Amazing News! My official book launch will be on Sunday, April 28 at 2:00pm EST/8:00pm CET! Please email admin@prolificpulse.com to register or if you have any questions (above graphic by Prolific Pulse)
Here is the review in its entirety, written by Munmun (Alvina) Sumanta, which was also posted to Amazon India – please go to blogalvina.com for more book reviews and writings from this talented and gracious young woman!
One Petal at a Time by Joni Karen Caggiano (Review by Munmun Alvina Sumanta)
Hello dear, today I am here with a wonderful poetry collection, One Petal at a Time by Joni Karen Caggiano
Let’s get introduced to the poetess first. Joni Karen Caggiano is an artist known for her work as an internationally published author, poet, and photographer. She was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2022 for her poem “Old News is Not Old News” published by The Short of It Publishing. Apart from her various literary works and collaborations, Joni is a writer for Hotel Masticadores and has previously written for MasticadoresIndia and MasticadoresUSA. Her background as a retired nurse, ACOA survivor, and environmental advocate deeply influences her artistry, adding depth and authenticity to her work.
Endorsed by Claudia Black, a pioneer in the study of dysfunctional families and the clinical architect of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center, “One Petal at a Time” by Joni Karen Caggiano is a heart-touching collection of poems that throws light on the other side of human behaviour, the dysfunctional dynamics of existence.
In Caggiano’s pen, you will find raw and introspective speculation of human emotion and experience through a series of contemplative poems.
” …like a lone primrose in winter who somehow thrives.”
If you can relate to this lone primrose, if this line reminds you of someone, then grab the copy. In every ink, and word you can scoop that catharsis, poignant yet not yielding to doom.
We all are treading along with the crowd bearing our crosses. Deep down in our hearts, pain tickles like scalded tears yet we move forward. This story of movement is penned down through her wonderful poems.
In her “One Petal at a Time”, Caggiano masterfully punctuates her poems with the sad anecdotes of unwanted souls who struggled to thrive even being unwelcomed or betrayed.
The vulnerabilities of human existence have been unfolded in various terms where disgrace is ‘like fireflies without flame’ and insecure life is represented by shell-less turtles masquerading in shadows.
The long list of poems is arranged in three parts taking allusion to germination. Caggiano’s lines are imbued in pathos and wrapped in metaphors that collaborate perfectly with the phases of emotional exfoliation.
Each and every poem is engraved with such novelty that the readers remain gripped on the pages of poetry. The language is eloquent, spectacular, and sometimes epigrammatic. Caggiano has crafted wonderful penmanship that transports readers’ hearts to somewhere phenomenal.
There is one more thing that attracts me is her great excellence in mixing human emotion with nature. From the delicate dance of feathers to the raw ache of heartbreak, each poem celebrates a sense of probity and vulnerability. I feel readers can relate to the emotions penned so poignantly by the poetess.
She reminds me of Mary Oliver whose poetry collections like “The Swan” bring nature into the drawing room of poetic meter. But one point distinguishes her from Mary. In Caggiano’s poems you will find nature is explored for the sake of human existence. Through the imagery of turtles, flowers, birds, animals, and other natural phenomena Caggiano has drawn a parallel between the natural world and the human experience. Here human sufferings are aligned with nature whereas Mary herself is nature.
One more thing that I must consider is the illustrations etched with this poetic journey. The illustrations by Francisco Bravo Cabrera (Also Known as Bodo Vespaciano) fascinate me in every respect.
” One Petal at a Time” is a stunning collection that speaks to the beauty and complexities of life acknowledging Caggiano’s powerful yet tender poetic voice It is a must-read book for anyone who appreciates the art of poetry and the reality of life.
