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My Review of Poetry: Life is like a Mosaic: Random fragments in harmony

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‘Life is like a Mosaic: Random fragments in harmony’ is an eloquent collection of syllabic poetry, most of which has been inspired from images. It brilliantly captures the meaning of life, how isolation could teach us to “live and love,” how the colors of a garden inspire us to respect the gifts of Mother Nature, and what the cooing of doves reminds us of. Such is the spectrum of Sally’s themes!

Written in a succinct yet meaningful manner, each poem is insightful and thought provoking. Some of them transport you to a “fairy kingdom,” while some hold subtle messages like “true friends hold tight the shared secrets… not to be used for gain.” Sarcasm drips from ‘Is it Time,’ ‘Scepticism’ is an amusing comment on the way the thoughts of people are influenced and ‘Hope’ holds the “poet’s promise to change your future.” Then there is a special section called ‘Slices of Life’ that is the most delightful conclusion to this treasure house of experiences.

If you love syllabic poetry, if you are looking for some relaxation mingled with prudence, this book is for you. 5 stars!

My Review of Short Stories: Things Old and Forgotten

In ‘Things Old and Forgotten,’ Mae transports you to a distinctive land, sometimes magical and bizarre yet interesting, at other times scary and sinister. This collection of short stories is an amazing mixture of fantasy and paranormal, much beyond the limits of imagination. Each story has a different theme, each one more enthralling than the other.

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Clair’s rich style of writing immediately pulls you in as, she builds an aura with words like “beach yawned wide,” “jagged fingers of stone,” “an odd sense of familiarity knifed through him,” “needles of moonlight splayed across the floor.” There are many more such expressions that exhibit her mastery over the language.

She incorporates just the right emotions, sometimes standing on the side, letting the characters narrate their story. Micah stood out for me when he tried to tell how his hair turned from “ink-black to “spectral white.” (Desert White – one of my favorites) Brilliantly written, I admire the way an oft-used theme is handled in a unique manner in this story.

Mae’s characters leave a mark on your psyche; Mrs. Conway’s resilience is heart wrenching, she pours her emotions into her painting, Beth’s silent screams gave me goosebumps, Kellan’s mysterious love stunned me though some questions remain unanswered, Angie’s and Claudie’s connection transcends beyond earthly experiences. ‘Guardian’ left me spellbound, wondering whether it is Dayr’s lust for love and life or is it his fears that took Jared into dreams. It is a marvel that these characters stayed with me to visit me in my dreams! Such is the power of Claire’s characterization. This book is engrossing and thought-provoking if you read it slowly. Highly recommended. 5 stars!

– Balroop Singh

Thank you.