tone and felt more like a series of commandments. "November 16th" reads like a broken down prose piece but is full of strong imagery.

Other 5-star pieces in Hristova's The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord include: "October 18th," "October 19th," "Upon Saying Thank You," "Upon Inspiration," "November 17th," "December 15th," and "Upon Celebrating International Women's Day."

"You came, conquered,/stole my heart and/left me with a Moleskin full of/pensive poems documenting unrequited love/exposed on cream, lined pages." - "Upon Inspiration"

I must admit that the second half of the book was much better than the first half. The poems were longer and deeper after the 50% mark. That said, "Upon Diluting Myself" and "Upon Being a Woman" are the most powerful pieces in the entire collection. 10 stars each of these.

"Upon Diluting Myself" is long but super powerful. It's also explicit, painful, eye-opening, and emancipating, all at the same time. Similarly, "Upon Being a Woman" is the most painful piece in The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord. It does have a lot of Spanish words, which I couldn't understand. The poem is probably the longest in the collection but speaks for a lot of women suffering from sexual abuse.

"Upon inheritance" is a sad and painful piece that nearly made me cry.

Last but certainly not least, The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord ends with "Here's to the Woman," Hristova's perfect conclusion to her emotionally raw poetry collection that I believe is dedicated to all women out there.

This collection was hard for me to judge, but my overall rating is: 4 stars.

Note: I received a free copy of The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Discord from its author Emmanuella Hristova in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

Emmanuella Hristova was born in Oakland, California and grew up in the Bay Area. She is the third daughter to Bulgarian parents who immigrated to California shortly before she was born. She began drawing at the ripe age of four, and studied the fine arts for five years in high school. In 2015, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics from the University of California, Berkeley.

She began writing poetry at age twenty-four when she was in graduate school. She earned her Master's in Education from the same alma mater in 2017. Emmanuella spent two years as an English teacher in Richmond, California. During that time, she self-published her first poetry collection: The Day My Kisses Tasted Like Disorder. Currently, she is writing her first novel.

Connect with indie author Emmanuella Hristova via her website, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram

Takhayyal Writing Prompt 89: #amwriting by the Sea

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's MONTHLY picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal/Imagine.

I honestly didn't know what to post this month. Kept going through lots of pictures, some on my phone, some on my computer, Pinterest, Facebook…

Then I thought I could use two images I took with my phone that well I think might be inspiring. September is when people are leaving the beach behind and getting ready for school, so here are two images for the hearts we're leaving by the sea (I know I am) with a final dose of salty sea spray.

I've also heard or seen a few people who dream of being able to be inspired to write by the sea; this is for YOU!

Ready?

Get set...


Here we go!

Photography by Nada Adel Sobhi. Taken at Egypt's North Coast 2018.

Photography by Nada Adel Sobhi. At Egypt's North Coast km 89. 

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

Give credit where due, the images were taken by me, Nada Adel Sobhi at Egypt's North Coast.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·        Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·        It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!

Red Nails - Poem by Nada Adel Sobhi

Red nails

Break the blue calm

Like tiny roses

In a sea of green

Colours

They paint my world

Breathe new life

Into my lungs

I close my eyes

Feel the cold air

Fill my being

Those moments of life

Lapses of perfection

In a world of endless

Hustle and bustle

Sunlight sifts

Through clouds and mountains high

The wind blows on my face,

My lips can almost taste

The saltiness of my surroundings

I close my eyes again

Then open them to see

Red nails

On a sea of brown rocks

Covered by a hue of greyish blue

By: Nada Adel Sobhi/Nadaness In Motion

Photography by Nada Adel Sobhi aka Nadaness In Motion

Written Thursday, 29 March 2018 at 16:50

The writing and publishing of this poem coincides with the April-long National Poetry Month.

Takhayyal writing prompt 80: Artistic Magic

Welcome back Ladies and Gentlemen, Artists, Poets, Writers, Authors, Dreamers, Friends and Family; Welcome EVERYONE to Nadaness In Motion's bi-weekly picture-prompt writing challenge Takhayyal.

