Review of Collateral Intentions

[Sam Ibeh]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Collateral Intentions" by Constantine M. Dhonau.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Collateral Intentions by Constantine M. Dhonau is a reflective memoir garnished with poetry, short stories, journal entries, and letters. This book summarizes the 11-year-long personal experiences of the author as he journeys through life from teenage into adulthood. This adventurous memoir features the author's love life, sex life, family life, academic life, career life, friendship life, and general relationship with people.

I'm a big fan of poetry, so it wasn't hard flowing with the author's poems. I found most of the poems and short stories' themes quite entertaining and inspiring. The author, as a teenager, was like a sailor who embarks on a voyage without a compass. He lacked focus and had no fixed goals, resulting in a series of disappointments and rejections he faced later in life. His love life was also a tragic one. As a teenager who found himself in love, betrayal was the last thing to expect, but it happened anyway and not even once. One would readily ask: what would be the fate of this young lover? Would he be able to love again? Well, the answers are not far-fetched; they all lie in the pages of this book.

Collateral Intentions is the perfect blend of action, adventure, suspense, education, and inspiration. Constantine is an excellent storyteller and an exceptional poet. I like everything about this book; irrespective of the fact that it is a memoir, it is enriched with inspirational lines and educational scenarios. Therefore, there's nothing to dislike about this fantastic read.

I liked how the author transitioned from narration to poetry intermittently. There was orderliness in the arrangement. Though I would have preferred he started with one aspect and ended with the other, I saw the rationale behind the author's structure choice. Readers who may not understand some of his poetic expressions wouldn't have to wait long to read the issues he addressed in the narration part that would follow.

One of this book's most vital element was the author's expressive style. I could feel all the emotions reeling out of every line, especially in the poems. The descriptions were so vivid that they painted images in my head of what the author was communicating. Take, for instance, these lines from "Cascade:" "Feel its long, massaging arms; Kissing each uncovered pore; Bring the scent of wild love; Pouring over from above." Did you see the emotions expressed in these lines? I hope you did.

There are so many lessons to be learned from this book. The most profound is the power of being decisive. One of the things that helped the author navigate life was making up his mind on what to do and not waste time crying over spilled milk. Every time he encounters a difficult situation, he makes a decision that propels him forward. The dilemma of decision-making plagues many young people today. This book communicates the importance of making decisions to move forward effectively, albeit through poetry.

Collateral Intentions induces self-reflection. It makes one reminisce about life and encourages self-growth. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is an exceptional read. There are a few errors, but they don't impede the book's flow. I recommend this book to every teenager and adult passing through hard storms of indecision in the present stage of their life; this book is a sure guide on overcoming such indecision. This book will especially appeal to poetry lovers. The author's poetry skill is top-notch, and the themes are both entertaining and informative.

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Collateral Intentions
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[Snigdha Pandey]

While I am not a fan of memoirs, I do love poetry, especially the ones that tell a story. I would try to check it out soon.

[Nqobile Mashinini Tshabalala]

It sounds like an all-rounded memoir detailing all of the author's experiences. I might just enjoy the poems because of the writing style he uses. Awesome review!

[onyii_review]

Nice review for poetry laced with memoirs. That sounds like an interesting book I should look out for.

[review-specialist]

To face betrayal more than once can really break someone. The suspense of whether the author finds love again is one that has pulled me to this book. Thanks for the review.

[Theexceptional]

Memoirs are always a wonderful read. They tell a lot about a real life of a person. Thanks for the review.

[The fabulous]

Memoirs tells alot about the author. It's also a way to relay one's thought.

[GNerd]

I feel like this book would contain a lot of emotions. Insightful review I must say. Good job