Book Review: “Tome of Stars”
Posted: November 28, 2025 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Kaye Lynne Booth, Poetry Collection, Stargazer, Tome of Stars, Writing to be Read 1 Comment
About Tome of Stars
What is Tome of Stars?
Tome of Stars is equal parts art, therapy journal, and (failed) exorcism, both a celebration and an elegy. As a single narrative arc tracing the birth and death of a relationship, the poems follow a timeline of passion, longing, and prolonged grief.
Cosmic imagery saturates the collection, a tribute to the beloved, who transformed the heavens into symbols of devotion, wonder, and longing. The work is a flawed attempt to chart a universe of feeling and experience through emotional and psychological labyrinths that have for decades left the author lost and bewildered.
All poetry is by Stargazer. The verse and accompanying synthetic art/music are public domain, CC0, with no restrictions on use. Nothing is monetized.
Purchase Link: https://www.tomeofstars.net/books
My Review of Tome of Stars
I received a color illustrated hardback print copy of Tome of Stars from the author, Stargazer, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. The author sent a beautifully color illustrated hardback print copy. I was led to believe that it was available in other formats, such as black & white, or digital formats, but I have no purchase links available.
My first impression was that the entire collection is a love poem to the universe. I’m very fond of sonnets, which made the reading easy and smooth, and quite enjoyable. As I read on, I discovered that although these sonnets speak of the universe, and sometimes, to their intended as a goddess in the stars, they actually chronicle the rise and fall of a love relationship which is viewed through the eyes of the poet in cosmic proportions.
I found it refreshing to find the obvious Eastern influence expressed in this traditional poetry format. The sonnets in this collection would make Shakespear proud. I had several favorites; too many to reprint them all here, but I feel the need to include a small sample. Tome of Stars is a large collection, literally a tome, and the choosing is difficult indeed.
Divine Mud
Beneath this grin, my grave of secrets rots,
Both vile and pure, each thread too lightly grasped,
A knotted web where truth and silence fought,
Too dark for light, too precious to unclasp.
Agleam within the ruins of my mind,
A single shard shines bright amongst the waste:
A sublime rose once shattered in my crimes,
Revealed as glow no gloom could ever fade.
For love is godly – bright and black the same,
A mixture rough of mortal mud divine,
Where sorrow mangles joy, yet gestates flame,
Jailed soulmates thrust within the genes’ design.
We build from what we break towards light,
Or so we dream in fever through our night.
And another:
Alarippu
On verdant stage, a rose begins to prance,
Inhaling astral breath; her sepals wink,
To rhythmic beats, the bud shakes off her trance,
As lim s unwind, aroused to softly sync.
In graceful arcs, the petals stretch and bend,
Sure steps of symmetry, precisely placed,
Grand geometric lines their glamour lend;
Each stem and lead their destined roles embraced.
Beneath starshine, a lush crescendo swells —
Potential bursts into kinetic power
With fragrant splendor, stunning beauty melds;
The world’s rapt audience beholds the flower.
The cosmic Gardener, with fertile breeze,
Bestows the blessing on the dance, well-pleased.
Easy to read and beautiful to enjoy, Tome of Stars is a delightful collection of sonnets with a story. I give it five quills.
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About Kaye Lynne Booth
For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.
Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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A Reading from Small Wonders: A Haiga Poem
Posted: April 30, 2024 Filed under: Book Sales, Books, Collection, Poetry, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Kaye Lynne Booth, National Poetry Month, Poetrhy Readings, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Small Wonders, WordCrafter Press 2 Comments
On Sale for National Poetry Month – Only $2.99
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SmallWonders
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A Poetry Reading from Small Wonders: A Tanka Poem
Posted: April 28, 2024 Filed under: Book Sales, Books, Collection, Poetry, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Kaye Lynne Booth, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Poetry Readings, Small Wonders, WordCrafter Press 4 Comments
On Sale for National Poetry Month – Only $2.99
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SmallWonders
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A Reading from Small Wonders: “Bird Watching”
Posted: April 21, 2024 Filed under: Book Sales, Books, Collection, Poetry, WordCrafter Press | Tags: Kaye Lynne Booth, National Poetry Month, Poetry Collection, Poetry Readings, Small Wonders, WordCrafter Press 2 Comments
On sale for National Poetry Month – Only $2.99
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SmallWonders
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A Look at Poetry Reviews of the Past Year: In the Shadow of Rainbows
Posted: April 20, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, In The Shadow of Rainbows, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Selma Martin, Writing to be Read Leave a commentIt celebration of National Poetry Month, I’m reblogging my poetry reviews from the past year on Saturdays throughout April in case you missed any of these noteworthy poetry collections.
