Within these pages you will find poems representing a wide variety of subjects, including the ups and downs of romantic love, the everyday frustrations we all face and the overwhelming grief felt by those who have lost a loved one. Of course, there are some lighter, more humorous poems to lighten the mood as well, so go ahead and dive in!
Reviewed by Gayani Hathurusingha for Readers Favorite
The collection of poems entitled "Not afraid to Be Real" by Maranda Russell is obviously a daring statement on the diversified circumstances of a common man's life. The poems are fresh, both thematically and technically, and they leave the reader to muse on the truths the poet reveals through them. The poems are clustered under five sub-categories: poems on relationships, poems on struggle for survival, poems on loss and death, inspirational poems and poems generating humour and irony.
Almost all the poems are presented through the first person point of view of a sophisticated narrator. Thus the poet's approach and attitude related to the fluctuations of life are revealed to the reader. The poems are lyrical despite the fact that they adopt the style of free verse. The poet is capable of tracing the subtle realities of modern mundane life in her poetry, through the effective use of a plethora of significant imagery. The themes that she deals with are of paramount importance in the modern social context and sometimes she invades into thematic territories that an average poet dares not enter into. It is obvious that the day-to-day experiences have motivated the poet to record her musings in the form of poetry. The freshness of these images, in the context of her poetry, is extremely entertaining. The simple but witty diction augments the artistic unity of the piece of writing and it is difficult not to be amused and inspired when you read the poems of Maranda Russell.
Southerncharm83
Posted August 11, 2012
As I read Maranda Russell's poetry her words became an inspirational melody in my mind. Her words inspire, motivate, and captures your heart, mind, and soul. Her poetry is appropriate for young adults and it will also inspire the mature audience. Eat off her table of poetry, you are sure to leave full.
Not Afraid to Be Real ~ A Poetry Collection by Maranda Russell is a poetic chronology of the author’s reflection on the different stages of life. She starts with love and daily living, and progresses through death and grief, before she emerges with hope and inspiration. She writes with an insight on life that many of us may not have considered. Then she adds a short chapter of miscellaneous poems that she describes as “funny, random or just plain weird”.
When I first started reading Ms. Russell’s poems, I thought, “How dark and gloomy.” I was right about the first poems because she was writing about topics that should be cheerful and positive, including several of the ones about love, but I decided that Ms. Russell was writing about a subject that she could see as dark or positive. In her introduction, she declares that she writes for teens and young adults because they ““get” what I am trying to say”. They do reflect the angst of the age group.
“I was never content
to catch the lightning bugs
and watch them glow
behind the glass;
I smashed them on the asphalt
and drew patterns
that shined briefly,
then faded away forever.”
When I got to the later poems, the mood changed. By the time I got to the end, I found I was enjoying her take on life. Her poems become more positive and upbeat as she came to the end of the book.
I know I can be anything,
I know I will succeed.
Though doubt may spring up in my heart,
it’s hope I choose to feed.
All ages will find something they can identify with in this small book of poems. Teens and young adults will relate to their current challenges. Older people will reflect back to what they felt at an earlier time and place.
Maranda Russell is a foster parent, children’s author, poet and cat lover who currently lives in Dayton, Ohio. She enjoys art, photography, anime, reading, writing, dancing, hiking, spending time with her family and rescuing stray animals.
madcapmaggie
Posted July 29, 2012
Maranda Russel has a gift for stating an emotional premise and leading the reader, verse by verse, to the concise emotional conclusion, and the subjects of these poems -- from everyday struggles to love to death -- will surely speak to teens and adults alike. Russell's straightforward style make these poems easy to understand. I heartily recommend this fine collection.
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Posted July 20, 2012
Great poetry collection for middle and high schoolers, or even college kids! Covers a large variety of subjects that affect teens and young adults.
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Overview
Within these pages you will find poems representing a wide variety of subjects, including the ups and downs of romantic love, the everyday frustrations we all face and the overwhelming grief felt by those who have lost a loved one. Of course, there are some lighter, more humorous poems to lighten the mood as well, so ...