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The Mole Vol XVIII: Adventures of the Strophe – Book III
How well do we truly understand the world around us? In The Mole Vol XVIII: Adventures of the Strophe: Book III, the speaker embarks on a quest to unravel the complexities of existence, including the elusive concept of immortality. Life is portrayed as a journey, with the speaker immersing himself in his surroundings, brimming with hope for what lies ahead. His heart overflows with the promise of reuniting with a beloved, whose presence has brought immense joy to his life. Through his words, he expresses a deep longing for this lover, celebrating the youthful energy, compassion, and dedication that define their relationship. Yet, the speaker also confronts the inevitable—death and the profound grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one.
The speaker’s reflections draw a striking contrast between the beauty and rejuvenation of morning and the enigma of nighttime. The passage of time emerges as a central theme, with the narrator continually revisiting the past and pondering its influence on the present. Memories serve dual purposes: they provide comfort and simultaneously remind us of what has been lost. Throughout this volume, vivid imagery and metaphorical language vividly bring these themes to life. The poems frequently explore longing, remembrance, and the relentless march of time. The narrator delves into the complexities of love, capturing both its moments of bliss and its inevitable challenges. A sense of nostalgia pervades the collection, evoking a longing for simpler times while acknowledging the inevitability of change and loss. In addition to these emotional explorations, the poems venture into philosophical territory, grappling with questions about the nature of existence, the meaning of life, and the roles that dreams and memories play in shaping our reality. The narrator’s reflections on the past are a constant thread, as he seeks to understand how it shapes his present. There’s an undercurrent of melancholy and a meditation on mortality, yet the poems also offer a glimmer of hope, celebrating the enduring power of human connection.
Ron Raye’s The Mole Vol XVIII: Adventures of the Strophe: Book III is a collection of introspective and evocative poems that invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the universal emotions that bind us all. Through its exploration of love, loss, time, and existence, this volume resonates deeply, offering a poignant reminder of the shared human experience.
Pages: 158 | ASIN : B0DB8S8MVN
Whirl of Birds
Whirl of Birds, by Liana Vrăjitoru Andreasen, captivates with its rich tapestry of short stories, each distinct yet interconnected by threads of surrealism, deep introspection, and the intricacies of human experience. This anthology bursts with emotional intensity, taking readers on a journey through diverse landscapes—some familiar, others utterly alien—yet all striking a chord with universal truths. The narratives sweep from the raw, untamed instincts of ancient humanity to the subdued, reflective nuances of contemporary life. In every story, there’s an exploration of the human condition that lingers, rendered with an elegance that’s haunting and unforgettable.
The imagery that Andreasen conjures is immediate, almost visceral, pulling you into the world she crafts with an undeniable force. Take “My Big Man,” for instance—a story drenched in the primal essence of prehistoric life. The bond between the narrator and her “big man” pulses with an intensity that is both raw and poetic. The wilderness surrounding them feels alive as if every word is an echo of ancient rhythms. The language is sparse yet profound, each sentence a brushstroke that paints a vivid picture of survival’s harsh realities. Andreasen’s ability to evoke such deep emotions with so few words is a testament to her skill, transporting the reader to a time when life was governed by the primal laws of nature.
In “The Puppet Show,” Andreasen blends the bleakness of post-communist life with a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere. The story centers on a puppeteer whose life, drowned in alcohol and lost dreams, serves as a metaphor for a generation’s disillusionment. It’s a narrative that haunts long after the last word, as the puppeteer’s fading reality mirrors the crumbling of his own creations and stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of both dreams and reality.
Then there’s the titular “Whirl of Birds,” a story that strikes with particular force. Bianca, the protagonist, becomes entranced by a flock of birds swirling overhead, leading to a catastrophic car crash. This moment of distraction becomes a powerful metaphor for her life’s disarray. The story speaks to the ways in which we all occasionally lose our grip on reality, caught up in fleeting obsessions that can have devastating consequences. Andreasen juxtaposes the ordinary with the profound, making us question what truly holds value in our lives. The result is a story that is as compelling as it is thought-provoking.
Whirl of Birds is a book I highly recommend to those who seek narratives that challenge the mind and touch the heart. Andreasen’s writing is layered with emotion and insight, crafting stories that resonate long after the final page. This collection is perfect for those who love to immerse themselves in literature, where each story is not just a tale but a journey into a different world. Every story is a reflection of life’s complexities, told with a sensitivity and depth that is both refreshing and profoundly moving.