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Reviews of my poetry collection, “Small Wonders”
Posted: April 7, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Kaye Lynne Booth, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Small Wonders, WordCrafter Press Leave a commentOn sale for National Poetry Month – Only $2.99
Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SmallWonders
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A Look at Poetry Reviews from the Past Year: Ever So Gently
Posted: April 6, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, National Poetry Month, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
It celebration of National Poetry Month, I’m reblogging my poetry reviews from the past year on Saturdays throughout April in case you missed any of these noteworthy poetry collections.
Today’s selection is Ever So Gently, by Lauren Scott
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Book Review: Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison
Posted: March 15, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, Lindsay Martin-Bowen, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read 12 CommentsAbout the Book
“CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison offers a surreal cascade of archetypes from, among others, ancient Greece, the Bible, American Literature, and pop culture. Moving through it is the speaker’s companion spirit and guru, Jim Morrison-Lizard King, Narcissus/Adonis. Set in a world where, in Albert Einstein’s words, ‘reality is merely an illusion, ‘ Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s poems are alive with wit, evocative imagery, insight, and sometimes downright playfulness. Through heeding Morrison’s counsel to ‘go weirder, ‘ she’s made this collection reader-friendly.”-William Trowbridge, Missouri Poet Laureate, 2012-2016 Author, Call Me Fool (2022)
“In Lindsey Martin-Bowen’s CASHING CHECKS with Jim Morrison, I relish every word, compelled by the poet’s stories and singing voice. Fantasy and fact merge in these invocations of the seminal American rocker Morrison and of his spirit. Join me as a reader in exploring this exciting testament to the power of language to resurrect history and wonder.”-Denise Low, Kansas Poet Laureate, 2007-2009 Poetry Unbound Featured Poet
My Review
I was thrilled to receive a print copy of Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, by Lindsay Martin-Bowen. The title alone, was enough to peak my interest, and lend anticipation as to what I could expect within its covers.
This collection of poems is all about hanging out, and philosphizing with the spirit of the late, great, Jim Morrison. I was amazed by the way the author captured the voice of Morrison in many of the poems, enough to let me believe briefly that maybe the author truly does converse with the dead musician. Included are poems that serve as social commentaries on life and love, on the state of the world today, and on possible futures; topics which every one of us can relate to.
So many of these poems struck a chord with me that it is impossible to pick one favorite. but I really loved the imagry in “Coming Back to Me”.
The dawn inhales and holds its breath, drawing
wisps of clouds up the foothills, where theyb hover.
Jim steps out of the mist, unsteady as some soldier
searching for his platoon on a surreal battlefield.
He wedges boot heels into fissures be3tween rock
ledges, ambles down to where gravel meets asphalt.
Then he steps onto the road leading to my Dutch
Colonel on a corner in this mountain college town,
where I chose to spend many of my remaining days,
watching parades of seasons pass in the hills’
keleidescope of colors revolving — in fall, scarlet,
gold, and bronze. In winter, cobalt blue and white.
Spring brings a rushed array — one week yellow,
the next red, then purple, and green never leaves
till late August, just before the aspen twitter
with orange and gold coins glittering in sunlight.
I don’t see a move to Kansas or any spot east, wonder
if Jim and I will land in Venice, his California beach.
He raises a hand and yells, ‘lo,’ his voice echoing
down the street, falling at my knees, now trembling.
