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32 Public Reviews Given
46 Total Reviews Given
Public Reviews
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Review of Beauty Queen  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Loved this poem- it really shows the depth of emotional turmoil and
sense of loss caused by the broken heart, while cleverly showing the cleansing effect of the passage of time and how things can be healed. A lovely, cathartic poem, well written and balanced. Well done!
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Review of FOREVER  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
A really panoramic view of so much to do with life, time and the essence of man,
with theological questioning too about some aspects of Jesus and what the bible says yet which is more to do with man in a metamorphic way, evolving and living through, being a witness to the ever changing events on earth. Vividly filled with imagery which resonates with the theme, this is literally packed with
vignettes of information that run through as a tributory with the main body being
'the souce' of life, and this is explored in a multitude of ways. Profound, thought provoking, and highly dynamically written, this really is almost a polemic of
a short story, covering a vast area in such a brilliant way. Well done!
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Review of The Chase  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
An interesting piece of writing, the strong relationship between man and dog being explored together with the sadness of losing a beloved pet, while also considering matters from more of a three dimensional perspective, looking at how the actions of animals can influence us. The writer says: 'I’ve always believed that many of life’s lessons are learned from God’s simplest creatures.' This is beautifully put, and clearly the affection between Chase and the writer carries us through the piece, as we open our eyes to the lessons which the author has been able to absorb from following and watching his much adored dog. Even those of us who have never owned a dog are able to understand the bond, due to the clever use of imagery and language which builds up to present a clear picture of why this bond is highly important. It is also a metaphor for our links with nature and perhaps our own nature and the message of how important it is to watch the instincts of animals so that we can follow our own instincts more readily resonates. Well done!
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Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Beautifully written, with a lot of thought about the subject matter, and the clarity and the breadth of the piece makes it very readable. We are carried through many different thoughts and justifications for writing, the theories of others being contrasted with the writer's own motivation. There are some very cleverly worded parts:
'The beauty in words comes not only from the words themselves, but the pronunciation, the ups and downs of the letters and the arrangement of different words to create sentences that can mean so much when really they are just a collection of singular irrelevant data that the mind translates into complicated pictures and emotions from one person to the next.'
In a sense, this sentence could be positioned near to the start of the piece for greater effect as it shows the writer's own skill at being able to understand what writing is about, and how words can be pieced together to transcend their normal meaning. Highly astute and a joy to read, this is the work of someone who could well be a future writer.....Well done!
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Review of Natural Beauty  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Beautifully written, showing natural imagery and a great optimism in what may be around the corner. This writing conveys a sense of being captivated by the moment, loving the sense of being alive and awake to the senses. Could be drawn out to make this a longer piece but it works well as it is due to its concise but very expressive expression. Well done!
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Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (4.5)
Interesting an intelligent piece of writing. This theme of the paradox could be worked even further - there is certainly something there which has a lot of resonance. A novel could be written exploring the type of juxtapositions that come through paradoxes and you could go into the fact that paradoxes create a sort of catalyst by interacting with eachother so as to form a new entity- you could give this a specific name, and coin a new term. Very thought provoking....


Well done!
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Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Superb poem- the use of questions really raises so many points which due to the rhetorical nature, remain unanswered but make the reader feel that the existential nature of this series of thought has a compelling resonance. Well structured into regular stanzas and a structured rhyme scheme, this poem has been well composed and is very interesting to read. Well done!
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Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Beautifully written, this poem shows the qualities and attributes that make the writer's girlfriend very special, using language showing an attentive and yet supportive viewpoint. Clear and highly commendable, this poem reveals a heartfelt desire to write this as a poem of praise and appreciation.
Well done...
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Review of The Home Sampler  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
A very well written poem, showing the entanglements and the complications of having a bipolar person in their lives- interesing and highly appropriate imagery and the focus on the sampler is a very good way of trying to tie together all of the loose ends created within this psychological conundrum. We feel empathy with the writer who ' tried to keep the green threads separate
but somehow the needle flew-tangling and knotting until I fell apart at the seams.' The clever use of imagery works very well, and creates an atmosphere of someone trying to sort out the situation using their own handiwork, but who can't due to the unravelling process which is part of their friends illness.

