Soliloquy

Hello dear reader, wishing you a wonderful Monday!

Blogger Swapna Peri, in her usual lucid and exquisite manner, gave an excellent review for my latest collection of poems They Were My Heroes. Famous for her critical thinking, Peri is also known for her cutting-edge observations. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when she found the book to be well beyond her expectations. 

The review can be found here.

I have reproduced the text here in full:

“Poetry holds significant value as a creative form of writing, focusing on the intricate portrayal of profound emotions and experiences. Through the harmonious blend of carefully chosen words and rhythmic patterns, poetry emerges as a potent instrument for nurturing essential literacy and writing abilities.

It cultivates skills such as understanding written content, recognising sounds in language, expressing oneself, and crafting compelling narratives. In this connection, Modern Poetry or Contemporary poetry, emerging after World War I, represents a departure from traditional forms and themes, reflecting the 20th century’s attitude and culture.

Poets like T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Wallace Stevens, William Butler Yeats, Edward Arlington Robinson, and others embarked on a profound quest for reevaluation, challenging established beliefs in the face of a transformed world transitioning from rural to urban and industrial.

They sought to revolutionise language, expressing the entirety of existence, even the unseemly and discomforting, aiming to capture the essence of navigating life during tumultuous times.

This book, titled ‘They Were My Heroes’ by poet, travel writer, sports journalist and national-level cricketer Mohul Bhowmick is a collection of a delightful array of a hundred poems that stir the heart. These verses are understated, exquisite and radiate the poet’s ardent passion.

The compilation is truly remarkable, brimming with literary richness and essence. In five distinct sections, Mohul’s collection of a hundred poems gracefully traverses the full spectrum of life, flowing through the currents of travel memories, tributes, friendships, love, and contemplations on existence.

The fifth section, titled Residues of the Heart, attracted my attention for its poems, especially the titles of each poem. One of the poems – “A Rare Sight of You”, seems to be my favourite for the verses that captured my thoughts. The muse of the poem is enigmatic and can be interpreted by the reader according to their psyche.

Another poem from the third section, Demons, the poem “Old Scrapbooks”, made me nostalgic for the title initially and then the verses. Similarly, in the book, the first section, titled ‘Travel Capers,’ invites the readers on a journey down memory lane, where the poet illuminates the vibrant cultures and customs of visited destinations such as Nepal, South India, Chandigarh, Western Ghats, and more. The poet’s keen observations of people and places make this section captivating, enhancing its appeal.

Talking about the physical aspects and aesthetics of the book, I always admit that if it is a book published by ‘XPress’, I will read it anyhow. Why? Books published by XPress are great in paper quality, font size and cover picture. For this book, I cannot resist but shower my happiness and appreciation for the cover image. It looks translucent but, indeed, a solid cover.”

Thanks a lot, Ms Peri, this gladdens me immensely!

If you like my work, please visit my website to get in touch with more of my writing. You can follow me on Twitter as well. Also, sign up for the newsletter to get regular updates coming your way. Would love to get in touch with you!