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Poetry Book Review, 'Polishing the Fragments' by John Kaniecki, Reviewed by London K.

12/20/2017

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Polishing the Fragments by John Kaniecki, published by Dreaming Big Publications
Reviewed by London Koffler
​
About the Book:
            In a collection based in self-exploration and realization, Kaniecki takes on issues of mental illness, abuse, and religious actualization. Kaniecki's usage of imagery and theme express a relatable yet unique story of discovery, failure, and hope. The reader is taken on a journey through childhood experiences, growing pains, finding love and Christ, and living with the aftermath of mental illness. This hard look at mental health offers a critique of the current system while expressing hope for a brighter future.

My Review: 4/5
             I found Polishing the Fragments to be a smart, thoughtful, and easy read. It feels authentic and vulnerable, and the images he paints are clear. No poem seems to be without purpose, and they all connect to tell the story of the author’s life. He is unafraid to discuss difficult topics that he has had to face, such as mental illness, abuse, and death. What I found particularly interesting were the connections he makes to his faith by way of strong religious themes and allusions throughout. While he is unmistakably religious, he also shows that even he sometimes struggles with knowing his place in God’s plan.

            I gave Polishing the Fragments a four out of five rating because although the collection is short and the poems easy to understand, I had to read it over several days. It is a heavy read that deals with topics that are, at times, overwhelmingly dark. There are, however, some glimmers of hope in certain poems, and the collection together forces the reader to confront topics that are often avoided. If you can tolerate this type of content, I would highly recommend this thought-provoking collection. Through some truly haunting lines, Kanieki’s messages linger long after you finish reading.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.

About the Author:
            John Kaniecki was born in Brooklyn, New York. Though having no memories of life there, John is proud to be called a Native New Yorker. John was raised in Pequanock Township, New Jersey. At age twenty John was baptized and became a member of the Church of Christ. Presently John resides in Montclair, NJ and lives with his wife of over twelve years Sylvia. The happy couple attend the Church of Christ at Chancellor Avenue in Newark, NJ. John is very active in outreach and teaching as part of the leadership of the congregation. 

            John’s personal story of dealing with and overcoming with mental illness can be read in “More Than The Madness.” It is a book that explores the humanity in us all while giving first hand insight into mental illness. 

            John's first book "Murmurings of a Mad Man" is a poetry book. This work deals with a dark time in John's life when he suffered from manic depression. John was hospitalized at Graystone, the same place where Woody Guthrie was kept. This book dealing with the madness is not only a book of hope and faith but it is written in most strict poetic form. It is vastly far from the free verse that permeates the poetry world today. 

            John's second book is entitled "Words of the Future". This books has six science fiction stories all written by John. John without a question the book is unique and you will find John's writing both compelling and thrilling. 

            John has just let out his third book entitled "Poet to the Poor, Poems of Hope for the Bottom One Percent". This leaves little doubt as to where John's heart belongs. Not to the pampered pretties living in privilege but with the down and out clinging on to existence. Not only is "Poet to the Poor" revolutionary in thought but it's poems are easily accessible. The majority of which celebrate the rhyming poems of years gone by. It's a book not to be missed.

            Other poetry books include the Christian themed “A Day’s Weather” and “Sunset Sonnets”. "A Day's Weather" is a feel good book about life being depicted by the weather of a day. "Sunset Sonnets" is an uplifting and spiritual look at death. John spent eight years with the Church of Christ at Chancellor Avenue serving as a volunteer missionary to the inner city of Newark, New Jersey. 

            John also is the author of a warm book about life called “The Lost Cantos Of John Kaniecki”. This book employs meter and rhyme. 

            John has ventured further into the realm of horror with his books, “Scarecrow, Scarecrow”, “Satan’s Siren” and the upcoming books “In The Mind Of Maggoo” and “Myroniac”. These books are gripping tales exploring the dark recesses of life. 

            Also John has written an exciting humorous science fiction book entitled “I Should Have Been A Rock Star”. This book is definitely not something to miss and sure to be a classic.
 
https://www.amazon.com/Polishing-Fragments-John-Kaniecki/dp/1947381032/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512250728&sr=8-1&keywords=polishing+the+fragments
 
 

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New Release! ~ The Murder of Secretary Judd Cane, by Celine Rose Mariotti

12/19/2017

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AUTHOR: Celine Rose Mariotti
TITLE: The Murder of Secretary Judd Cane, Adventures on Capitol Hill Series, Vol 2
PUBLISHER: Dreaming Big Publications
WEBSITE: dreamingbigpublications.com

AMAZON LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Secretary-Judd-Cane-Adventure/dp/1976310857/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1513747714&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=judd+kane+celine+mariotti

NEW RELEASE in paperbook and ebook format

REVIEWERS, BLOGGERS, VLOGGERS: 
​Please respond to this email or email Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy today.

