Reviews in Brief

A smirking wink and a nostalgic sigh all at once, The Usefulness of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook for Trying Times by Vincent J. Tomeo is a wry and raw collection that tugs at the petty and profound pieces of human nature in equal measure. From the validation of reading one’s poetry to a dog and relatable maternal guilt trips to playfully provocative tangents and astute observations in experimental forms, this collection gleams with whimsy and wisdom. Written during the pandemic in the midst of his own health crisis, this sometimes laugh-out-loud collection is a tangential and vulnerable offering from a formative time for us all, distinguished by the author’s recognizable observations and unique perspective on health and renewal.

A sharp-witted collection of aphorisms, observations, and weighty one-liners,  Washington Post is Switching Off Lights by Piotr Bardzik succinctly takes aim at the hypocrisies and paradoxes of modern life, dissecting a gamut of contemporary issues and taking an incisive blade to apathy. Bardzik’s wickedly creative wordplay launches cunning critiques of society, politics, media, language, medicine, and more, landing somewhere between profoundly wise and savagely scathing. Standing on the snarky shoulders of Ambrose Bierce and Dorothy Parker, this tongue-in-cheek examination of everything from patriotism and ego to our collective dopamine addiction is a cathartic work of social philosophy, which is at once heavily satirical and all too realistic.

A tenderly curated collection of amorous poetry, I Have Danced With Angels: Selected Love Poems (The Passion & Reason Poetry Series) by Joe Giampaolo captures the enigmatic experience of romantic connection. Worshipping at the altar of affection with lavish devotion and erotic creativity, these passionate poems are the work of a true philophile, a wordsmith unabashedly in love with love. Giampaolo entices readers to enter the realms of obsessive desire, immerse themselves in limerence, experience the ecstasy of satiation, and occasionally drown in the tragic loneliness of loss. The expressive language makes his free-flowing verse a provocative and enthralling feast for those who have felt similar desires, while his delicate haikus probe at heavy truths with exacting brilliance, resulting in an unassuming but enormously affecting collection.

An illustrated parable about community, responsibility, and the power of working together, Holly and the Magic Bunny by Kateryna Dronova is a touching tale of self-improvement with vital lessons for selfless living. After ignoring her grandmother’s requests for help around the house, Holly follows a talking bunny into the forest, only to find herself lost and in need, and the only way to find her way back home is to put grandma’s lessons to good use, which she shares with the magical creatures she meets along the way. Written to a middle grade level, the storyline may not entirely fit that audience, but Dronova’s prose is charming and wise, which can inspire generosity and compassion in readers of any age.

A chronological and appropriately chaotic conclusion to a seriously twisted series, Out of Business: A Final Fix of Violence, Vice, and Vengeance (The Business Trilogy Book 3) by Simon Pearce is another reality-shattering thriller. Toby, now running an Amsterdam coffee shop above his top-shelf drug lab, sees his luck run out when a vengeful Welshman comes brutally knocking on his door. Unfortunately, catastrophic personal tragedies don’t pay the bills, or settle scores with the biker gang patrons he partnered with in the pen, but a high-stakes diamond heist just might. Strung out and flying solo, this addled anti-hero must pull one more trick from his chef’s hat before fully losing the plot, or his head, resulting in a ferocious conclusion to this original trilogy. Unhinged, uncensored, and undeniably good, should you be up for this type of hard-edged crime fiction with an extra serving of edge, Pearce delivers an explosive hit of celebratory anarchy with this epic finale.

Seeking to change the way we think about and manage an ever-growing health crisis, Peptide Protocols for Weight Loss: A Beginner’s Guide to Unlocking Your Metabolic Potential by Jordan Oibka lays out a bold strategy for optimizing one’s metabolism in a natural and effective way. This surprisingly eye-opening text introduces readers to peptide therapy, which involves supporting the body’s critical messenger system to achieve peak performance. From nuanced biochemical details to big-picture game plans for retaking control of personal wellbeing, this neatly structured read is both accessible and academically rigorous. Ultimately urging readers to work with their biology, rather than against it, Oikba presents a comprehensive yet easy-to-follow guide for self-driven healing.