Such a wonderful review Joni. I wish I could get off work on time to share in the book launch festivities. So very proud of you my dear friend. 💜👏👏👏
Thank you Nigel, we all have to eat and that generally means working. You have supported me in more ways that I can express. I am incredibly grateful for you, your friendship and your support. Love from us both. ❤️🙏❤️
Don’t mention it my dear. I guess I’ll see the clips when you do share them on IG. I pray it’s goes really well. 👏👏
Thank you dear friend. It will be a celebration. I appreciate your continued and loving support through the entire process Nigel. Your interview and all the support from Mich, Mike, and reviews from Barbara, Myriam and MunMun, was all so appreciated. Between having all my wonderful friends supporting me and all the work that Lisa did I feel like I was so blessed and am so blessed. We got to best seller and that is a blessing and gives me some credibility as an author to hopefully get into middle schools and high schools and talk to kids and teenagers about how there is help out there and if you are isolated there is always someone who really does care. There are teachers who they can talk to and there are meetings that they can go to in order to get help. They don’t have to suffer in silence like I did. I am so appreciative of you Nigel. Sending you lots of love.
It would be awesome if those opportunities presented themselves to you as a result of your wonderful.book Joni..I agree that much needs to be done for these children and young adults who are victims of abuse. I will pray that these doors open for you..
Always happy to support and encourage you my dear. Lots of love to you and big bredda Scottie. 💜💜
Thank you our dear friend. I am hoping so as well. Thank you for all that you did, you were so instrumental in getting the word out there, Mich too, Mike and Barbara and this beautiful woman. Wow how sweet is that. By the way, we are going to start your new series, it sounds naughty. haha, Scott sends his love and you know I do. Love you bunches!
Love you guys too. I hope Scot enjoys reading with a Trini dialect 😂. I had Microsoft read it back to me, and I was rolling with laughter. The AI voice over sounded so good. I hope you guys enjoy the series. ❤️❤️🙏
Nigel, we should have been reading the bible last night which is what we typically do but instead we both wanted to get to part 2. So Scott was really getting into the Trini dialect and he is very good and doing all kinds of dialects, but he is really enjoying this one. We were both laughing so hard and giggling like a couple of kids, and with your storytelling of course I could just see these guys in their circle, scooting up closer as the story he was telling was getting better. I told Scott that this story is personal, the details and just a feeling I got while listening and seems I am right. I love that you used a televangelist to write this story too. Just so good Nigel what a treat. We will read part three tonight. Sending hugs and love – that is funny that the AI voice could read it at all. By the way who doesn’t love a great Trini dialect. I remember flirting back when I was young with a great band that had a lead singer from Trinidad. The band was playing Calypso music and I danced all afternoon underneath the sun. What a blast that was! Big hugs and love Nigel
I knew you were a socialite Joni. 😜 You and Scotty are such a great team. I pray one day I have someone to share stories with.
Really happy that you guys are enjoying this series.i almost don’t want to end it, as it brings back so many memories from home and my youth. I appreciate you guys. 🥰🙏
It looks like you just posted another one too. Can’t wait to read the next two. Yea!!!! I also Pray someday you will have someone to share stories and much more with. We appreciate you and love you. ❤️Joni and Scott
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So excited for you Joni! Good luck with the book launch! xoxo
Thank you so much my dearest Carol Anne. I am nervous and hope I can relax enough to enjoy the moment. ❤️🙏🌹. Thank you so much for your very kind message it means so much to me. Big hugs and love, Joni ❤️🙏❤️
When I leave a review on Amazon, I will not be able to be so poetic & beautiful as your writing community family, but it will be with love. Try to remember to breath at your launch Joni & enjoy yourself. Remember, this is to celebrate you and; your truth. You are sharing your tender, honest heart to all. So many people that read your book, will be encouraged to have HOPE! Love you soul sister!