Pages: 180 | ISBN : 979-8-88838-732-0
Little Fortified Stories
Little Fortified Stories is an entrancing collection of flash fiction that plunges readers into a series of surreal, evocative realms. Each tale, confined to just a few pages, draws you into atmospheres rich with historical references, enigmatic characters, and moments that blur the boundaries of reality. Inspired by an eclectic mix of influences, from spirituous drinks and art to the author’s own heritage. This anthology weaves a complex tapestry where the real and the imagined seamlessly intertwine. Each story offers a brief but potent experience similar to savoring the last drops of a rare, aged wine.
As I delved deeper into the collection, I found Black’s prose both captivating and disquieting. Her mastery of language is evident in every sentence. Stories like “Blood and Oranges” showcase imagery so vivid it verges on cinematic, leaving scenes etched in your memory long after the final word. Her characters, often ensnared in moments of deep introspection or unsettling situations, are hauntingly lifelike despite their surreal contexts. The author’s ability to evoke such powerful emotions within the span of a few pages is nothing short of remarkable. From the subdued horror of “The Bones of Amundsen” to the magical realism in “Where a Dark Heart Burns,” Black effortlessly navigates between genres and tones, keeping the reader perpetually on edge, never knowing what to anticipate next. This variety ensures that while some stories may resonate more strongly with certain readers, others may leave different impressions. Black’s writing often borders on poetic, with sentences that beckon to be reread and savored. In “Stitching,” for instance, the prose is so meticulously crafted that each word seems chosen to evoke a specific emotion or image.
Little Fortified Stories is a remarkable anthology for those who cherish literary fiction that challenges and enchants in equal measure. Barbara Black’s skillful blending of history, surrealism, and profound human emotion makes this collection a must-read for aficionados of flash fiction and for anyone who enjoys stories that linger long after they’re told.
Pages: 197 | ISBN : 1773861409
The Righteous Place In Light and Shadow
The Righteous Place in Light and Shadow, by R. Groff, is an outstanding short story collection that delves deep into the realms of horror and sci-fi, delivering a series of imaginative and unsettling short stories. Within these pages, readers will encounter a variety of close encounters with the unexplained, the unknown, and the unknowable. In one gripping tale, a World War II survivor finds himself inexplicably linked to a string of bizarre crimes while another story presents the collapse of society in a manner that defies all expectations. Elsewhere, an alien artifact holds the key to cosmic horrors, and in the violence-torn streets of 1990s Compton, a computer game unleashes a demonic entity that threatens to drive a young boy to madness. As you navigate through this collection, be prepared to enter a realm where fantasy and reality blur, and cosmic terror lurks at every turn.
Groff’s collection echoes the eerie atmospheres found in Ray Bradbury’s The October Country and Stephen King’s Nightmares and Dreamscapes. Some of these stories delve into pure horror, while others venture into the speculative territories of science fiction. What ties them all together is the recurring theme of unsuspecting protagonists who stumble into situations where the very fabric of their reality is shattered, revealing a world far more sinister than they could have imagined.
A unifying thread throughout this collection is the idea that humans are most vulnerable when they believe their world is easily defined and categorized. The stories remind us that unspeakable evil and insidious threats often lurk closest when life appears most mundane. Standout stories include The Undead of Greenwood, which poignantly explores the hopelessness of addiction, and Jacob’s Game, which draws inspiration from the Tron movie series to craft a tale of technological horror.
The Righteous Place in Light and Shadow is a must-read for fans of both horror and sci-fi. Groff’s ability to craft tales of genuine nastiness and cosmic dread will undoubtedly resonate with aficionados of the genre, evoking the mastery of storytellers like Clive Barker and Robert Bloch. This collection is a treasure trove of short fiction that will both unsettle and captivate, making it an essential addition to any horror or sci-fi enthusiast’s library.
Pages: 688 | ASIN : B0D61BJC4Z
Just love Her
Just Love Her by Raz Mihal is a meditation on the essence of love and its impact on the soul’s journey. This work reads like a personal diary, where Mihal documents his reflections and experiences, diving deeply into the metaphysical connections formed through love. His narrative weaves through the daily affirmations of his emotions towards an enigmatic ‘Her,’ a personification of his ideal love, which ultimately serves as a catalyst for his spiritual awakenings and philosophical explorations.
