Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Poems, poetry

At War with Stars by R.R. Noall |Review

Along life’s path, there are so many unanswered questions. Poet R.R. Noall explores self-discovery, sense of place, and identity in her third poetry collection, At War with Stars. Are you seeking answers? Are you finding them too? This poetry collection was written for you.

Title: At War with Stars

Author: R.R. Noall

Pages:104

My review

At war with Stars is a deep dive into the soul in search of answers. The questions which are engulfing the void inside our mind is broken into pieces. Each piece of them is moulded into poems reflecting this quest. They are surprisingly original and thought-provoking.

These poems drag us from our comfort zone and suddenly throw us into a rollercoaster of emotions. This is the journey of exploring the highs and lows of life and the eternal existential crisis. There is no middle ground. The suffering is real. The unpolished edges of these words will scratch our mind. This is an in-depth essay unravelling through complex human emotions.

They carry very deep underlying meaning and not easy to comprehend. You cannot skim through them. Because in every repeated reading, it opens a whole new level of understanding. The author has beautifully weaved words to give this inherent quality.

One of the striking features of these poems are, they are straight from the heart. They bears the scars and colour of pain. They project an unadulterated voice and waiting for the reader to explore it.

Purchase here: Amazon.com

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Poems, poetry

Cracked Flutes: Blues from the Soul vol. 1 by Obed Ladiny | Review

Cracked Flutes: Blues from the Soul – Volume 1 is literary venture through the poetic eye as various aspects of brokenness in our society and in our own lives are explored.

Ladiny’s reflections are about the things that concern everyone in everyday living. He has penned emotionally-charged poems flowing with rhythmic cadence and beautifully expressed verse. These poems help readers think about the really important facets of life.

Thought-provoking and inspiring, this book is sure to find a place in readers’ hearts as they bask in a lyrical observation of life.

Title: Cracked Flutes: Blues from the Soul vol. 1

Author: Obed Ladiny

Pages: 99

My review

Have you ever heard the songs from cracked flutes? How do you feel about them- disturbing, out of tune, desperate? But they are original, right? You may not like them but they do exist in this world.

One big cracked flute exists in our heart. It receives every beat down and thrashing. It hopes to produce melodious songs one day. But all that cracks can push out are unholy sounds. Each one represents the darkness looming around the past. These poems bear those songs.

Truth is not sweet. It is rough and brutal to consume. The pain is excruciating. It will overflow through our veins. These poems give you the same feeling. Oppression, colour, pain, anger, dilemma, greed, dreams, despair, sadness…everything is poured through words. They have a disturbing flavour of rawness. The emotions behind these words will strike straight through your heart.

Living each moment in your personal hell is not a good sight. How to get out from that ditch? Pour your heart out to a paper and fill it with void instead. That is better. These abstract poems are deciphering these emotions. They derive different meaning each time you read them. They safeguard some unexplainable magic under their wings for this.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Poems, poetry, Quotes, Self-Help

White Knuckle by Steven Bruce|Review

Bruce’s debut poetry collection, an autobiographical report on the reality of life in a poverty-stricken, drug and violence-fuelled environment, is a gut-wrenching composition of grief, loss, and abandonment at an early age.

This powerful book is brutal, tragic, and moving: an essential read.

Title: White Knuckle

Author: Steven Bruce

Pages: 100

My review

Raw, brutal and honest.


These poems drag us from our comfort zone and suddenly throw to a rollercoaster of emotions. The highs and lows are filled with misery. There is no middle ground. The suffering is real. The unpolished edges of these words will scratch our mind. This is an in-depth essay unravelling through complex human emotions. Their beauty lies in their unadulterated voice. We can feel the white knuckle against our face in each poem. It hurts because it is meant to be.

Broken dreams, pain, anger, abuse, frustration, death, greed, hunger… everything is poured through words. But these are not like any other poems. Because amidst this crushing pain, they all have one common feature- a hidden sense of survival. These are not served with the sugar-coating of hope. Rather, they all have a pinch of survival instinct in every line.

Pain is the greatest lesson. We don’t remember happiness but we remember every pain we had. It opens a new path for redemption. We can witness that redemption here.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Poems, poetry, Quotes, Self-Help

Star Dust: From Heaven to Earth We Fall by J.M. Pozon | Review

Star Dust is a intricately written collection of poetry, prose and short quotes centered around up lifting women of color as well as all our sisters around the globe. With the use of powerful words the author explores and navigates the themes of self love, healing, loss , and femininity. This is women’s empowerment at its finest.

Title: Star Dust: From heaven to Earth We Fall

Author: J.M. Pozon

Pages: 116

My review

Star Dust: From Heaven to Earth We Fall is a collection of poetry, prose and quotes that carries very deep underlying meaning. They are not easy to comprehend. Because it reflects the depth of pain. They hurl through the levels of misery and completes a full circle in the end, just like the stars in their orbits. This is the true voice of women, a compassionate, deeply hurt, uplifted and empowered women. These powerful poems can evoke a sense of pride in every woman’s heart.

The collection is divided into four sections. Each section has its unique theme that fits its place in the circle. I felt that the poems in the first section are more like rejecting the pain by remembering our worth. These poems bear the pain of lost love. Second section is all about realizing that worth. Accept that unique superpowers. Third section includes most empowering poems. They not only encourage to embrace our power but also counsel to use them most diligently. The final section is all about walking through that newly drawn path proudly. Be the woman you always wanted to be.

Amina Thajudeen Book Review, Fiction, Poems, poetry

The Big Game: Volume 1: Spirituality and Love by Bethany James|Book review

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Title: The Big Game: Spirituality and Love

Author: Bethany James

Pages:119

Genre: Poetry

The Big Game: Spirituality and Love is a short collection of poems by Bethany James. This artistic expression ranges from free verse to rhymed poetries. The author also takes advantage of her creative freedom to experiment with words. This volume is dedicated to poems written on spirituality and love. If I look superficially, I can argue that this is a blend of various emotions. But if we look closely, we can find love and spiritual sense in everything little thing around us. That inner meaning is conveyed through these poems. She appreciates all emotions and every materialistic desire through the words. She is trying to find meaning in everything in and around us.

I have never read a narrative style of poetry involving romance and dessert recipes. For me, those dedicated sections of poems were a new experience. She has mixed dessert recipes with love and bridged through words. Along with that, a section of poems that ends with “I’AM” was also a unique experience. Her rhymed poetry section also has an original and refreshing style.

Overall, this is a must-read for every poetry lovers.

Rating:5/5