We had a bipolar friend to stay recently and the poem really resonated due to that especially. The sense of feeling thwarted and feeling that whatever was stitched and repaired, it would not come together works very well. Good luck with your writing in the future- this is very good...!

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Review of REFUSE TO GET OLD  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (4.5)
Interesting and enteratining piece of writing almost defiant in parts piece of writing, which shows the reluctance of the author to be made to feel old by others. Very clever use of language and the parts in brackets really work to enhance the sense that the first person speaking knows what they want to say and feels that they have a right to choose their own words. Highly authentic and very well assembled, this is really worth reading as we can see the views of the writer shining through. Well done!
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Review of The Promised Land  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Very nicely written, this poem has highly authentic langauge within it and reveals a story line in a brief yet totally cogent way, showing the experiences of those whose freedom has been compromised. An example of this quick, summary yet highly illustrative approach is :
' now a free man of color,
had his name on Harvey Waring's will.
This plot was his, the law said so.'
It is possible to visualise the action in this poem and there is a real empathy and sense of care for the main characters. A well rounded poem, filled with resonance and it is skillfully written -highly credible. Well done!

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Review of American Suffrage  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (4.5)
Very nicely written piece focusing on Nora and Jackson and the mores and
traditions of the time,which Nora is trying to break through. There are some very well chosen phrases for instance: "Why couldn't you just be like all the other women?..... This really characterises the piece and pulls the readers focus
into quite a didactic message about the emancipation of women and how the small details of every day life were designed to entrap women like Nora. Nora shows a bold attitude for her generation, wanting to break through boundaries.
We know that the omenous warning of 'I foresee a miserable battle, only with women like you to lose in the end." reveals the difficulties that Nora had in trying to find her allies, even in those around her. She is a fighter and somehow we know that her views will triumph. A very interesting and well written piece. Well done!
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Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (4.5)
Well written with some very good phrases and also good use of speech. There are quite a few literary devices included such as 'The winters have grown bitterer on older bones..' which really work well in the context. A fast moving story which offers a rollercoaster of emotions , this is a brave piece of writing embracing so many different ideas which come together in an original way.
The mention of old cars and of the dates involved give the piece an historical context and the whole ambience of the poem is expressed well within the language used. Well done!
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Review of Never Far Away  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 13+ | (5.0)
Very brave poem, showing the tragedy and loss through use of very highly appropriate language, conveying the sense of feeling that there is nothing tangible left but the locket...... A very sad poem, with all of the cathartic resonance of someone who has been through a serious life changing experience and the use of a regular rhyming scheme brings structure to feelings of desolation. There is hope within the poem- the holding on to the locket offering consolation in dark moment- but overwhelmingly the feeling of
grief and the sense of despondency due to the expectation of new birth being thwarted by the cruelty of death, dominates. A very well written poem, from the heart.

My baby girl died and reading the poem reminded me of feelings which I have had over the years- I do feel that your poem may well offer emotional consolation to others who will be thinking of the locket as an image of being able to hold on to something so that something good could have come out of such a tragedy.

It was courageous of you to write this poem, whether out of personal experience or whether out of a sense of empathy for others and I am glad to have come across it. Well done...
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Review of An Old Skillet  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (4.5)
Charming and engaging poem about a household favourite item which has outlived its owners. A subtle reminder of the ephemeral nature of life, this poem juxtaposes the every day with more universal themes such as time and change,
embracing the language of common place traditions and contrasting it with the
necessity of cooking, and indeed replacing the old skillet. Well done!
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Review of A truth  Open in new Window.
Review by Valeska Ross Author IconMail Icon
Rated: E | (5.0)
Brilliantly illuminating poem, taking on an epic theme and dealing with it in poetic form in a brief yet highly entertaining way. A well conceived poem, with
a regular rhyme scheme- well worth reading! Clearand direct in its message, this poem is engaging and would interest literary people and historians alike..
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