Review of Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
Posted: 19 Oct 2021, 16:56
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life" by Jeffrey Paul Bailey.]
Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life by Jeffrey Paul Bailey is a collection of poems that reflect the poet's mind and feelings about various aspects of life like passion, pain, love, despair, guilt, the dynamics in relationships, amongst others. While a few of the poems have rhymes and rhythm, most of them do not. Also, some are straightforward, while some have hidden meanings in them.
One of my favorite poems in the book, 'Get Me Through,' is about resilience and victory in the face of naysayers and haters. It opens with one of my favorite lines in the book, which reads: "It's not so lonely at the top when everyone's trying to nudge you from your spot." Isn't that powerful? However, the poem that personally ministered to me is titled 'The Luxury of Complacency.' It is a thought-provoking piece that inspires readers to break out of their comfort zones.
What I like most about this title is the author's exciting writing style. I enjoyed his use of symbolism to express himself. An example is the use of snow and cold to depict loneliness. More so, figures of speech like metaphor and simile invoke the reader's imagination, making the poems engaging. Readers would also enjoy some homophones and wordplays in the book. One such example is "Tomorrow Mourning," which is a title for one of the poems. I love that!
Furthermore, I appreciate the author's message through some of the poems. He speaks against body shaming and hypocrisy. Also, he encourages readers to make hay while the sun shines, as nobody's youth is permanent. I believe readers would reflect on their own life while reading the various poems in the book due to how relatable they are.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was its cover. I believe many readers won't mind it, and some may even perceive it to symbolize something; however, I didn't think it did justice to the book's content. That aside, I enjoyed the musings throughout the book and liked that it added some new words to my vocabulary. I found the poems inspiring and thought-provoking. Hence, I am rating the book four out of four stars. My dislike for the book cover doesn't touch the book's value, and we might see it redesigned in subsequent editions, so the book deserves the four-star rating. The book also seems professionally edited though it contains some errors. I highly recommend this book to lovers of poetry books and musings that lean toward sardonic and optimistic reflections about life, relationships, and sexual identity.
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Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life by Jeffrey Paul Bailey is a collection of poems that reflect the poet's mind and feelings about various aspects of life like passion, pain, love, despair, guilt, the dynamics in relationships, amongst others. While a few of the poems have rhymes and rhythm, most of them do not. Also, some are straightforward, while some have hidden meanings in them.
One of my favorite poems in the book, 'Get Me Through,' is about resilience and victory in the face of naysayers and haters. It opens with one of my favorite lines in the book, which reads: "It's not so lonely at the top when everyone's trying to nudge you from your spot." Isn't that powerful? However, the poem that personally ministered to me is titled 'The Luxury of Complacency.' It is a thought-provoking piece that inspires readers to break out of their comfort zones.
What I like most about this title is the author's exciting writing style. I enjoyed his use of symbolism to express himself. An example is the use of snow and cold to depict loneliness. More so, figures of speech like metaphor and simile invoke the reader's imagination, making the poems engaging. Readers would also enjoy some homophones and wordplays in the book. One such example is "Tomorrow Mourning," which is a title for one of the poems. I love that!
Furthermore, I appreciate the author's message through some of the poems. He speaks against body shaming and hypocrisy. Also, he encourages readers to make hay while the sun shines, as nobody's youth is permanent. I believe readers would reflect on their own life while reading the various poems in the book due to how relatable they are.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was its cover. I believe many readers won't mind it, and some may even perceive it to symbolize something; however, I didn't think it did justice to the book's content. That aside, I enjoyed the musings throughout the book and liked that it added some new words to my vocabulary. I found the poems inspiring and thought-provoking. Hence, I am rating the book four out of four stars. My dislike for the book cover doesn't touch the book's value, and we might see it redesigned in subsequent editions, so the book deserves the four-star rating. The book also seems professionally edited though it contains some errors. I highly recommend this book to lovers of poetry books and musings that lean toward sardonic and optimistic reflections about life, relationships, and sexual identity.
******
Speaks for Itself: A Commodity of Musings from My Life
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Thank you very much for this amazing review!