Poetry Book Review: Palm Lines by Jonathan Koven

I found this work of verse full of beautiful imagery and evoking of emotions.
Palm Lines
by Jonathan Koven

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1734499281
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 53 pages
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Toho Publishing (December 18, 2020)
Genre: Emotion, Nature, Poetry
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0.

These heartfelt poems speak to a transformative journey "to rediscover love as both a question and an answer." Seeking hope, honoring family, finding love, accepting time's passage, and understanding gratitude are all major themes explored in this dreamlike collection.

Review:
This is a thought provoking collection of verse, full of life and relationship topics. The poems are set out in three sections: Life line, Heart line and Head line.

I found the imagery descriptive, rich, and beautiful. Several pieces clearly evoke emotions such as sorrow, loneliness, hope and an awe of love. I liked the themes of family, friendship, and love that were shared in the free verse. The blurb description of “dreamlike” is fitting.

Let me preface the rest of my comments with the fact that I am more a fan of traditional poetry, and even freestyle, than of free verse. Some of the pieces made me stretch my mind as I might recognize imagery and sense the emotions, but I didn’t fully get the message right away. It might be best to read the full 50+/- pages as some of the poems in the second and third sections helped my understanding of the first section.

Also, keep in mind that I was reading for the purpose of reviewing rather than personal enjoyment/engagement. I was engaged, but it might take a slower, second reading, focusing in on each piece, to reach the full level of enjoyment that I do think these verses could supply. I recommend this to fans of free verse poetry and as a short collection to stretch those readers, like me, who favor more traditional poetry.

I say “thank you” to the author for providing this work for my review.

Source: 7/14/2021 Author request to read and review this collection. This qualifies for my 2021 Author Review goal.

Audible Book Review: H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

This is not quite what I expected but beautifully written for an interesting memoir/biography.

H Is for Hawk
Written by: Helen Macdonald
Narrated by: Helen Macdonald

Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:03-03-15
Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Genre: Memoir
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
When Helen MacDonald's father died suddenly on a London street, she was devastated. An experienced falconer captivated by hawks since childhood, she'd never before been tempted to train one of the most vicious predators: the goshawk. But in her grief, she saw that the goshawk's fierce and feral anger mirrored her own. Resolving to purchase and raise the deadly creature as a means to cope with her loss, she adopted Mabel and turned to the guidance of The Once and Future King author T. H. White's chronicle The Goshawk to begin her journey into Mabel's world. Projecting herself "in the hawk's wild mind to tame her" tested the limits of MacDonald's humanity.
By turns heartbreaking and hilarious, this book is an unflinching account of bereavement, a unique look at the magnetism of an extraordinary beast, and the story of an eccentric falconer and legendary writer. Weaving together obsession, madness, memory, myth, and history, H Is for Hawk is a distinctive, surprising blend of nature writing and memoir from a very gifted writer.
©2014 Helen Macdonald (P)2014 Isis Publishing, Ltd. UK

Review:
The first thing I noted in this audio is the beautiful writing. This drew me in although I struggled with the content as the work moved on. This a memoir of the author’s struggle to overcome the disabling grief that overwhelms her upon her father’s sudden death.

At times this is her story, at others it is the story of her photojournalist father. Then woven in is a personal glimpse of T.H. White’s rather dysfunctional and sad life story. All of these are connected through their respective working with and love of hawks and falconry. Ms. Macdonald chooses to train a goshawk using older books from White and other authors as guides although she learns through experience their methods are wrong – at least as they might be applied to her calmer bird. Working with Mable initially takes Ms. Macdonald out of the world and insulates her from society, but eventually helps her see her need for other people and helps her find purpose to move on with her life.

I am not much into depression and obsession so those elements weren't wonderful for me. I did enjoy the bird training especially since I have had a few variety of birds, though none were hunters. I was struck by the fear of more lose when it came time to let the bird fly free and hope that it would return.

It was really the beautiful writing that kept me listening when the content might have caused me to skip forward or stop listening altogether. The whole work is a composition of lives, reflected in words but apparently with the same distinct and sharp skill of her photojournalist father. I would recommend this to readers who enjoy memoirs and nature.

Audio Notes: It is always interesting to have the author narrate their own work. Clearly Ms. Macdonald does a lovely job with the narration. She conveys her emotions more through the content of the book and thankfully does not make the depressing moments any darker than they are by the written word. I am glad that I listened to this as I am not sure if I would have picked up the print or ebook.

I picked this title from my TBR shelves. It qualifies for Mount TBR, Audiobook and for "H" on my Alphabet Challenge.

Book Review: The Blue Hour by Isabelle Simler

This is a delightful, visual view of nature.

The Blue Hour
by Isabelle Simler

Age Range: 4 - 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool - 3
Hardcover: 42 pages
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
(February 20, 2017)
ISBN-13: 978-0802854889
Genre: Children, Nature
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

A lovely and tranquil celebration of nature
The sun has set, the day has ended, but the night hasn't quite arrived yet. This magical twilight is known as the blue hour. Everything in nature—sky, water, flowers, birds, foxes—comes together in a symphony of blue to celebrate the merging of night and day.
With its soothing text and radiant artwork, this elegant picture book displays the majesty of nature and reminds readers that beauty is fleeting but also worth savoring.

Review:
The ‘blue hour’ is that twilight time when sun has gone down but the dark of night has not yet arrived. The sky, the water, the fauna, animals and birds shine out softly, in all sorts of glorious blues. The images are beautiful and I really loved how the creatures are located on the final pages in their native countries. The only problem I had was that the text was very small to read, even on my computer. I was glad that my granddaughters were reading with me as the eight-year-old was able to read the story for us.

This is very lovely. I do recommend this as a wonderful, delightful book to share with young… and old.

I received this book through NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley and Mount TBR Challenges.

Saturday Snapshot August 10, 2013 A Few Interesting Things of Nature

Today I am sharing some more shots of nature around our house.

Here is a moth on the large wreath that stays up

on our front porch.

Here are two snails that my DH found as he cleared out a planter.

(Looks like they are cozy together doesn't it?)

I liked the orange fungus growing on the stump in the garden.

And these raindrops on a cobweb looked like glistening beads.

I just wish I could have gotten a better shot of them.

I had fun visiting last Saturday morning and I will do it again this week.

Thanks to all who stop by and visit.

A big Thank You to Alyce of At Home With Books who has hosted this meme for a number of years. She is taking a summer hiatus at her blog and the new host will be Melissa at West Metro Mommy. Thank you to Melissa for picking up the responsibility.

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky being hosted this summer by West Metro Mommy. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.

Saturday Snapshot (April 6, 2013) Deer Nature

I missed some wonderful moon shots a week or so ago as I didn't have the camera in my car.
One twilight I caught the moon across through the trees.

A couple of evenings later I stopped to take these pictures of some deer down our street.
We have a mile and a half drive to our house and there is one other house before it dead ends.
We learn to drive slowly as the deer cross the street at different spots and you have to be careful going around the curves in case they are there.

The first shot is from the street - not zoomed.

The next three are as I zoom closer.

Thanks again to all the nice people who have commented on my Saturday pictures. I am so sorry I have not been getting to return the visits until late in the week. :-(

To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky hosted by Alyce of At Home With Books. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.