Review of The Sound of the Broken Wand

[Vivian Writes]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Sound of the Broken Wand" by Tiki Black.]

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3 out of 5 stars

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The Sound of the Broken Wand by Tiki Black is an anthology that consists of twenty-four poems. The poems are arranged into six parts, “The Blood, The Cage, The Crown, The Mirror, The Wand and The Shoe,” with each part consisting of 4 poems. The poems all have the overarching theme of authenticity — staying true to oneself despite the societal pressure to fit into one box of “beauty” or perfection.

The book’s pages are pink and filled with illustrations. For instance, at the beginning of every section, there was an illustration depicting the title of the section. In addition, there were musical scores. While these additions may seem small, they give the book an overall spice that is unique and outstanding. I find unique illustrations fitting since a lot of the poems champion uniqueness, authenticity, and distinct beauty regardless of whether society recognizes it or not. More than just being pretty, the book was a visual experience in line with the substance of the poems.

I find it even more intriguing that the author created an album from this book, and it is also titled The Sound of the Broken Wand. Essentially, the author has created, via the poems, the visuals of the book, and her songs, a titillating experience for two senses of feeling: the eyes and ears. Her words are so impactful that they go straight to the heart, challenging readers to deeply examine themselves, accept their own beauty, and break free from false societal standards.

Even though I found no errors, I found the book a little disorganized. The author included excerpts from some poems in the book at different points, and I did not understand what purpose the excerpts served. In my opinion, it gave the book a disorganized feel. Additionally, while the poems are emotive and meaningful, some of them are very abstract and require deep insight to appreciate. For this reason, several readers may find their attention often straying. For these reasons, I rate the book 3 out of 5 stars. Poetry readers are sure to find gems in this book.

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The Sound of the Broken Wand
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[Lene Lena]

Thank you for your honest review. Your insights on the thematic focus of authenticity and the visual elements, such as illustrations and musical scores, are appreciated. Feedback like yours helps enhance future editions.