4 out of 4 stars
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Kaleidoscope of Being by Jennifer Toth is a collection of poems which narrate the author's spiritual journey. She's older, wiser, and has overcome multiple hurdles to realize a peaceful state of mind.
The author expresses gratitude and challenges readers to see things in a new light. Although she doesn't delve into her personal life, I could tell that she's made self-improvement a priority. Her optimism reflects in the poems. Because Jesus sacrificed himself to save humanity, the author encourages readers to follow His example and love selflessly. She iterates that without self-love, one cannot love someone else.
The author has complete trust in God, and her faith is admirable. She's mastered the art of worship and praises all of God's creation. Readers who don't subscribe to the Christian faith need not despair, because there's a lot to learn from the book. It taught me to appreciate the beauty of nature and aspire to be one with the Universe. The author also acknowledges that evil lurks beneath the surface, and that it takes a strong-willed individual to resist temptation. Dark themes like mental illness and repression feature in the book, and left me wondering whether the author has had any experience with them.
I like how the author used her imagination to pay tribute to her favorite artists. She penned more than a casual thank you note and played out a scene in which Picasso, Van Gogh, and herself spent the day together. She realistically depicts the artists' personalities, and fans of the painters will enjoy the author's take on the subject. Her love for music is a recurring theme, and besides the guitar, she finds rhythm in the tunes of nature. I saw the sense in it because all sounds can be beautiful depending on how one listens to them. There's a melodic tune in the swaying of tree branches, the chirping of birds, and the spatter of rain.
The book's cover and title work together to paint a picture of what readers should expect. It contains a bit of everything, and its length makes it suitable for a quick afternoon read. The text is beautifully formatted with a consistent layout, which makes it easy on the eyes and smoothens the reading experience. There are page breaks after each poem, but the few inconsistencies didn't trouble me. I also noticed a few errors, mostly misspelled words, which I quickly ignored. Because this is a well-crafted work, it deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. I'll recommend this book to lovers of poetry, Christians, and anyone looking for an inspirational read.
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Kaleidoscope of Being
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