Review of Paul Brookes’s book “Othernesses” by Spriha Kant
“‘Othernesses’ is the beautifully unique work knitted by poet ‘Paul Brookes’ and this knitting pattern has an impactful impression.” — This statement is justified by the facts and citations in the following stanzas.
The poet has wonderfully used personification in some poetries. Quoting a few words from one such poetry “The Rockpool” below:
“One minute I am scorched by sharp sunlight, next I’m cold enough to ripple shivers.” “In the wane I’ll have my own way, again. Every to and fro never the same.” Certain stanzas and/or words in some poetries recite the different aspects of life such as philosophy, experiences, etc, some recite through the garnish/garnishes of personifications and/or metaphors whereas some point out in a direct manner. Quoting such few words and stanzas below: “I am a dying sea, a dried up thing.” “Our specularities slide over surfaces, change shape whenever the object, viewer or environment moves.” “We waymark each hour as it passes on. All waymarks subject to going, gone.” “World is Chrysanthemums in a picture.” The poet’s empathy and keen observatory skill not overlooking the importance of insects in our lives show his considerate attitude towards insects that a negligible number of persons have. Quoting below a few words and stanzas proving this: “We’d wallow in waste if there were no flies. Praise them, their short lives, work and enterprise” “You horrify me with your pure cleanliness. Live in shittip, I’ll join you in the mess.” “Scratch decayed wood until it splinters. Hunt these spikes for soft white wood swallow inside. Indigestible I make a hard front, swallow soil ready to throw back up outside.” The poetries woven by him as encomiums for his fellow artists by using insects as metaphors for them also contribute to proving his attitude as considerate towards insects as well as shows his greatness as an artist. “Othernesses” by Paul Brookes is suitable for wise poetic minds, a spark that can light up the reader’s interest in entomology, and is fruitful to read. Bios (Spriha Kant & Paul Brookes): Paul Brookes: Paul Brookes is a writer, local historian, genealogist, photographer, shop assistant and grandfather. Paul has lived in Wombwell, South Yorkshire for over twenty years, in a cat house full of teddy bears. He adores the counter intuitive. His first play was performed at The Gulbenkian Theatre, Hull. His chapbooks include The Fabulous Invention Of Barnsley (Dearne Community Arts, 1993). A World Where and She Needs That Edge (Nixes Mate Press, 2017, 2018) The Spermbot Blues (OpPRESS, 2017), Please Take Change (Cyberwit.net, 2018) As Folk Over Yonder (Afterworld Books, 2019). A poetry collaboration with artworker Jane Cornwell: Wonderland in Alice, plus other ways of seeing (JCStudio Press, 2021) with a foreword by Ian Mcmillan, a sonnet collection called As Folktaleteller (ImpSpired, 2022) with an introduction by Penelope Shuttle. Forthcoming is another sonnet collection: These Random Acts of Wildness (Glass Head Press, 2023). Paul is Editor of The Wombwell Rainbow interviews, book reviews and challenges. Paul has had work broadcast on BBC Radio 3 The Verb and videos of his Self Isolation sonnet sequence featured by Barnsley Museums and Hear My Voice Barnsley. For more: www.thewombwellrainbow.com. Spriha Kant:
Spriha Kant is an English poetess & literary book reviewer.
Her first published poetry is “The Seashell” which was published in “Imaginary Land Stories.”
The poetries of Spriha have been published in the following anthologies:
- Sing, Do The Birds of Spring
- A Whisper Of Your Love
- Hard Rain Poetry: Forever Dylan
- Bare Bones Writing Issue 1: Fevers of the mind
- Hidden in Childhood
- A Glitter of Miles
“Hidden in Childhood” became the #1 bestselling book on amazon. This book consists of poems from about 150 globally acclaimed poets and poetesses, out of which most have been featured on NPR (National Public Radio), BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation),andthe New York Times. The wonderful Japanese painter “Hikari” featured this book in her exhibition in Tokyo in Japan. All the proceeds of the anthology book “A Glitter of Miles” went to the “Senior Staffy Club” (UK), a charity that helps older Staffordshire Bull terriers
Book Reviews by Spriha that have been released so far are:
- The Keeper of Aeons by Matthew MC Smith
- Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow by Jeff Flesch
- Washed Away: A Collection of Fragments by Shiksha Dheda
- Spaces by Clive Gresswell
- Silence From the Shadows by Stuart Matthews
- Breathe by Helen Laycock
- Woman: Splendor and Sorrow: Love Poems and Poetic Prose by Gabriela Marie Milton
- These Random Acts of Wildness by Paul Brookes
Spriha has collaborated on the poetry “The Doorsteps Series” with thewell-known Southern Indiana poet “David L O’ Nan.”
Spriha has been a part of the two events celebrating the launches of the books:
Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow by Jeff Flesch
As FolkTaleTeller by Paul Brookes
Words of Spriha Kant quoted on the first page of the book:
Her poetic quote “An orphic wind storm blew away a sand dune that heaped all our love memories upon one another.” has been published as the epigraph in the book Magkasintahan Volume VI By Poets and Writers from the Philippines under Ukiyoto Publishing in the year 2022.
Features of Spriha Kant (Interviews & Others):
- Quick-9 Interview on feversofthemind.com (Interview Feature)
- #BrokenAsides with Spriha Kant on the brokenspine.co.uk (Interview Feature)
- Creative Achievements in 2022 on thewombwellrainbow.com
Invitation to Spriha Kant as a guest of honor:
Spriha graced the award-winning show “Victoria in Verse” as a “guest of honor” in “Bloomsbury Radio, London,” hosted by Victoria Onofrei which broadcasted on January 29th, 2023 at 6 P.M. as per the time standard in London in which she recited her poetry “The Tale of a poltergeist”.
Links to features of Spriha Kant:
Fevers of the Mind 