​
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On 'Of Mice and Men...and Women' by London Koffler

12/18/2017

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London Koffler

Of Mice and Men and Women
​
John Steinbeck’s 1937 classic Of Mice and Men was written with only one female character, Curley’s wife, who is portrayed as a villainess. She, however, is the product of her past and her environment. Her resulting behavior leads to the anxiety and misery of her husband and his employees, in addition to her own death.

Before analyzing any other elements of her description, it is imperative to mention that this woman does not have a name. She is exclusively referred to as Curley’s wife, as if her only deserved identity were the title of wife. Even then, she is only mentioned in connection with Curley like a piece of property belonging to and being inseparable from him. Names are an important part of individual personal identity, and because Curley’s wife is not given one in the novella, she is less of a real character and more of a metaphor representing the immorality and immodesty of women that supposedly plague the lives of men.

The first descriptions of Curley’s wife are about her appearance and her coquettish behavior. Besides Lennie thinking she is “purty” (32), she is described only in derogatory sexual terms. All of the men are reluctant to speak with her because Curley will accuse them of trying to steal her away from him. Her perceived flirtatiousness only causes problems for herself and the men working for her husband.

At two points in the novel, Curley’s wife is humanized to the reader when she reveals her troubles to Lennie, Candy, and Crooks. She, in a way, explains her behavior by telling them about her past. When she was younger, two men approached her for acting roles, but she blames her mother for restraining her pursuit of both opportunities. She laments that as an actress she could be in a much better and more luxurious place with beautiful clothes and adoring fans. She reveals that she and Curley met on the same day she accused her mother of sabotaging her future, so they were hastily and recklessly married to cement her rebellion. Soon after marriage, Curley’s wife finds him to be boorish and abusive. When she is told by the workers that he is in the house, she looks anxious and hurries away from the bunkhouse, afraid he will accuse her of cheating. Her attitude toward Curley confirms George’s theory that she is eager to leave the farm. Curley ignores his wife, going out to town with the other men. When he is home, however, he talks about nothing but fighting, and she complains that she cannot remain “in that two-by-four house” (78) and listen to him all the time.

What everyone perceives as deliberate attempts at seduction is probably Curley’s wife’s only inkling as to how to get a man’s attention. She and Curley have only been married for two weeks, yet she feels lonely enough already to be searching for companionship. She turns to her husband’s employees for a sympathetic ear and attempts to engage them in conversation, but their fear of Curley prevents their talking to her. She continuously claims to be looking around the barn for Curley or for items she left there, but in reality what she is looking for is company. When the men argue that she is only “foolin’ around with other guys, causin’ trouble” (79), she vehemently fights to defend herself against false accusations.

Being unaware of his dangerous strength and simple mind, Curley’s wife singles out Lennie as the nicest man and the one most likely to listen to her. His initial dismissal of her is ignored, and she begins confiding in him. “Her words tumbled out in a passion of communication as though she hurried before her listener could be taken away” (88). Because the other men quickly escape from her attempts at conversation, she is not accustomed to casual and comfortable dialogue anymore. Therefore she rushes to share her thoughts before Lennie, too, leaves her by herself.
It is said, by readers and the other characters, that Curley’s wife is the cause of all of the men’s conflicts. However, Curley isolates his wife from everyone, single-handedly causing the behavior he mistrusts in her, and she does not seduce Lennie into killing her. She invites Lennie to touch her hair, but that is because she is very proud of its softness and has found another who appreciates fine things as much as she does. Although by accident, it is Lennie’s strength and not her own flirtation that kills her. While the reader may initially believe that Curley’s wife’s dangerous feminine sexuality is at the center of the men’s problems, her yearning for and pursuit of human interaction is caused by her neglect, exclusion, and rejection.
 
 
Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York: Penguin, 1993.
 
Edited by: Anna Grace Dulaney

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'Because of You' by RaeAnna G.

12/17/2017

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Because of You
By: RaeAnna G.
 
