Review of They told me

[Obinna Chima Agoms]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "They told me" by Mona Lazar.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Mona Lazar's They Told Me is a compilation of various poems written during a turning point in her life. It requires an open state of the psyche to be able to accept the invite into her world.

They Told Me contains 13 poems, each with its unique message and pictures in between poems except for one. They are brief and straightforward, illuminating the author's thoughts with every single word. This book awakens the need for introspection in the reader's life.

Poetry has always been a more in-depth side of the literary world. Trying to paint a clear picture or send a message in fewer words than a story is a feat not everyone can achieve. The author mentions the book is about self-discovery, and I can't help but notice the symbolism between the number of poems and self-discovery, a 13-letter word. The number 13, in various beliefs, has always embodied change. And what is self-discovery without a paradigm shift in thinking?

Some of the paintings inputted are hard to grasp for me. They are abstract but unique. The author is an artist of the brush and also of words, and every artist has their way of expression. However, the meaning of the pictorial presentations is lost on me; perhaps, other readers might find meaning in them.

A central theme of the poems was the human condition. The author spoke of the need to come up with your answers in life, and the idea of hope was a recurring message. The hope stemmed from the feeling she got from knowing God, and one of the poems was a beautiful analogy of the biblical parable of the ten virgins from a single's perspective.

My favorite poem from the book is "Death Wandered the Streets." The subject of death is rarely talked about, which I find interesting. The author's personification of death is great to read. She shows how death is afraid of living. You will have to read the book to get a clearer picture.

The writing was kept simple and unambiguous. Mona Lazar rhymed where necessary and kept it free-flowing when needed. I wasn't expecting any errors because writing poetry would involve attention to personal details during artistic expression. Anyway, I was not disappointed; it was error-free. The book would leave you with a feeling of revival and renewal. There was nothing severe to dislike about They Told Me. Therefore, I'd rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I would recommend it to lovers of poetry and art. Also, avid readers of good literary work would find it interesting.

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They told me
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[nwankwo chibuchi]

Brief and straightforward poems are usually interesting to read, especially ones that the poet wrote at a crucial point in their life. I'm a lover of poetry, and I will definitely check this one out. Great review.

[Blessing E]

I subscribe to your belief about how powerful poems can be. Your review is precise and relatable. Well done

[Adaeze Joan]

This book has such an interesting title which made it seem like a self-help book. I agree with you, poetry has always been a more in-depth side of the literary world, and I believe this book would be appreciated by a lot of readers. Nice review.

[Waliyat_24]

Your review is simple and easy to understand, but I’m not a fan of poems so I’ll pass on this.

[Peace10]

Poetry has always meant more than it says. It’s more like a whole lot of idioms packed together, lol. Thanks for an honest review.