Review of A Brighter Tomorrow
Posted: 16 Feb 2022, 14:36
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Brighter Tomorrow" by Lori Schneider, MD.]
"Amid the pandemic, overwhelmed with emotion,
I turned to pen and paper for catharsis.
Poetry has become my true devotion,
A window to the soul that illuminates the darkness."
A Brighter Tomorrow is an uplifting poetry collection penned by Lori Schneider, MD. As illustrated in the above quote, the author begins by sharing that poetry is both her creative and therapeutic expression. In addition to addressing emotions evoked by the pandemic, Schneider's poems contemplate various themes of love, racial injustice, hope, courage, and animal advocacy. The author cites relevant quotes from Deepak Chopra, Robert F. Kennedy, and Harper Lee. Schneider credits advisor Anthony Jones with the final and title poem that promises better days ahead.
The author presents a thoughtfully organized collection, dividing its 98 pages into seven sections and concluding with the title poem. I noted a minor discrepancy regarding the book and poem title: the former uses the adjective "brighter; the latter displays "bright." Otherwise, the book is exceptionally edited. Although Schneider primarily adheres to a rhyming-scheme format that some poetry enthusiasts may find slightly formulaic, those willing to look beyond first glance will appreciate her consistent and intentional style. The book features an assortment of artfully arranged photographs and beautiful paintings by Mark Salevitz, MD.
I most like the storytelling aspect of Schneider's poetry. In "Pandemic Closet," her longing lament about the necessary adjustments to her wardrobe will resonate with those who have also traded pencil skirts for yoga pants while unclothing a deeper meaning. The poignant “Say Our Name” is “written in memory of all those who died as a result of injustice.” Schneider retells the love story of her maternal grandparents in "Sealed by Fate" and sensitively broaches interracial marriage in "No Regrets." Animal lovers will enjoy her poem about "Milo" the service dog. I appreciate that the evocative collection includes no ambiguous poems with vague references.
My only suggestions for improvement involve formatting. Given the book's overall professional appearance, I was surprised by the absence of a hyperlinked table of contents that would provide readers with more convenient access to their favorite poems. Likewise, the Kindle version lacks appropriate screen-orientation formatting, which requires tedious page-by-page enlarging and exiting to view text and art that is less than half the page size in some instances. (Incidentally, I double-checked my device's display settings before mentioning the issue.)
Overall, I rate A Brighter Tomorrow 4 out of 4 stars. The formatting issues are minor in light of the collection's beauty as a whole. I recommend the inspirational book to fans of poetry and art. It contains no profanity.
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A Brighter Tomorrow
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"Amid the pandemic, overwhelmed with emotion,
I turned to pen and paper for catharsis.
Poetry has become my true devotion,
A window to the soul that illuminates the darkness."
A Brighter Tomorrow is an uplifting poetry collection penned by Lori Schneider, MD. As illustrated in the above quote, the author begins by sharing that poetry is both her creative and therapeutic expression. In addition to addressing emotions evoked by the pandemic, Schneider's poems contemplate various themes of love, racial injustice, hope, courage, and animal advocacy. The author cites relevant quotes from Deepak Chopra, Robert F. Kennedy, and Harper Lee. Schneider credits advisor Anthony Jones with the final and title poem that promises better days ahead.
The author presents a thoughtfully organized collection, dividing its 98 pages into seven sections and concluding with the title poem. I noted a minor discrepancy regarding the book and poem title: the former uses the adjective "brighter; the latter displays "bright." Otherwise, the book is exceptionally edited. Although Schneider primarily adheres to a rhyming-scheme format that some poetry enthusiasts may find slightly formulaic, those willing to look beyond first glance will appreciate her consistent and intentional style. The book features an assortment of artfully arranged photographs and beautiful paintings by Mark Salevitz, MD.
I most like the storytelling aspect of Schneider's poetry. In "Pandemic Closet," her longing lament about the necessary adjustments to her wardrobe will resonate with those who have also traded pencil skirts for yoga pants while unclothing a deeper meaning. The poignant “Say Our Name” is “written in memory of all those who died as a result of injustice.” Schneider retells the love story of her maternal grandparents in "Sealed by Fate" and sensitively broaches interracial marriage in "No Regrets." Animal lovers will enjoy her poem about "Milo" the service dog. I appreciate that the evocative collection includes no ambiguous poems with vague references.
My only suggestions for improvement involve formatting. Given the book's overall professional appearance, I was surprised by the absence of a hyperlinked table of contents that would provide readers with more convenient access to their favorite poems. Likewise, the Kindle version lacks appropriate screen-orientation formatting, which requires tedious page-by-page enlarging and exiting to view text and art that is less than half the page size in some instances. (Incidentally, I double-checked my device's display settings before mentioning the issue.)
Overall, I rate A Brighter Tomorrow 4 out of 4 stars. The formatting issues are minor in light of the collection's beauty as a whole. I recommend the inspirational book to fans of poetry and art. It contains no profanity.
******
A Brighter Tomorrow
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon