Official Review: New Horizons in Life, Art & Poetry

[Christabel Uzoamaka]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "New Horizons in Life, Art & Poetry" by Dr William Clark.]

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2 out of 4 stars

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New Horizons in Life, Art & Poetry by Dr. William Clark is a non-fiction piece that showcases the writer’s enthusiasm for the arts. During the 1980s, Dr. William Clark participated in a correspondence course on drawing and painting organized by the Paris ABC School of Art. After a successful career in orthodontics, Clark decided to rekindle his immense interest in the beautiful world of art and has compiled this book that presents his artworks. He also included some poems and essays that reveal his thoughts on life and the human essence.

The author began by explaining the basis of the book and what it meant to him, which I felt was thoughtful because it allows the reader to make a personal connection to the author and his thoughts. Clark also included such opening statements at the start of every new chapter; I felt this was unnecessary, as they seemed like page fillers. He mentioned his orthodontics practice quite a bit, and it seemed, to me, like self-advertising, and I generally do not appreciate that in a book.

The things I enjoyed the most about this book were the pictures of art pieces done by the author. While they were not Picasso by any means, they were heartwarming and revealed the deep sense of love for life that the author has. The author included pictures of his home and his community, which I felt was the most beautiful personal touch. I got to see his cats, the mantlepiece, and the excellent scenery that he and his family have enjoyed in the course of their lives. The most intriguing photo, for me, was the one that showcased the Torran Lochan, a small landlocked lake in Scotland.

I would recommend this book for people of all ages that are interested in art and poetry. However, they must note that most of the pieces included in it are amateur works and, as such, are not awe-striking. Also, the poems were not profound. While I enjoyed some essays, my favorite being “The Human Machine,” I didn’t find most of the poetry noteworthy. My favorite poem was “Bill’s Trills” because of the personal touch the author gave it. The author shared some of his philosophies regarding life and human beings, but I would have appreciated more poems with such a personal touch.

Also, I found that some art pieces were repeated. I did not like this, as I felt that it detracted from the allure and originality of this piece. I rate New Horizons in Life, Art & Poetry 2 out of 4 stars because, while I found the artworks heartwarming, both the art pieces and the poems did not resonate with me or intrigue me. I suggest that the author should include more personal essays that recount his experiences and childhood. I did not rate it lower because I was positively warmed by the pictures that make up the book, and I didn’t find a single error in it.

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New Horizons in Life, Art & Poetry
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[RHD]

This one seems unique. Unfortunately, it seems uninteresting as well. Thank you for your honest review.

[Yvonne Monique]

I don't think that this is a book for me. Your review was very insightful, though.

[Unique Ego]

Given that this book is essentially a collection of artworks, I like the accompanying poems and essays to help drive a connection between the author and the readers.

[Eutoc]

I wonder the theme of his poems and why they didn't resonate with you. I liked the author shared some of his works with his readers. From your description I can tell the pictures are lovely. Thanks for your honest review.

[Dominik_G]

I love art and poetry, but it feels like New Horizons in Life, Art & Poetry probably needs some more polishing to reach its full potential. Thank you for your thorough and honest review, though! I enjoyed reading it.