Poet Dale writes with courage and insight. Her ability ...
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Poet Dale writes with courage and insight. Her ability to express feelings of longing, isolation, loss and regret with precise and vivid imagery as well as subtle humor makes her work relatable to all of our life experiences.
My heart felt connection to Verge deepens each time I read it. Thank you Karen Dale.
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Sandy Supowit's talent is evident in every poem. She is able to identify and describe experiences in her life so that we share them. Her pain and struggles are universal but this poet has the words to convey with honesty  what we only feel. Her style is beautiful. She has been a risk taker. It is  evident in every poem. Inspiring.
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It takes great courage on the part of survivors to tell their stories publicly.  In this well written book, Esad Boskailo faces his memories and feelings so that others can understand and benefit from his own trauma.  As a psychiatrist, he stands on the inside and outside of his own experiences which is only enhanced by teaming up with journalist Julia Lieblich.  Esad's life is a monument to an obvious commitment to 'give back' to his community and this book is just another example.  I want to thank them for the privilege to read such an insightful book.
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People who create, whether it is with words, or paints or notes, often know deep joy. Yet their road is also paved with difficulties and loneliness. Cassie Premo Steele offers her readers a supportive and wise cup of comfort in her spare, powerful poems about the creative process that resonate with courage and heart.

If you are someone who enters into the creative process (and who doesn't in one way or another?) Cassie's words will encourage and inspire; don't miss this call to tap your inner resources despite the fears and obstacles that arise. As she says: "All of us, shedding in fall, baring in winter, budding in spring and every summer, new fruit."
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There is an amazing amount of courage and determination that goes into every day for Ms. Sanfilippo, and to write this book must have taken all of her grit, guts and humor.  The book does a great job in showing us the struggles Gail endures daily, and how she deals with them. She shares the good and the bad with the reader to help others understand her world. It's an important book for all to read, and especially those who work with people with physical disabilities. It should be required for doctors, nurses, health aides and educators to read in their training.
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Evan has such a way with words that packs profound insight into a seemingly simple phrase. Coupled with her great courage and vulnerability, this is a very useful book for anyone who has struggled with doubts about their faith, or knows someone who does.
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Janet Grace Riehl beautifully shares the empowering process of writing oneself through life transitions that "take us up hard." By offering us a glimpse into her heart as a poet, she encourages us to slow down, notice, and navigate our shifting terrain with grace and love. Her most intimate memories and ordinary moments become for us a kind of map; a compass created when pen touches paper.

"Sightlines: A Poet's Diary" invites us to consider how we would all do well to note the stories within - those gifted to us and those we create for ourselves. Janet Riehl rides the edge of her creative spirit, illustrating how to be in the moment and hold out for the meaning that acts as a healing balm for the soul.

Bernadette Rose Smith, author&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Bernadette-s-Pages-An-Intimate-Crossroad/dp/0977799018/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Bernadette's Pages: An Intimate Crossroad</a>
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"Wildflowers in the Median: A Restorative Journey into Healing, Justice, and Joy," fulfills the promise of its title. Beautifully written and edited, this small book is chockful of wisdom and insight. Leonard Scovens, currently serving two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Agnes Furey's daughter and grandson, has a poetic, sophisticated writing style that offers a glimpse into the mind of a badly damaged but hopeful man. And Agnes - how I wish that her letters had been saved! Her poems offer just a taste of what her agony has been, and how she has embarked on a determined voyage of healing.

This book should be a text for criminology classes, a bible for social workers, and a raft in a sea of anguish for victims and their families. It lifts the dark veil of outrageous criminality for a moment and offers a sliver of hope for mankind.
<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Wildflowers-in-the-Median-A-Restorative-Journey-into-Healing-Justice-and-Joy/dp/1475953674/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Wildflowers in the Median: A Restorative Journey into Healing, Justice, and Joy</a>
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For those who have fallen under the spell of Helene Pilibosian's edgy, probing, honest poetry this book will 1) come as no surprise, and 2) will come as a very big surprise - that a poet so fine as this lady can write history, particularly an autobiographical book, as cogent as MY LITERARY PROFILE: A MEMOIR. To try to cover the events related in this book would take a review far too long to hold the attention of the reader: a review should only inform the reader of the nature of a book.  But in Helene Piliboisan's case we are talking about almost a lifetime of experiences that molded the poet she became ('almost', because she is still very much with us!), and skipping over lightly any portion of this conversation with the writer would seem negligent.

