Review of The False God's Lullaby
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John Rehg
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Review of The False God's Lullaby
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The False God's Lullaby" by Aaron Gedaliah.]
The False God’s Lullaby is an intimate book of poetry. The book is divided into sections based on themes relating to life, including the need to belong, the specter of loss and death, and thoughts and dreams. The poems are in free verse form, though one incorporates some rhyming. Following the poetry sections, the author reflects in prose on subjects that mirror some of the themes or poems.
The author uses vivid images to evoke feelings. For example, in “Big Sur,” the author touches on the sadness of cemeteries: “I will not be found among endless marbled rows, that make the dead more dead in their obscurity.” In “Old Photograph,” the look of an unknown woman in a photograph, “a gentle gaze piercing the flow of time” paints a mystery from the past.
The author changes pace with “The Prog Drummer’s [Often Ignored] Advice,” the most rhythmic poem in the collection, the repetitive verses counting time, mimicking a drumbeat. There is a touching gentleness to the poem that supplies the book’s title, “The False God’s Lullaby,” and its inspiration is explained in the prose section.
Some subjects are so common one wouldn’t normally consider them, yet the poet reveals our universality. “Mirror” is one example, reflecting on looking in the mirror: “I only see my face etched by time’s cadence”.
Poetry is meant to be absorbed, and it’s worthwhile to read these poems multiple times to get the full impact. Though the author’s language and imagery skills are evident, a few poems went over my head or were about situations I have not experienced.
Good editing, well-organized theme arrangements, and thought-provoking verses make reading the poems enjoyable. The author succeeds in drawing out emotion. Even though I couldn’t relate to several poems, most were clear and vivid, so I did not detract from the rating. I rate this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone interested in personal poetry.
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The False God's Lullaby
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The False God’s Lullaby is an intimate book of poetry. The book is divided into sections based on themes relating to life, including the need to belong, the specter of loss and death, and thoughts and dreams. The poems are in free verse form, though one incorporates some rhyming. Following the poetry sections, the author reflects in prose on subjects that mirror some of the themes or poems.
The author uses vivid images to evoke feelings. For example, in “Big Sur,” the author touches on the sadness of cemeteries: “I will not be found among endless marbled rows, that make the dead more dead in their obscurity.” In “Old Photograph,” the look of an unknown woman in a photograph, “a gentle gaze piercing the flow of time” paints a mystery from the past.
The author changes pace with “The Prog Drummer’s [Often Ignored] Advice,” the most rhythmic poem in the collection, the repetitive verses counting time, mimicking a drumbeat. There is a touching gentleness to the poem that supplies the book’s title, “The False God’s Lullaby,” and its inspiration is explained in the prose section.
Some subjects are so common one wouldn’t normally consider them, yet the poet reveals our universality. “Mirror” is one example, reflecting on looking in the mirror: “I only see my face etched by time’s cadence”.
Poetry is meant to be absorbed, and it’s worthwhile to read these poems multiple times to get the full impact. Though the author’s language and imagery skills are evident, a few poems went over my head or were about situations I have not experienced.
Good editing, well-organized theme arrangements, and thought-provoking verses make reading the poems enjoyable. The author succeeds in drawing out emotion. Even though I couldn’t relate to several poems, most were clear and vivid, so I did not detract from the rating. I rate this 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone interested in personal poetry.
******
The False God's Lullaby
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Book Review: The False God's Lullaby by Aaron Gedaliah
In The False God's Lullaby, Aaron Gedaliah weaves a haunting, poetic tapestry of divinity, despair, and the dangerous intoxication of belief. With prose that reads like an incantation and a narrative that hums with mythic resonance, Gedaliah delivers a philosophical fantasy that is as much a meditation on human vulnerability as it is a compelling story of gods and men.
The novel opens in a world where gods do not merely demand worship—they manufacture it, manipulate it, and in doing so, manipulate reality itself. At the heart of this tale is Kae, a dreamer haunted by a celestial voice. As he descends into a spiritual labyrinth, Kae’s journey becomes a striking metaphor for identity, indoctrination, and awakening. The god he follows whispers lullabies that are both divine and damning—songs that blur the boundary between prophecy and possession.