Mihal’s style is lyrical and introspective, using rich, emotive language to convey his deep connection to the subject of his affection. This approach, while beautifully poetic, can occasionally veer into the esoteric. Mihal’s work is deeply personal and filled with a yearning that resonates on a universal level.
The philosophical undertones of Just Love Her are what set it apart. Mihal delves into themes of divine love versus human love, the essence of soul connections, and the eternal nature of affection and desire. His reflections, steeped in a blend of personal anecdotes and broader existential queries, make the text a compelling read for those intrigued by the intersections of love, spirituality, and personal growth. While I enjoyed this, I think the abstract discussions can sometimes seem circular.
Just Love Her is an introspective journey into the heart of what it means to feel and reflect on love’s transformative power. While its stylistic and thematic choices might not cater to everyone’s tastes, it is a recommended read for those interested in spirituality, personal reflection, and the philosophy of love. Ideal for readers of Rumi or Khalil Gibran, or anyone who appreciates a deep dive into the soul’s response to the divine allure of love.
Pages: 248 | ASIN : B0D9FPWPQ2
Be Novel and Surprising
Your three-book collection, Briefly Speaking, is more than just a guide to public speaking; it is an entire educational course presented in an easy-to-understand and relatable manner. Why was this an important book for you to write?
We wanted those who aspire to become better presenters and communicators to have a comprehensive guide so they can achieve their ambitions. We designed the three-book series to focus on Prepare, Present, and Communicate to make it easy to find a topic and get practical, useful skills that can be incorporated immediately. Plus, each tip takes under 30 seconds to read—whether it’s how to open, close, tell a story, structure a presentation, or engage an audience. And each book is small enough to carry with you for easy reference.
Communication techniques and approaches are highly personal, but there are some key factors that are essential for getting your message across. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
First, decide on your message and identify a singular intention or what you want to achieve. Then scan your life for material that will illustrate your message so that it best engages your audience. Use structure so you don’t ramble, and always speak in a genuine, authentic way to build trust and reduce stage fright. And when you communicate, speak with commitment and certainty.
What is the one most important piece of advice you think all presenters should consider when preparing to give a speech, no matter what the topic is?
Determine what you want to achieve (i.e. your Intention) and what will best serve your audience. Then speak in specifics, not generalities so the audience can visualize your content. And be novel and surprising so that you grab and hold the attention of your audience.
Do you have additional books or materials planned that will complement this collection and help readers continue on their journey to improving their communication skills?
Yes, Own the Room (published by McGraw-Hill) and Out Front: How Women Can Become Engaging, Memorable and Fearless Speakers (published by BenBella Books)
Author Links: GoodReads | Eloqui | Outfront | Briefly Speaking | Amazon
Book 1 – Prepare: Creatively Structure and Rehearse Your Content (5 x 7; 254 pages; $29.99 value)
Book 2 – Present: Techniques from the Professionals’ Playbook (5 x 7; 248 pages; $29.99 value)
Book 3 – Communicate: Make the Greatest Impact (5 x 7; 192 pages; $29.99 value)
Humans are Living Mysteries
Scars of The Heart is an influential collection of short stories that delve into the profound impacts of physical war and the psychological impact of violence on humanity. What made you write a story about this topic? Was anything pulled from your life experiences?
I have been a travel writer from 1990 to 2003 and wrote New Journalism texts about conflict zones in the world (contributions that report on events taking place, but in a literary, subjective way). I visited Somalia, Liberia, Bosnia, Sudan, Gaza, Iran, Iraq, Mozambique, Kosovo, Lebanon, and Myanmar… to name a few. I got very close to the atrocities of war, its physical but also its mental consequences. I thought I could handle them, but these days I have PTSD symptoms. They have become more bearable with time, but I can’t forget people’s suffering in war circumstances. In my eyes, I was a “war tourist” who shared their life for a couple of weeks and disappeared again while they were doomed to stay in hellish places. My anger, my shame, remorse, sadness, and despair fuel my stories.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
When you think about it, humans are living mysteries: contradictory, unpredictable, chaotic. Great fiction tries to create a holistic image of our ambiguity. I believe no other art form is more proficient for this task. Great fiction asks the reader to feel what is hidden between the words so that the voyage into the depths of our being – the maze in our souls, if you like – is an honest, compelling exploration for the reader and the writer. Therefore, great care must be given to the choice of words, their ambiguity, and the rhythm of the sentences. This mixture is called style, and it is necessary to pick up glimpses of the hermetic, sometimes angelic, sometimes demonical, poetry that drives our lives. Great literature is a mixture of empathy, relentless challenges, and mighty victories, yet already tainted with the treason of our egos.