Suffice it to say that it is Pilibosian's style to avoid clangorous prose, but instead to soften her written memoirs with a front porch swing conversational style that makes her heroic life and background and history and the events of her survival all the more radiant.  We are invited to know her family - not just her parents but the cast of Armenians who have struggled in the old country for many years, including the near decimation of a people in the horrors of the early part of the last century. She discusses this, but while commenting on a past history that held such gore she embroiders her history with ethnic traditions, songs and secrets and rituals that cast a broad flavor of the plight of the immigrant known to every citizen of this immigrant collection of forefathers.  She dwells on her childhood in Massachusetts and again without beating her chest in agony she lets us understand her position as a minority in the years before the word Tolerance was spoken.  She follows her heart (and at one point suffers a cardiac arrest) and is able to glean from every experience she encounters a strength to be true to herself. She achieves a Harvard education, she enters the mystical spaces of Jungian thought, and blends ALL of this to become the writer of note she has become.

Helene Pilibosian is a true American Armenian: she wears the riches and the bruises of both descriptors well - and we are the better for her gifts.  Recommendation: first read her poetry, then welcome her into your space as the person who rose to the height to write such poetry. She is an amazing artist.  Grady Harp, July 10
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The book tells real stories of hospitalized children and how they inspire those around them with insights,
 courage, and laughter. Beautifully written in poetry, prose, and photos, by a mother-daughter team
 with 35 plus years of experience. Clinical information is given also. It's a pleasure to read and hard to forget.

  Nancy
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Barbara Alfaro has a remarkable ability to provide poignant glimpses of life, insights into life's moments where inner truths are captured, and a vivid portrait of personal interactions which will linger in the reader's mind for a very long time. She is a literate poet, able to write with elegance, deceptive simplicity, and great style, standing out amongst the many who attempt this type of non-traditional poetry. I am delighted to have read this book and can recommend it highly to anyone who enjoys honesty, integrity and quality in writing.
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Outstanding.  Her poetic ability comes through in this autobiography. We have just lost one of America's most treasured writers
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Jasmin captures the emotion and courage of a great Iranian poet as well as a country in turmoil. Like many who fight against unhealthy cultural norms and political abuses, Forugh travels a difficult path that has many low points.  Jasmin captures that while helping us see the overarching success achieved and lived out in Forughs tragic but inspiring life.  A must read book on multiple levels.  Also read her book The Good Daughter.
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I thought I had long ago written a review for this great memoir. After all I used Belli's understanding of the struggle for a character in my novel.
I apologize for not posting this sooner, especially since I read it in just a few days as it was full os suspense and steadily brought the reader to the understanding of a Revolutionary woman who was soon made to feel her services weren't needed anymore once the Revolution had happened. Perhaps that explains why the changes didn't last?
Belli's story is one of great courage, fortitude and understanding. Belli, obviously loved her people very much, since she was one the the few who could have escaped but didn't.
Belli is talented, not only as a poet, but also as a storyteller. I sincerely hope we get some more prose from this amazing woman and writer.
Thank you for writing such a beautiful and eye-opening book.
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Maria's story is hard to imagine. She has overcome so much in her life. Her determination and bravery is inspiring. I have had the privilege of meeting Maria. She's not only formidable and intelligent, she's a charming person with an unbelievable sense of humor.

I reccomend reading her story.
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A beautifully written, brave book.  Jessica's writing reads like poetry.  Congratulating her on finding her voice and speaking out in this page-turning memoir.
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Ruby's world is a well written story of a woman caught between naivete and boldness, innocence and courage.  Karen begins her odyssey in reaction to a miraculous recovery from a heart attack and survival of cancer.  Her spirituality insists that she repay the grace she was granted. An inner voice tells her to reach out to a small village in South Africa as a teacher.  Her idealistic visions are shattered by the width of the divide in cultures.  As she moves from inspiration to abject fear, Karen tells a fast paced story that is impossible to put down.  Her discoveries about herself are as powerful as those about the community she tried to aid.  An incredible first book, this is a profound story of innocence lost, courage and self realization.  I hope to hear more from her soon.