Thank you my soul sister. You have been along with me this whole journey and I can not express the love and tender heart you have shown through this journey with me. I am so grateful for your buying and donating books to many places that you give generously to every year and have for many years. The gift of my book will hopefully find its way into the heart of people in the places you continue to go and donate books. Bless your heart and thank you for doing what you did. Love you sweetie and see you on Sunday at the Book Launch. 🚀
Great review, Joni! It does your fantastic writing justice. Best wishes for your book launch. ❤
Thank you so very much dearest Tim. You are so kind, I got your hard back which sounds so interesting a while ago. After May 1st the last planned gig I have for the book, I am going to spend some time just reading the people I love and care about. I have probably 8 books I have been wanting to read for a long time and have just not had time. I know that I will love your book and now it is part of my hard cover collection I have to read it. So just going to sit outside this summer and read and I can not wait. Sending you lots of love and hugs my kind and gracious friend. I really don’t deserve your friendship or most of my wordpress friends because I can’t seem to handle more than one. You are a special guy for sure!🥰
Thanks so much, Joni. I hope you like it. ❤️
I know I will. It will be something that I cherish too. I am looking forward to a break even if it is only two weeks after May 1st from everything. Good stress is still stress as you know and I am tired. I am not one of those poets that can write on demand like some very gifted poets and storytellers I know can. I have to feel it and it comes when it does and out of nowhere. I have always believed God gives me my inspiration. I am so fortunate to have such wonderful friends like you. I am also getting back into WordPress as I have so many friends that I have missed and I like to enjoy reading and really pay attention to poetry, stories, etc., and you just can’t fly through people’s work. It takes time to read good work. The weather is beautiful here and the flowers are blooming and the trees are full with their leaves. It is a blessing. I hope your week is full of treasures my friend. Hugs and love, Joni
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It’s an awesome review. I wish you the best for the launching day! My thoughts to you on that great day.
Sending you all my wishes dear Joni
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Dearest Myriam, please forgive this very late response, this as been a wild ride and things have been extremely busy. I have so many people I need to reach out to and thank again and you are certainly one of those folks but I would like to do it in an email. Your words are very thoughtful and are certainly making me smile. The Book Launch was a great success. I had my daughter there, my two best friends and a lot of other people who said such kind things and made me feel so overwhelmed. I am sure that Lisa, my publisher will have the full thing on you tube with a link in instagram before too long. She is really busy now too. I hope you know how much you mean to me Myriam. You are such a gracious person and an amazingly talented poet. I am going to start reading my WordPress friends again, I have missed so many people I use to stay in touch with and am looking forward to that. After May 1, things will hopefully really slow down. I need a break. Hope you are doing well, you are in my prayers. Have a blessed week my dear friend, Love and warm hugs, Joni 🌹
Best of luck with the book launch, Joni! I’m excited for you, my friend! 😊
Mike it was so wonderful. I felt so blessed and people really love the book and that made me feel truly grateful. You know how it feels for people to respond to your gorgeous work. It was literally perfect, I can’t imagine what would have made it more special. I would have loved to have seen Dr. Claudia Black there but she is promoting her own book right now, Undaunted Hope. I had my dearest and longest women friends there and my daughter and her family and many of the people that I just love and have so much respect for in the community. Thank you for thinking of me my friend. I am sure Lisa will put captions in and when the video comes out I will send you a link. Hope you got my email. Sending you my love and many blessings your way, my kindred friend. ❤️
Dear Joni,
Do not worry a single bit with such things. I am more than aware how it must be a frantic time right now for you. I am so happy that you have peoples beside you to navigate this important time.
You have my little silent support reaching to you daily. Have a beautiful week, and thank you. Take care of you mlle Joni. Sending you my love.
Myriam 💌
What a kind thing to say Myriam and it truly does touch my heart in so many ways. I am so grateful you understand, and thankful for your friendship as well. Hope you are taking good care of you to my gracious friend. Sending love back!
Congratulations, Joni!
Thank you again Dawn for your loving and continued support.
Go Joni Go!!!!!!!
Thank you my friend. Is your son home for the summer or does being on the football team require him to stay at the university all year? I hope not because I can not imagine how much you must miss him. One of my best friends in the world has a son that plays hockey and she does get to see him in the summer which is such a blessing for her. Big hugs and lots of love my friend.
Hey Joni! Yes he is home for a short while. Then we’ll be there to see him throughout the summer.
Does the season start already or is he in summer practice? I never understand how all that works. I know are grandkids are in baseball right now. It must be wonderful to have him home. I bet he has the girls chasing him. He is a handsome young man. Certainly takes after his mom for sure! Sending hugs and love, Joni
Joni you are the sweetest!!!
yes he’s in summer practice right now, season starts in late August.
That is wonderful. I bet he is working hard. I may have already answered this post. However, let us know his schedule, we would love to meet you and yours in person and watch your son play. Sending my love and blessings to you and your beautiful family. ❤️🙏❤️