Because of you, I am a broken soul,
You thought you ruled me, just took me long to learn,
I’m glad I met you, because you showed me I do have control.
 
You put me down with your heart of coal,
Anything that I see of you, makes my stomach churn;
Because of you, I am a broken soul.
 
Despite it all, I learned how to crawl out of your hole,
I learned to be strong, that there was nothing I couldn’t upturn;
I’m glad I met you, because you showed me I do have control.
 
Your words cut so deep, soon enough they played such a role,
I couldn’t stomach you, your touch felt like a burn;
Because of you, I am a broken soul.
 
Overcoming the hurt, the doubts, oh what a toll;
Often I didn’t think I could, I was so used to the hurt, I had to be stern;
I’m glad I met you, because you showed me I do have control.
 
It all stopped the day I decided to take a stroll,
A new heart so gently grasped my broken one, I knew I could fix it all in turn;
Because of you, I am a broken soul,
I’m glad I met you, because you showed me I do have control.
 
 
Edited by: Anna Grace Dulaney
​
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New Children's Audiobook from Dreaming Big Publications! 'Olivia MacAllister, Who Are You?' by Celine Rose Marriotti, Narrated by Victoria Phelps

12/15/2017

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New Audiobook from Dreaming Big Publications

AUTHOR: Celine Rose Mariotti
NARRATOR: Victoria Phelps

AMAZON LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Olivia-MacAllister-Who-Are-You-ebook/dp/B0748JQHBM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1513139552&sr=1-1&keywords=olivia+who+are+you

The paperback and ebook version of this book was released in July, 2017, and we are not pleased to announce that the audiobook version has been completed!

REVIEWERS, BLOGGERS:  You may have already received a request to review when the paperback and ebook version was released. If you did, thank you! If not but you are interested in a review, please let us know!  Ebook copies are available, and audio downloads are available but limited.  

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Bobby MacAllister and Noel Simpson are cousins, who visit their Uncle Eb in Maine for the summer. There they embark on an adventure to discover the story of their ancestors and the secrets of the ghost, Olivia, who stays in the house. Together, with family friends and partners from the town, they uncover the truth of a long lost love story.

Olivia MacAllister, Who Are You? is a fun fiction chapter book for children aged 7 to 10. Will you be inspired to learn about your ancestors’ past like Bobby and Noel? ​
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'Bane' by RaeAnna G.

12/14/2017

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Bane
By: RaeAnna G.
 
Bane, walking with you can be a fright.
Prancing like a king, your gait so bold.
Fear shakes to the core of those around you.
Like an alpha, few dare to enter the space you claim.
 
Like a high-tech screening system, you scan those around.
The judge, the jury, and the executioner, you choose their fate.
If they lose, oh what power you display.
If they win, not an ounce of emotion is shown.
 
So unaware I walk, passing murderers and thieves.
Your judgments are harsh, the slicing looks I get for trusting.
You know what holds their heart.
Their lies, their guilt, the secrets locked away, nothing escapes you.
 
Deep down, fear grips your heart, it rules your mind.
What those you shake never see is the fear you hide.
Your screening a mistrust of those around.
The king afraid of his peasants, he knows what they can do.
 
Edited by Rachel Menkhus



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New Audiobook Available from Dreaming Big Publications ~ Hokey Pokey Pirates, written by Peyton King, Narrated by Jerry Fischer

12/12/2017

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Our Children's Picture Book, written by high school student, Peyton King, is now available for audio!

PUBLISHER: Dreaming Big Publications, dreamingbigpublications.com
AUTHOR: Peyton King
NARRATOR: Jerry Fischer

AMAZON LINK: 
https://www.amazon.com/Hokey-Pokey-Pirates-Charlie-Adventure-ebook/dp/B010XCXPB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1513138632&sr=8-1&keywords=hokey+pokey+pirates

The paperback and ebook versions were released in 2015, but we are excited to announce Hokey Pokey Pirates is now available as an audiobook.

REVIEWS AND BLOGGERS:  Contact Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request a free ebook copy, or free audio download of this book in exchange for a review. Audio codes are limited. Don't have time for a review? Consider featuring the book on your blog to help us spread the word.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Who would've thought that going outside to jump on the trampoline would lead to an exciting high seas adventure? That's exactly what happened to Charlie and Lexie when they went out to play while their mom was cooking supper.

Hokey Pokey Pirates is a story written by a child for children, using her own bond with her brothers to teach the importance of family bonding time in an imaginative and fun way.
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