When he heads my way, I smell his Jade East, see
his hazy body morph into solid physique, black
leather pants, jacket, and sandaled feet. He lifts his chin,
shakes his curls, then lowers his face and stares at me.
Still trembling, I remember our jaunts on a motorcycle
and a persnickety jeep — wonder if I’ll ever be free again
or if I’ll ride highways like some banshee for eternity.
And I also enjoyed the section of Tanka strings, always the sucker for syllabic poetry. Most have five Tankas, but “Jim Morrison and I Lose Our Way on a Moon Dog Night” isonly two, and short enough to share with you here.
The drive home’s always
this way — too long, when sudden
changes shakes us up.
After a few warm, sunny
days, cold winds hit us again.
Tonight, an odd haze
encircles the moon like white
light in an X-ray
outlining a frail hip bone
fallen into necrosis.
An unusual collection of poetry through which to view the world through different eyes; perhaps through the eyes of Jim Morrison. I thoroughly enjoyed Cashing Checks with Jim Morrison, and I give it five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
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Book Review: In the Shadow of Rainbows
Posted: January 12, 2024 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Collection, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, In The Shadow of Rainbows, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Selma Martin, Writing to be Read 16 CommentsAbout the Book
In this dazzling debut poetry collection of over 60 carefully selected poems, author Selma Martin points the way to the beauty in the everyday, the shadow of the rainbow, and the silver lining at the edge of every cloud.
Favouring lyrical forms, and revelling in rhymes and musical language, the individual poems in this collection harmonise together in symphonic splendour to form an enlightening and delightful whole.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Rainbows-Collection-Songs-Presence-ebook/dp/B0CB5PLMB6/
My Review
I’m happy to be able to begin 2024 with the review of Selma Martin’s debut poetry collection, In The Shadow of Rainbows. Many of the poems in this special collection have a lyrical feel to them from the poet’s unique style, finding ways to celebrate life and the wonderful things found when you least expect them, lying hidden in the shadows. I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I see poems as personal reflections on love, life and nature. They express the unique way that each poet sees the world, and shares them, opening doors for others to view the world in a different way. Poetry can express some amazing things, and make its readers think of things in ways they’ve never before considered. Selma Martin has done just that, opening doors to reveal the hidden world which jumps out and surprises us from the shadows of rainbows.
I truly enjoyed reading through this collection, often going back and rereading poems which resonated with me personally. It is often amazing to view the world through someone else’s eyes, revealing what we might not otherwise see, and this journey offered in Martin’s collection is a truly wonderous one. This delightful collection of lilting, lyrical poetry offers special appreciation for life, love and the world around us.
As with most poetry reviews, the best way to describe the poet’s unique style and perspective is to share some of my favorite selections for my readers to judge for themselves. Because, after all, the poetry speaks for itself better than anything I could say to describe it.
(Martin’s form doesn’t transfer well on WordPress, so I hope I didn’t butcher them too badly.)
Slice of Life
Flanked between two warnings, I live you, planting the light hours with loving acts, for you, for us, for our menage,
and when I meet dusk, filled,
ready for our mingling at the table, where we swap slices of lived moments of the same day, hearts swell replete.
The Lore
Azure and unperturbed is the sky until a little
cloud perches high above me near sunset
I quit my book
glad Cloud stopped for me.
We stare at each other long, me, blanking out toils and troubles, Cloud turning orange and peach until she mauves herself,
Melding with Sky, and follows it.
When I can discern her no more I walk away from my tent-down to the small river that gurgles. I watch it gain speed, and as it snakes into the noble Pacific
I hear her babble me a goodbye.
A salacious wind blows warm air behind my ear but soon disowns me, a moth brushes on my temple and is gone much too soon.
Everyone’s on the move except me- I don’t mind, I have the chant of the river, the bustling of bugs,
puddles of moonlight, silhouetting the beauteous forms of things and best of all, and best of all the seven daughters of Atlas
clustered over me.
What else do I need?
