Author: Liz Newman

A Review of “My Sober Little Moon” by Jon Lupin, The Poetry Bandit (Review written by Liz Newman) “My Sober Little Moon” by Jon Lupin aka “The Poetry Bandit” is a poetry collection that delves into topics such as alcoholism, love,  family, and hope. It is a beautifully honest take on what it means to be battling drugs or alcohol and how the author was able to find healing and overcome his addiction.  I was deeply moved by so many pieces in this book, but I will do my best to condense my list for the purpose of this review. The…

Tender. Moving. Refreshing. These are just a few of the words that come to mind upon reading The Day is Ready for You. Alison Malee crafts each poem with skill and intention. An expert in storytelling, she beautifully weaves together a collection of vivid imagery and heartfelt emotion.  An excerpt from “Wanting”: “…we are such flighty birds, such utter romantics. We will kiss each other on open mouths and breathe promises into existence, and when we fall asleep, we will both dream about the white feathered backs of wings.” I love how her words fill the reader with wonder and enchantment.…

In her second poetry collection, Melody Lee builds upon the poetic voice we have all come to love, while also evolving in “Vine” with an increased focus on fantasy, inspiration, and passion. The book is divided into sections of vines: clematis, honeysuckle, jasmine, poison ivy, and wisteria. The garden that she has created focuses on the different emotions that each symbol evokes in the reader: strength, happiness, love and sensuality, soul-searching, and perseverance in the face of adversity. The imagery and use of fantasy flawlessly weaves each topic together with the underlying theme of nature enduring through each section. I…

“I think it’s time for them to see, the masterpiece of a woman I write myself to be. – for she is artwork and glory.” This piece prefaces the collection, and it is the perfect introduction to the work as a whole. The collection feels very much like a tribute to women everywhere, embracing the things that make us who we are. It is a collection of empowerment and appreciation. It explores all of the various elements within us that are also found in nature: dark and light, rising and falling, and the different cycles of full and half-full such…

“Inhale my love, exhale your pain.” This excerpt from “Beautifully Damaged Things” is a perfect representation of the collection as a whole. The book explores love and loss, passion and pain, and everything in between. You are drawn in from the start with the cover art illustrating a woman’s piercing gaze with a butterfly covering one eye. Another unique feature of the book is its black pages, with alternating font colors of white and grey depending on subject matter. I thought this was a beautiful contrast throughout the collection, which pulled me further into its contents. “Tear me apart…

“The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One” is Amanda Lovelace’s second book of poetry in the “women are some kind of magic” series, and that is exactly what this book is: fiery, passionate magic. “Witch” has an underlying theme of female empowerment, focused on finding the strength to take back our stories and be the heroes we know we can be. “For the girl on fire. Thank you for inspiring me to gently set the world alight. You may have a gown of flames, but those same flames run through my veins.” The book opens with this poignant dedication…

In her poetry collection “It Happens To Strong People, Too”, Kaci Kai explores moments of self-discovery, love, and the internal struggle we all have to feel worthy of belonging.  Kai displays a splendid talent for mixing her experiences with a touch of relatability and nostalgia, which gives her readers a beautiful collection of poetry to immerse themselves in. A quick favorite poem of mine is called “Like A Footnote” “When she asked to tell her story, she gave it three lines before stepping back and asking someone else, and you? An internal sigh. Relief. This is much more interesting. She…

As I was contemplating writing this review of “Songs With Our Eyes Closed”, I was struck by how immensely moved I was by this book. Tyler Kent White creates a collection of poetry that grabs hold of you and makes you feel the pain and the sheer emotion of the author with every word he writes. I was moved to tears several times throughout this book because it was so honest, so vulnerable. This collection truly changed me, it shook me in a way that I don’t often experience, which really speaks to the author’s ability to dig deep down…

Her is an incredible collection of poems that stem from insightful observations of women and the importance of appreciating them for their complexity and beauty. “She wasn’t created for everybody, her heart wasn’t made for everyone. Her love won’t be enough for just any man.” This is one of my favorites as Jeanty describes how a woman’s heart is so immense and special that it will only feel comfortable with a man who understands her and appreciates everything she has to offer. The next poem ties wonderfully in with this theme, as it reads: “You are more than worthy of love.…

Alfa is a beloved part of the poetry community, with her first book “Abandoned Breaths” enchanting readers and rising to the top of Amazon’s ‘Best Sellers’ list. Now, we get to delve deeper into each chapter of “Abandoned Breaths”: squall, monsoon, zephyr, and exhalation. Which brings us to the release of Alfa’s second collection of poetry and prose: “Silent Squall”. The book opens with this passage from Wikipedia: “Silent Squalls are rare at sea, but common on the Great Lakes of North America. A Silent Squall is the culprit of many sea stories and blamed for quite a few…