At first I wasn't sure about the image below but then I felt it was soooo artistic, it must be capable of inspiring people. The colours are simple - and few - but stunning.

I just had to use it.

  

Arabic for Imagine, Takhayyal is a challenge for writers of all ages and genres; a place to spark creativity and explore new genres.

Your post can be in English or Arabic, prose, poetry, short story, flash fiction; you name it and write it.

General rules:

·        No nudity, violence, and/or abuse.

·        Leave the link to your post in comments below OR post your piece as REPLY to this post

·        Your piece MUST be inspired in some way or other by the above picture

·        Multiple entries allowed

·        It is not required but it is a nice and encouraging gesture to comment on others' pieces.

·        Feel free to add your Twitter handle (@....) so I can tag you in my tweets!

Let's IMAGINE!

Underestimating Autumn by Nada Adel Sobhi - Prose

I have always viewed autumn as the tasteless season. A season with no character. Just grey skies, jittery weather; you never know if summer has ended or winter has started. You feel like you’re unsure what to wear and always end up with the wrong guess. You wear something light so it ends up being cold; you take a jacket or something heavy - because winter is coming right? - and it’s too warm.

But then I saw ‘her’ garden. I was struck, not by lightning, but by beauty, by colour.

Colours I had never seen in nature before. Colours no painter’s palette can ever bring to the canvas. Colours that breathe life into your being.

I have often read descriptions of autumn, where yellow and orange leaves litter the sidewalks. The descriptions were enticing. But that’s what I had often assumed they were: descriptions.

Photography by Cathy Ace - Her Garden of Inspiration

Here, in Egypt, there are no yellow-and-orange leaves. The dull greens fall and the trees become bare in autumn and winter. The sky wavers between grey and sunny, unsure what the day will bring, like it is trying to maintain a level of suspense. But as time passes, this suspense wears away and everyone is just bored.

I admit: I never liked autumn. The bland season. The prelude to the cold. Not until I had seen these images. I felt my eyes open.

I was seeing another - stunning - world for the first time, an enchanting one.

I stared at - and shared - the images before me. I wanted the world to see them, feel them, bask their beauty. I could almost feel a slightly cold breeze, smell the damp grassy garden, and see myself sitting amidst the flowers and trees, reading, writing, and above all living.

I look at the pictures again and understand why authors abroad write such beautiful books and settings. Because their views are different. Colourful. Vibrant. Alive.

Cathy Ace's garden in full colour and force. Photography by Cathy Ace

I know the garden will turn white with snow when winter comes, but for a moment I lived.

Writing by: Nada Adel Sobhi/Nadaness In Motion

Photography by: Cathy Ace (originally a cozy mystery author.) Find her on Facebook and Twitter. 

I saw these pictures by Cathy and the words just started flowing out of my mind and pen.

Top Trending Wedding Destinations in India - Travel Guest Post

  

‘Something old, something new,

Something borrowed something blue…’

Ah, the ages-old adage never fails to excite you. Though all you need is love, to tie the knot, then again, who doesn’t want their ‘big day’ to be cherished. Wedding day is the day when bride and groom do deserve the pedestal to take vows to embrace the worlds of one another. It is indeed an exciting day! And this special day deserves an exceptional venue where no one can hold back from saying ‘I Do’ at once.

The rising trend of doing something “different” on the wedding day has made destination weddings a favourite amongst the couples. Everyone is looking for a unique destination to make the day memorable! So, here are some trending destinations in India, where you get an auspicious start to a new leap in life. Go ahead, take a look!

1.   Goa

Photo by WHATKNOT, CC0 1.0

Aloha Goa! The party capital of India definitely has a lot to boast about. And there is no reason why its pristine- blue skies, shimmering seas and golden sand-beaches cannot be the witness to two love birds, tying a knot. The state has flourished a lot in past few years as a wedding destination and therefore, it lacks no luxury or necessity for the perfect wedding. One look at the bride walking down the aisle in the perfect beach setting fills the hearts with joy and ecstasy.

