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Poetry Book Reviews

Published by AvantPointGuard, May 31, 2012

John Blandly’s Poetry eBooks.

John Blandly has just published a new collection of poems entitled, “The Greatest Poem Ever Written and other Poems.”

Itunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/greatest-poem-ever-written/id515761570?mt=11

nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-greatest-poem-ever-written-and-other-poems-john-blandly/1109801710?ean=2940033089888

kobo

http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Greatest-Poem-Ever-Written/book-lVUsH42YPUOh9jsRcaomeQ/page1.html?s=k_2so3ZY9ES5R1BGpioEkg&r=5

His previous collection was nominated for an EPPIE award.

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Young people have no respect for authority nowadays (Photo credit: Alexandre Dulaunoy)

A review of “New and Easy Poems to Promote Your Health and Safety,” by Shirley Johnson stated: As I started this book, the first poem I read was called, “End Punctuality Now!” I giggled. I knew I was going to like this collection, and I did. Author John Blandly definitely has a way with words, but a way that is not what you would expect. He takes his outlook on life to so many areas and somehow weaves each poem around bringing forth a conclusion that usually will make you laugh, sometimes give you pause for thought, and at other times make you shake your head and ask, what was he thinking? And that is what makes this a great book.

Some of the poem titles are: “Action Junkies,” “Elections,” and “Drink to Me Only With Thine Mastercard.”

I liked them all; they were refreshing and definitely not the norm of poetry reading that I have been accustomed to. His subjects are so varied that they tumble you around like a tumbleweed in a desert, yet land you often in an oasis. My favorite can be found on page 30, “Dr. Bob Bruzinski’s Advice to the Young,” and I would like to include it in this review, I quote:

Be holy:
Somebody might be looking.
Pray a lot:
There might be a war and you could get killed.
Marry young:
There might be a war and you could get killed.

Priceless! Thank you, Mr. Blandly, for writing such an enjoyable read.

Shirley Johnson is a Senior Reviewer for MidWest Book Review

“New and Easy Poems” was also reviewed by poet Joel L. Young:

”Mr. Blandly keeps things simple and sweet. For the safety and health of his readers, the words are concise and considerate. In his introduction, he names names in the form of T.S. Eliot and e.e. cummings, gives regard to an alumnus from his university, Billy Collins, then breaches the walls of Modern poetry. Within these covers, the writer talks of “Action Junkies”. How everybody is “his twin,” then presents a treatise “against violence” and walking the world in anger, along with nods to “Yellow Factories.” At the end, we find the author in his universe. His themes have left us with regards and regrets. We feel better for having read them.

JOEL L. YOUNG ; Author of:

American Lyricon: A Poet Sings of America

The With Pen in Hand Series, Notes From the War-Torn

Joel is a graduate of Florida Community College in Jacksonville, Florida. He’s an multi award-winning poet with an eclectic taste in sports, politics, history, cosmic events and music.

His first book, American Lyricon: A Poet Sings of America has won several awards since it was published in September of 2000. He released his acclaimed With Pen In Hand series at Synergebooks in 2001. His books, poetry and the award winning anthology Open Mic Jacksonville, which he and other first coast poets are featured, is on Amazon.com. Young’s poetry can be found throughout the internet in such online journals as Slow Trains, Poetic Voices, Wilmington Blues and others.

Mr. Young is a musician and drummer with his local church. He is a member of North Florida Writers and the Florida Writers Association, and a frequent columnist to the Florida Times Union’s Community Columnist Program at (www.firstcoastcommunity.com.)