Review of So-so

[Harshita -]

[Following is a volunteer review of "So-so" by Nicholas A. Ventura.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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This anthology of poems, prose, and short stories is a masterful combination of poetries, proses, and short stories wherein the author's imagination and expressiveness are pushed to their limits. The novel is a travel of human experience wherein love, loss, identity, and the intricacies of life are exposed.

The proses are lyrical and evocative, suggesting rich pictures of the world and what wonders there are in it. They are intimate and universal, urging the reader to turn inward to look at their own lives and emotions. The prose is unadorned and straightforward, but highly textured and detailed.

The poetries are a treasure in the collection, charged as they are with beautiful and powerful language. The poems explore the whole extent of the human wellspring of emotion, ranging from the joy of love to the pain of loss. The imagery is rich and evocative, and the meter and rhythm are beautifully mastered. The poems are accessible but deep, and pleasant to read and reread.

The short stories are great too, showing the author's ability to write fine stories and well-styled people. The stories are tiny worlds unto themselves with their mood and atmosphere. The stories are large in theme and emotion, ranging from humor of everyday life to ugliness of human nature. The prose is lean and spare, with a wise hand at observation and intimate knowledge of human nature.

It is what binds all loose ends of the book together which is the writer's absolute love for the human condition. Love, loss, or identity, whatever it is about, the writer has a huge sympathy and comprehension of being human. The writing is close but at the same time universal, so the book is a close and engrossing read.

Overall, this is a book which is a testament to the art and craft of writing. This is a book which any reader who enjoys being well-written to in prose, poetry, or short story should read. It is a book which will linger in the reader's mind long after they have finished reading the last page, and one which will leave them reflecting on the human condition afresh and profoundly.

One thing I did noticed was that in contents page the "Poetry" section has been listed before the "Prose" but when you start reading the "Prose" section comes before the "Poetry" one.

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So-so
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