2.   Kerala

Photo by ravishahi, CC0 1.0

Amidst the beautiful backwaters of Kerala; in the serene dip of the Vembanad Lake and the surrounding Islands; Kerala happens to be the perfect venue to take off into marital bliss. The land is rich with cultural ethnicity and scenic abundance. Whether you want the roaring beach or the lush backwaters in the background, Kerala has it all. Shangumukham Beach, Kovalam and Pathiramanal Island offer different but all in all a perfect setting for the unforgettable wedding!

3.   Jaipur

Photo by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0

It is impossible for a girl with big wedding plans to have not dreamt of a Prince Charming whisking her off her feet and riding into the sunset! Well, what if she could be the princess herself! Yes, this can happen in Jaipur, Rajasthan, a city with a royal past. As many majestic forts and palaces in Jaipur, now serve as resorts and wedding venues to give the love stories the most royal beginning. The forts you can chose from include Samod palace, Jal Mahal, Raj Palace, Gold Palace, Rambagh Garden, many of which were once dwelt in by the royal families.

4.   Mumbai

Photo by rooprangdecorators, CC0 1.0

Mumbai- the metro of the stars! Get married in Mumbai which accommodates some of the most beautiful wedding venues in India with the legacy of the J. W. Marriott, Leela, Four Seasons, Vivette Banquet, Kohinoor and plenty more. Choose the theme you want to go for at your wedding, and these international hotels will figure out a way to give you the perfect wedding backdrop you were looking for. After all, it is your and your families’ day, why take the burden of it on your shoulders when you have a hotel team at your service.

5.   Lakshadweep

Photo by Pexels, CC0 1.0

If you want to etch a wedding to your memory forever, why not visit the faraway lands and tie a knot amidst untouched islands and glistening ocean surrounding them, in Lakshadweep Islands. By inviting your guests to the wedding, you will also treat them with a visit to this exotic destination, covered in lush green evergreen forests. Ever thought of an underwater wedding, if not, think of it now because Lakshadweep offers you a chance to confess your desire for love till eternity form you better half, under waters.

6.   Uttarakhand

Photo by pixagod, CC0 1.0

The beauty of the snow in the background, coupled with tall pine and oak trees with snow dripping off its branches; laughs echoing off the mountains- the perfect picture to frame your happily ever after.  The mesmerizing terrains add that extra tinge of drama to your wedding, capturing the love of the moment. You can plan the event on one of the peak points overlooking alluring mountains or you can book your date with some of the most luxurious hotels in the region, like the picturesque Ahaana, enticing Gateway Resort or the alluring Savoy to mention a few.

7.   Havelock Islands, Andamans

Photo by Pexels, CC0 1.0

Apart from sandy white beaches and turquoise blue waters, the Andaman Islands also harbour some of the most beautiful eco villages and rustic hamlets in its cradle. If you and your partner enjoy the reined in beauty of the nature then I guess, the villages of the Andaman are the perfect spot. After all, there is nothing more melodious than the music of the waves in the background while you look your partner in the eye.

8.   Kanyakumari

Photo by Pexels, CC0 1.0

The southernmost ridge of the country encased with the cascading blue waters and sands splashed with rainbow colours; Kanyakumari is a land with particular significance in the mythology of the country. Seek the blessings of a Goddess who waits an eternity for her long-lost love. Kanyakumari is especially famous for the bliss that hues of sunset bestow to its beaches and a creative wedding planner can turn the location in to the most picturesque venue for the grand affair capturing some wonderful candid shots of the bride and groom.

Every soul dreams of getting married in a heavenly setting- a dream that they have nurtured for quite so long. Some want their special day to be regal, while others want to embrace the serene nature. Let your dreams soar high, because whatever your dream wedding is, India can make it happen!

About the Author:

An ardent traveller by heart and soul, Himanshu is a voracious writer who conjures up magic with his writings. Plan your perfect trips with Himanshu and his first-hand experiences, to make the most out of your dream destinations. Explore his travel stories with Pearls India Tour. Connect with Himanshu via Twitter.