For an Hour
when a colorless day let’s slip a rare irreproachable hour
take it and indulge it for a while sit with it, let it swallow you while
or paint it with shades alluring, dye each section with thoughts of hope
paint your steps from here to the seashore pigment the waves to humor the sun
taint the sun-no wait-don’t paint the sun we need Helios to stay as is
winnow the bulrush color-washed clouds that camouflage Mt. Fuji
and the hawk-just let the hawk be duly, a day will never beam
without bringing you recall
of the sea, laughing with you for an hour
A wonderful way to begin the new year with a lovely collection of poetry. I give In The Shadow of Rainbows five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
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Book Review: Ever So Gently – A Collection of Poetry
Posted: November 25, 2023 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Poetry, Review | Tags: Book Review, Ever So Gently, Lauren Scott, Poetry, Poetry Collection, Writing to be Read 22 CommentsAbout the Book
In Ever So Gently, Lauren Scott shares her strong link to nature, taking the reader on a tranquil walk through a redwood grove. You’ll find an invitation to sit quietly on a patio, captivated by the simple beauty of a hummingbird. She’ll entice you to revel on the shore of a freshwater lake, mesmerized by its stunning beauty.
Scott shares how love has shaped her life. From that first delicious kiss to celebrating decades of marriage through a love that deepens over time. How her heart melted when she became a mom, then ached when her children started their adult lives across country. And how her adorable canine companions found their way into her heart.
Scott underscores how life presents mysteries we struggle to solve. We can’t help but ponder the deeper meaning of a simple vision. She prompts you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs. what matters most is to love and live ever so gently.
Purchase Link:
My Review
For me, poetry is best enjoyed in print, where I can hold the book in my hands and leaf through the pages, taking in each poem in small doses, and revisting those poems which have sparked further thought in my mind. So, I was tickled to receive a print copy of Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry from author Lauren Scott. In this delightful collection, we hear the author’s confident approach to life, feel her inner appreciation of the natural world arond her, and gain insight into value of connection with the people she loves and cares about.
Poetry is so personal, offering a window into the author’s soul, and Ever So Gently does this beautifully. Many of the poems contained within resonated with me on a personal level. As a both nature and animal lover, the vivid images of the cautiously flitting hummingbird, a garden renewed, and beloved pets helped me to feel the moments described within each, as if witnessing or experiencing them.
Messages from the Sea
listen intently
inhale, exhale, feel the calm
your soul will tank you
secrets ride the waves
ebbing, flowing in turquoise
we are not privy
whispers in the surf
ambiguous to discern
relish in their song
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For Lauren Scott, nature is soothing, healing. I can relate with that as nature is also where I go for solace.
Chilling Embrace
I have been embraced
by the chilling presence
of lonliness.
I have wondered where the niche
designed for me exists in this world
in which my breaths originate.
I have waited for the glow
to emerge behind the shadows.
But when I take that soft step
into the splendor of nature,
listen to the treeswhisper their sagacity,
feel the flowing rivers move my pain,
creating vast distance between it and me,
I have been revived by the compassion
that nature offers so unselfishly.
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But my very favorites were the poems in which she expressed her love of the written word, a love that I share, so can relate well with.
Books
Stories, poetry
Compelling, transporting, entertaining
Turning pages is exciting
Paperbacks
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But my true favorite is the poem that shares the title the book is so aptly named for. In it I see clearly the author’s positive, grounded attitude toward life. A wonderful outlook, to be sure.
Ever So Gently
Sometimes we get lost
in our thoughts…
losing focus of the stars
lighting up the night sky.
We tumble too deeply
into the frontal lobe,
allowing negative thoghts
to awaken, to throw a tantrum.
Remember, the breeze carries
burdens down river
and across oceans,
majestic trees sway with joy,
sheltering from shadows,
and the light shines even if only
a slight glimmer slips through.
Its glow will grow ever so gently
into a bright beacon of hope
rising with the golden sun
bringing clarity to our vision.
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With her uplifting poetic verse Lauren Scott basks in the earth’s beauty, cherishes loved ones, ponders life’s mysteries. Highly recommended. I give Ever So Gently five quills.
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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review here.