What themes were important for you to explore in this book?
Although they take place in different eras and countries, the background of the stories deals with violence, greed, sexual conquest, and our amazing capability to lie to others and ourselves. Probably you’re thinking now: “And love? Where is love?” Oh, it’s there, sometimes at the brink of obsession or tragedy, sometimes fueling our inner loneliness and addiction to happy dreams and delusions. It is said that readers like happy endings. So sorry to disappoint: when I wrote this collection, the tragic and sad endings even took their toll on me, so I want to advise the reader to read each story at intervals and not right after each other.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?
“The Firehand File,” my next book, is set in Berlin in 1921. Let me give you the blurb of the Dutch mother version of the novel so you have the broad outline.
1921. Berlin is a city of extremes. Political violence plagues the streets during the day. A serial killer whom the media call “The Skinner” roams the streets at night. It is suspected that he is a rabid World War I veteran, but he remains untraceable. In this human pressure cooker, the relationship between the famous Flemish DADA poet Paul Van Ostaijen and his impetuous girlfriend Emma Clément is on edge. Like hundreds of thousands of others in Berlin, they live in poverty and are addicted to cocaine and other drugs.
When Van Ostaijen, on a high whim, steals the Feuerhand Obsession file in the apartment of the spy Elise Kraiser, the poet sets in motion a series of dramatic events that shed surprising light on a politician who is rapidly gaining influence: Herr Adolf Hitler.
Carly Rheilan, my translator, scores a fantastic – and poetic! – job. However, the novel’s second part is hard to translate because I tried to use the same manner of Van Ostaijen’s spoken language, a mixture of Antwerp dialect from the twenties with French and German words. “The Firehand File” is a literary suspense novel but also a homage to Paul Van Ostaijen, who revolutionized poetry in the Roaring Twenties. We hope to have the translation finished at the end of this year so that the novel can come out in 2025.
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website
Through ten stories set in different countries and eras, Van Laerhoven takes us through the destructive consequences of our passions as a common thread, from contemporary Syria to Algeria in the 1950s, and the civil war in Liberia to the uprising in Belgian Congo in the 1960s.
The ten stories in SCARS OF THE HEART highlight the dark side of love, which fuels our violence, inner loneliness, and greedy egos.
In the Realm of Dancing Syzygy
In the Realm of Dancing Syzygy is a poetic exploration of cosmic themes and human emotions, blending metaphysical musings with vivid imagery. The collection is a compilation of Mark Kraver’s poetry spanning decades, with each piece reflecting on the intricate dance between celestial alignments and the human experience. From the very first poem, readers are drawn into a world where the alignment of celestial bodies—syzygy—serves as a metaphor for the alignment of souls, thoughts, and the forces that govern our lives.
One of the standout aspects of Kraver’s work is his ability to seamlessly merge the cosmic with the personal. The portrayal of two souls entwined in a dance of shadows and light is both haunting and beautiful, capturing the essence of a relationship marked by pain and longing. The way Kraver juxtaposes the vastness of the cosmos with the intimate struggles of his characters is nothing short of mesmerizing. His use of syzygy as a central theme is particularly effective, symbolizing the moments when different forces, whether celestial or emotional, come into perfect alignment, creating something both powerful and fleeting. I also appreciated Kraver’s skillful use of imagery and symbolism throughout the collection. Kraver crafts vivid scenes that transport the reader to otherworldly landscapes, making the abstract feel tangible. The symbolism is rich and layered, inviting multiple readings to fully appreciate the depth of meaning behind each verse. Kraver doesn’t shy away from exploring complex topics such as the passage of time, the nature of existence, and the interplay between light and darkness. These themes resonate deeply, offering readers not just poetry but a mirror to reflect on their own lives and experiences.
In the Realm of Dancing Syzygy is a beautifully crafted collection that will appeal to readers who enjoy poetry rich in symbolism and cosmic themes. Kraver’s work is a journey through both the vastness of the universe and the intricacies of the human heart, making it a perfect read for those who appreciate the intersection of the metaphysical and the personal. This book is ideal for anyone looking to explore poetry that challenges the mind while touching the soul.
Pages: 95
LITERARY TITAN 