Gedaliah’s language is rich, deliberate, and steeped in symbolism. Each chapter unfolds like a spell, slowly revealing the cost of blind devotion. The dialogue is sparse yet impactful, echoing like ancient scripture or forgotten psalms. And yet, beneath the mysticism lies a very human story—one of longing, loneliness, and the eternal search for meaning.
What sets The False God’s Lullaby apart is its refusal to hand readers easy answers. It’s a book that questions everything: What is a god? Who decides truth? And what do we sacrifice in the name of belief? These themes aren’t hammered in; they shimmer quietly in the background, letting the reader wrestle with their implications long after the final page.
The pacing is contemplative, even dreamlike, but never dull. Moments of vivid action pierce the quiet introspection, reminding us that faith—whether in gods or ourselves—can be both weapon and wound. Gedaliah builds tension not through spectacle but through atmosphere: fog-laden temples, echoing chants, and the steady unraveling of Kae’s mind and soul.
Supporting characters orbit Kae’s descent like lost stars—each one mirroring a fragment of his struggle. There’s the priest who doubts, the lover who fears the divine, and the child who sings the same lullaby, though she’s never been taught. These interactions add emotional texture to the metaphysical landscape, grounding the ethereal in flesh and feeling.
Stylistically, the book is lush with poetic imagery. Sentences bloom with surreal beauty: “The god’s voice was not loud, but it filled the silence like rain fills an empty cup.” Gedaliah is clearly a writer who loves language, and every word seems carefully chosen, every metaphor a mirror reflecting something deeper.
In the end, The False God’s Lullaby is not just a novel—it’s an experience, a spiritual puzzle box that invites multiple readings and rewards introspection. For readers who crave philosophical depth wrapped in lyrical fantasy, Gedaliah offers a dazzling, disquieting gift. Let yourself fall into the lullaby. Just beware what you awaken.
In The False God's Lullaby, Aaron Gedaliah weaves a haunting, poetic tapestry of divinity, despair, and the dangerous intoxication of belief. With prose that reads like an incantation and a narrative that hums with mythic resonance, Gedaliah delivers a philosophical fantasy that is as much a meditation on human vulnerability as it is a compelling story of gods and men.
The novel opens in a world where gods do not merely demand worship—they manufacture it, manipulate it, and in doing so, manipulate reality itself. At the heart of this tale is Kae, a dreamer haunted by a celestial voice. As he descends into a spiritual labyrinth, Kae’s journey becomes a striking metaphor for identity, indoctrination, and awakening. The god he follows whispers lullabies that are both divine and damning—songs that blur the boundary between prophecy and possession.
Gedaliah’s language is rich, deliberate, and steeped in symbolism. Each chapter unfolds like a spell, slowly revealing the cost of blind devotion. The dialogue is sparse yet impactful, echoing like ancient scripture or forgotten psalms. And yet, beneath the mysticism lies a very human story—one of longing, loneliness, and the eternal search for meaning.
What sets The False God’s Lullaby apart is its refusal to hand readers easy answers. It’s a book that questions everything: What is a god? Who decides truth? And what do we sacrifice in the name of belief? These themes aren’t hammered in; they shimmer quietly in the background, letting the reader wrestle with their implications long after the final page.
The pacing is contemplative, even dreamlike, but never dull. Moments of vivid action pierce the quiet introspection, reminding us that faith—whether in gods or ourselves—can be both weapon and wound. Gedaliah builds tension not through spectacle but through atmosphere: fog-laden temples, echoing chants, and the steady unraveling of Kae’s mind and soul.
Supporting characters orbit Kae’s descent like lost stars—each one mirroring a fragment of his struggle. There’s the priest who doubts, the lover who fears the divine, and the child who sings the same lullaby, though she’s never been taught. These interactions add emotional texture to the metaphysical landscape, grounding the ethereal in flesh and feeling.
Stylistically, the book is lush with poetic imagery. Sentences bloom with surreal beauty: “The god’s voice was not loud, but it filled the silence like rain fills an empty cup.” Gedaliah is clearly a writer who loves language, and every word seems carefully chosen, every metaphor a mirror reflecting something deeper.
In the end, The False God’s Lullaby is not just a novel—it’s an experience, a spiritual puzzle box that invites multiple readings and rewards introspection. For readers who crave philosophical depth wrapped in lyrical fantasy, Gedaliah offers a dazzling, disquieting gift. Let yourself fall into the lullaby. Just beware what you awaken.
