Review of Books - Recenzije
October, 2008 - Excerpt from editor's review,
“White Lilac Love”
True love never grows old. Frankly, I was captivated by it and could not put
it down. The emotions I experienced while reading through her poems were so
intense as to arouse a younger person to romance.
Bible scholars will compare this fine work favorably with Song of Solomon, which
he wrote to express his love story with the Queen of Sheba.
I highly recommend “White Lilac Love” to the serious reader.
Grover Pillsbury, Jr. Editor
~
January 2, 2009 - Beautiful, sensual poetry.,
The poems in this book are so lovely and sensual and create vivid mental
pictures - so much so that I've been inspired to make a painting of one of the
poems.
Jana Bouc, Painter,
author of the White lilac love cover painting
~
June 2, 2009 -
“White Lilac Love” is a volume of short poems to delight the soul as
well as the heart. I began this project with no small amount of trepidation. I
have to admit right in the beginning that I am neither a student of nor at
expert on poetry. I do understand there are many forms of verse… even some
without verse… and I was very afraid that I would encounter some form of free
verse with neither rhyme nor meter. Indeed, it seemed that I was bound for
disaster in any case.
Happily such was not the case. I found “White Lilac Love” to be a pleasant
surprise. Ms. Smolec’s work is a fine collection of short verses, most of less
than a page and few more than two pages, that seem to elevate one’s awareness in
not always the mood.
I found Sonja Smolec’s writing to be articulate, concise and entertaining. The
work was grammatically correct and spelling was accurate throughout. The only
negative words I could attribute to the volume would be her tendency in the
first several verses to toward a negative theme. About the time I thought that
this might become troublesome, however, it ceased and the mood of the work
shifted to more positive thoughts and I found myself totally enjoying her verses
with a light heart and, often, a smiling countenance.
In all, I would recommend this volume to all who would enjoy the bright moments
her work provides. I find it to be a particularly suited to my nightstand where
I can enjoy a light moment before turning off the light and allowing her
thoughts to lead me into sleep.
Thomas D. “Thom” Cantrall
Poetic Monthly Book Review Manager
"Nacreous Verse"
March, 2010 - “Nacreous Verse” by Sonja Smolec is a lovely
tidbit of poetry. Upon looking up the word “nacreous” it is discovered that it
has a meaning entailed of “pearls of wisdom”. This poetry book does have pearls
of wisdom throughout it. A critique of it would be hard to do in the sense of
trying to find rythym and beat. The author sometimes starts out with a great
beat and then rushes wholeheartedly into verse that does not ryhme but has great
meaning. Starting with A B A B then following up with A C D E A F G H, etc. Love
and romance are the main theme of this book.
Sonja Smolec uses some very large, intellectual words at times and uses
footnotes to define them. I feel that a footnote is not appropriate in the theme
of a poetry book but suggest perhaps that she should have used a glossary.
All in all it is a read that you will find to be in depth, loaded with emotions
and finally, it is thought provoking enough to make you read between the lines
as such as poetry always does. I would recommend this read to those that don’t
expect a lot of prose and rhythm and beat as set forth by the standards of
poetry.
Anastasia Cassella-Young
Mind Fog Reviews
"The Girl with the
Pink Glasses"
May, 17, 2010 - "The Girl with the Pink Glasses"is an
extraordinary look into the mind of a young girl growing up. Including all the
issues a younger sibling must face in a family.
We get to experience her transition from kittens to her first love. The book is
a wonderful read for anyone from adult to adolescence.
I found I could not put it down. A must read written by a very talented author.
Dawn Nelson Elwood
author of "The Wonder: Fifty Pieces of Poetry"
~
May, 23, 2010 - "The Girl with Pink Glasses"
This book was a delight to read. I would encourage anyone young and old to read
it. This book describes beautifully the trials and tribulations of growing from
child to young adult, the family life we had or the life we wish we had, your
first love, and peer pressure, and how to handle it all while being yourself.
This is the first book written by this author I’ve read and I would definitely
read more.
My review would give this 4 out of 5 stars. ****
Val Davis: Reviewer
