A fresh take on politics and modern life, Puns Not Guns is an entertaining and eye opening read. I don't tend to read poetry, but the humor in this book kept me interested. It's lighthearted and timely. I recommend it to anyone who likes poetry and a good pun!

Puns not Guns is a collection of poetry/puns with topics ranging from politics, technology, science and nature, to the arts and family. My favorite section was IX. Literature. Nevermore and Wasteland are perfect odes to Poe and Eliot. There was a fair amount that did not resonate with me and a lot of body dysmorphia came through sections IV-VI. Overall a punderful read.

Special thanks to Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

* Read via NetGalley

This is a sweet punny little read. If you need a palate cleanser this pun filled palooza could be for you. Quick to read but also pretty funny. There are themed sections so you can skip around but I found that it was pretty smooth just to read all the way through. A smile, a chuckle, some good witticisms what more could you ask for.

Heartwarming, light-hearted short punny poetry collection! I read this as a palate cleanser in-between heavier reads. I am an avid poetry lover and this was a quick, one sitting for me. I took this author's poetry style with a grain of salt. Very short lines, right to the point verbiage. This isn't my preferred style of poetry, but I'm glad I read it as it gave me a handful of smiles and laughs. The author's tone fell in line with my own dad's humor so I was right at home.
Some of my favorites were: Boss Art, No Escapism, Father of the Bride, Artifacts and Fiction, Passion's Paradox, Book Stand, The Firefly, and Old Software.
Was this worth a quick read? Absolutely.

3/5 stars. Many thanks to NetGalley and Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The best review/response to this book can only be by sharing this book with interested readers - so below are a few of my favorites. NOTE: the best way to get every drop of delight out of a pun is not to read it to yourself. Even if you are alone in the room, out under a tree, at a picnic bench straighten up, sit (or stand) tall, take a deep breath and begin Out Loud to any one or thing around you:

I. Politics
Uncommon Sense
Do not let ideology
Get in the way of facts.
Let common sense serve as your guide
When intolerance attacks.

II. Money
Miser Able
A penny. A quarter. A nickel. A dime.
While saving his money He spent all his time.

III Marriage
Matrimonial Math
The odds of staying married rise With every “I love you.”
The sum of these three little words? One plus one is true.

IV Family
The Rhythm and Blues Methods
Timing is important
When planning to have kids.
It’s not the dos and don’ts that count. It’s the counting of the dids.

V Food & Drink
Steaks Alive!
The vegetarian enjoys
Dining out for fun.
When asked how she would like her steak --
She tells them on the run.

VI. Health & Fitness
No Funny Bones About it
Laughter is the medicine
That can extend our pasts. So keep your sense of
humor ‘Cause he who laughs, lasts.

VII. Sports & Recreation
Spare Me
My bowling skills are not the best. It’s baseball
that I like
Because the game is easier
For me to get a strike.

VIII. The Arts
Art Eyes
Words can often cloud the truth
And veil themselves with lies. That is why most
artists like To listen with their eyes.

IX. Literature
Choice Language
A synonym is just a word
That we have chosen well. Or one we like to use
in place Of one we cannot spell.

X. Science & Nature
Sunsational
Wind and solar power.
We think they are divine.
Grandma used them long ago --
She loved her old clothesline.

The Firefly
The firefly is quite a sight
Upon the summer wind.
Instead of shining where he goes,
He lights up where he’s been.

XI. Technology
My Cussed Computer
My cursor’s frozen on the screen.
My mouse is stuck like glue. Another glitch and
soon I will Become a cursor too.

XII. Faith & Inspiration
Rare Dessert
Love is not for only those Already at the feast.
We often need love most of all
When we deserve it least.

All of these come from Puns Not Guns, by Charles Ghigna, a wielder of sharp word weaponry, the best way to make a point!

Four of my punniest stars for Charles Ghigna! Finally, someone to fill the empty spot that's been there since Richard Armour took himself off to the Library in the Sky!

*A sincere thank you to Charles Ghigna, Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #PunsNotGuns #NetGalley

This book is just the thing for a quick smile. The poems are all very short and organized by subject. Some of these are politics, money, marriage, sport, family, food & drink and many more.

The poems are witty with a dash of sarcasm and puns. I have enjoyed paging through. This is poetry of the every day, very easy to understand.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Livingston Press at the University of West Alabama for this title. All opinions are my own.