I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author and poet James W.A. shares a collection of poems that tells the story of a boy falling in love with a girl and their relationship with each other and their faith in the book “Finality of the Heart.”
The Synopsis
In another poetry collection, award-winning author James W. A. weaves the tale of a boy in love with a girl named Ella. Told across four sections, the themes in the individual poems progress from the newfound bliss of a budding relationship to the discernment of what it means for them, through the eyes of faith. From there, our story finds itself with two endings. In one, Ella and the speaker find lasting joy with each other and live their Forever. In another, the speaker is judged to be a Failure and must grapple with the sorrow of that future. No matter the true ending, this collection contains poems about love, loss, purpose, relationship with God and others, and what it means to embrace, for good or for ill, the Finality of the Heart.
The Review
This was such a rich and engaging book of poetry. The author writes in a way that feels both emotional and soulful at once, tapping into the rich tapestry of humanity and exploring one of the world’s most time-honored and compelling life goals: the act of falling in love. The vivid imagery found throughout these poems was astounding, and the author wrote in such a way that readers could easily connect with the story being depicted and empathize with the characters these poems brought to life.
That was what stood out so perfectly, the story. The narrative aspect of these poems made their meanings feel more engaging, and the themes these poems brought to life were equally engaging. The theme not only of love, but also of maintaining that love and balancing it with the personal relationship a person has with their own faith, was strongly felt. Yet, it was the love that had me hooked time and again in poems such as “Daylight Savings Time,” “Just One More,” and “Me Without You.”
The Verdict
Emotional, compelling, and heartfelt, author James W.A.’s “Finality of the Heart” is a must-read narrative poetry collection. The depth of the story being told, the vivid imagery in the author’s writing, and the dynamic themes explored in the poems will have readers returning to this collection time and again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
James W. A. was born and raised in the Tampa Bay area in Florida and now happily lives just outside Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating from the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg’s Honors College, he published his first book, In the Library, in 2015 and his second, the award-winning poetry collection Desolation and Epiphany, in 2023.
Poetry from James W. A. has also been featured in the literary magazines Neptune, Nectar,and The Secret Society of Poetry and he has showcased and facilitated workshops locally through KC Poetic Underground. With his newest collection, Finality of the Heart, James W. A. capitalizes on his long-time love for romantic poetry and penchant for dramatic melancholy to share a meaningful tale of duality he hopes will last through the ages.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finality-of-the-heart-james-w-a/1147699460?ean=9798218700492
