This will be live on my blog Blue Cat Review on Monday, Sep 11, 2017

My Disclaimer:
I was provided a free copy of this book by NetGalley and Dog Ear Publishing. I am voluntarily providing an honest review in which all opinions are fully my own. I am not being compensated in any way.
~ Judi E. Easley for Blue Cat Review

My Review: ✰✰✰✰
I enjoyed most of all three sections of this collection. There were just a few poems I couldn't understand or relate to in some way. But since it's a collection, that's to be expected.

Most of the poems I found to be on the lighthearted side. That, balanced with the butterfly illustrations created some consistency throughout. Some of the other illustrations were interesting but not to my personal artistic taste.

One particular poem I found to be rather powerful. It's called Good Friday on the Via Dolorosa. It could be set to music and make a great additional scene to Jesus Christ Superstar! My other favorites were Entanglements-A Prayer, Butterfly Dance, IT, Birthday Mitt, Showtime, The Kitten and The Bee, Chasing Butterflies, Faces, and The Meeting. They cover topics from a kitten pouncing on a bee to meeting God in person at McDonald's and watching a day go by with a pet. I think this might be a collection that would appeal to just about everyone with its varied subject matter. If poetry is your thing, then definitely take a peek into Glances of Life. I recommend it for yourself or as a very nice gift.

Glances of Life: Selected Poems by J.B. Anderson, is a diverse collection of contemporary poems that will stir readers to think and make them laugh. The poems are separated into three sections by theme: Intrigue, Whimsy and Reflection. Each theme brings its own flavor, and many poems throughout the collection play with the complexities of language and musicality of rhyme. Butterflies are featured in all three sections of the book, making the title illustration & symbolism appropriate. It is also through Anderson's butterfly poems that I felt the most connection & intimacy with as a reader, for the beauty, metamorphosis and change - the "glances of life" - that are within them. The illustratrations by artist Maria Rodriguez add to the beauty and reflection of this collection, though they are spare.

In the first section, Intrigue, Anderson explores different areas of thought & study that demonstrate juxtapositions to each other: science, religion, the natural world and technology. My favorite poem in this section was "Butterfly Dance" for both its description and musicality. The second section, "Whimsy", is perhaps my favorite altogether for its childlike poems that describe everything from a game of baseball to soaring planes to a donkey's bump and a kitten chasing a bee. Again one of my favorites in this section is butterfly themed, "Chasing Butterflies," this time for its childlike exploration of nature. Another gem in this section is "What Is It Like?" which asks a series of questions about what life would be like as an animal, a ship or a nail - all wrapped in playful rhyme. The strength of this section is indeed the whimsical way that Anderson plays with language and observes small things in the world around him, just like a child would. The final section, Reflection, is the most heavy of the three, delving into philosophical thoughts on anathema in one poem and referencing a famous metaphysical philosopher, Kant, in the next. Language and mathematics are played with here to interesting ends, and poetry mixes with thought in this section in an academic tone. Once again, my favorite poem was of a more natural form - "How Do You Talk With A Butterfly?" - which was a lovely conversation between butterfly & human, ending with an invitation to adventure.

Glances of Life: Selected Poems will appeal to many readers of contemporary poetry, and is accessible for new readers of poetry as well. A diverse collection that aims to shine the light on many facets of the world around us as well pose academic & philosophical questions, it's a pleasure to read.

Glances of Life

Selected Poems



by J.B. Anderson

Dog Ear Publishing

Outdoors & Nature , Poetry

Pub Date 24 May 2017

I am reviewing a Glances of Life through Dog Ear Publishing and Netgalley:

In this short collection of poetry the poet deals with everything from technology and the digital age, to the beauty of nature and the outdoors.

The poet also talks about childhood, family. I found that despite this book being so short, it packed a powerful punch.

I give Glances of Life five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!

Glances of Life, Select poems by J.B. Anderson, illustration by Maria Rodriguez is a short collection of poems, broken down into three sections. The first is modern, and a personal reflection on things that touch us now, in the here and now. The second is more whimsical, with a touch of humor, perhaps the author thinking with a child's viewpoint from his youth, but reminiscent in a faint whisper of some of Shel Silverstein. The last section are reflections. The very first poem "First Glance" wow'd me, and I want to read it again, and again. And "IT" is so timely. Butterfly Dance is beautiful and reminds me of the day my husband and I visited a butterfly garden. It makes you smile. Shattered makes you think. This book of poems is to read, and reread, and revisit again, and give a copy to a friend. Perfect for poets, and poetry collections in public and academic libraries. It makes me want to read more by this author, as he has a lyrical, whimsical, way with words and thought that makes you think, and smile.

This is a fantastic collection of poetry. Intelligent and heartwarming.

I'm not sure I can really give this a fair review because I really don't know how to interpret poems. I haven't really read any since GCSE English. In any case, I'll do my best.
I personally found some of these poems to be light hearted and funny, but I didn't really get much depth until the last portion. Although part three was, in my opinion, the deeper of the three parts, I still found that nothing really struck me on an immense emotional level.
The first poem of part one was good but I much prefered these poems right next to each other: "The kitten and the bee", "Greenhorn" and "Catching butterflies", all from part two. "The day after", in part three was also powerful.
This small collection of poems had interesting art, but I would have liked more than just the few we got before each part started and sprinkled here and there.