Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review, courtesy of Pearl’s Book Journey:
A Journey Through My Soul
by Lena Sousa Day
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1478754367
Synopsis:
I want you to get my message … And I want these words to shine a light. A Journey Through My Soul is a collection of one passionate, thoughtful, lyrical young woman’s path from early adolescence to the present day. Many of the poems reflect her teenage years, giving wonderful insight about the wonder and wisdom of emerging maturity, with experiences ranging from the ecstatic thrill of first love and crushes, the deep comfort and bonding of true friendship, and the heartbreak of learning to deal with betrayal and the end of relationships. You will be carried along on an expanding world view that includes the quiet despair of longing for loved ones stationed overseas, the joys and fears of motherhood, and the multifaceted discovery of true and lasting love. These poems reflect experience that is both universal and unique, illuminated by a personal voice and sensitivity that allow the reader both a sense of community, and a glimpse into something beyond the everyday. Moving, inspiring, and honest, A Journey Through My Soul is a perfect companion for every life path.
Critique:
A Journey Through My Soul is a quick and easy collection of beautiful poems. I finished this in one sitting and I’m glad that I was able to experience such thoughtful and sensible verses.
I admire how the author was able to write poems based on her personal experiences. I love reading poems, although I am not an expert of it. I don’t even know how to construct one (I tried years ago and that was when my high school teacher assigned us to write one. lol but it was lame), so reading the series of poems written here kind of dazzled me because wow, they’re created in a very delectable way. I have plenty of favorite poems in this book and one of them is from chapter 1 called Crying Soul which was written to inspire fiction lovers like me. It’s a very heartbreaking story and it ended in tragedy, but the thing that made me like it was the life lesson it instilled.
Another favorite of mine is the poem called Our Anniversary which was dedicated by the author to her husband. The prose simply made me fall in love because of how sweet it sounds.
To give you a glimpse:
“And if you ever wonder
Why I love you so
Just look into my eyes
And then, you’ll really knowI’ve loved you since I can remember
Or at least for a very long time
I’m so glad that we’re together
And that I can call you mineThe day we met was a special day
About that, I have no doubt
Because I met the love of my life
And that’s what life’s all about”Overall, A Journey Through My Soul is a sweet, inspiring collection of poems. It’s a great read for people who are soul-searching and who just simply love to devour poems.
[ reviewed by Pearl on Pearl’s Book Journey ]
Here’s what another reviewer is saying:
This book is a collection of poems by this author that span from her adolescence to more recent experiences in her life. Wonderful reading and an enhancement to the soul to see the this author’s journey over time, including challenges but also triumphs, along with her burgeoning talent as a writer! Highly recommend this to others and I look forward to seeing more from this author in the future!
– Amazon Reviewer SouthPaw
A hit in the bull’s eye of average
These poems fall right into the category of average, the author shows promise and should be encouraged to continue, but right now there is little to move the reader. Some of them sound like they would be more appropriate if they were in a children’s book. For example, the opening stanza of the poem called “Narrow minds” is:
Prejudice and discrimination
They’re everywhere you go
People claiming to love their neighbor
It’s a put-on, don’t you knowThe general structure is a series of four line stanzas where the second and fourth lines rhyme. In many cases the conclusion of a stanza reads as a bit forced, generating a lack of smoothness.
The majority fit on a single page where there is whitespace between the stanzas, making each a delivery system for a basic message. The messages themselves are about life, the good as well as the bad and are easy to discern.– Goodreads Reviewer Charles
Book Trailer:
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