Book Review by Ranjit Sharma: Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings by Lawrence L. Schwartz (New York: IPBooks, 2022)

Today, I want to share my thoughts on a remarkable poetry collection, Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings by Lawrence L. Schwartz, or as I proudly call him, Larry. Larry kindly sent me a copy of his book for an honest review. So, let’s dive into the world of Larry’s poetic brilliance!

What struck me the most about Poetic License was Larry’s universal outlook toward poetry. He has a unique way of bridging the gap between poetry enthusiasts and those who typically shy away from the genre. Larry once said, “I often say that my poetry is more for people who don’t necessarily like poetry.” This sentiment immediately resonated with me, as I usually don’t gravitate toward poetry books. But Larry’s words proved to be a revelation, inviting me to explore his collection with an open mind and a renewed curiosity.

Larry’s poems are deeply rooted in his personal experiences, often drawing inspiration from spiritual insights. Throughout the last couple of decades, he has crafted verses that reflect his exploration of Eastern metaphysical philosophy and interfaith concepts, all while celebrating our shared humanity. His profound understanding and incorporation of these ideas make his poetry rich with wisdom and contemplation.

As I delved into Poetic License, I found myself utterly captivated by the divine essence woven into each poem. Larry’s words seem to echo from a higher realm, whispering insights that touch the very core of our existence. It’s a testament to his ability to channel his spirituality and translate it into words that resonate with readers on a deeply profound level.

Larry’s collection showcases his versatility as a poet. From concise, six-lined poems like “A Trick of Mind” to expansive and intricate pieces such as “Recollection,” he effortlessly navigates various forms and structures. This diversity keeps the reading experience engaging, as you never know what delightful surprises await you on the next page.

For those interested in getting their hands on Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings, it’s readily available on Amazon, where you can find both the printed version and a Kindle edition. US-based readers can also order the printed book directly from IPBooks.net. So, there are plenty of options to choose from to embark on this poetic journey.

In conclusion, Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings is an exquisite collection that transcends the boundaries of traditional poetry. Larry’s universal outlook, spiritual insights, and his ability to strike a chord with readers who might not typically explore poetry make this collection truly special. Each poem is a gateway to divine reflections and offers a profound connection with the beauty of the written word.

So, my dear friends, if you’re ready to embark on a journey that will expand your horizons and touch your soul, I wholeheartedly recommend Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings by Lawrence L. Schwartz. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and moved by Larry’s poetic genius.

Happy reading!

The above review is from the newsletter Celestial Love Letters 

Click Here to Purchase: Poetic License: Reflections and Renderings by Lawrence L. Schwartz from IPBooks.net.

Click Here to Order: People Don’t Drown in Living Rooms by Orna Reuven and Yair Eldan from IPBooks.net

Ella, a psychologist living in Tel Aviv, receives a surprising email from her former patient, Itamar. Itamar’s email marks the beginning of a tumultuous correspondence that traverses the distance from Tel Aviv to New York and explores the boundaries of their relationship. When Itamar reveals he is hiding from authorities and asks Ella for money, the seemingly guarded and level-headed psychologist travels to New York to meet him. As the plot unravels and emotional turmoil sets in, the defined boundaries between psychologist and patient are challenged as both try to bridge the gulf between them, in an attempt to find a common ground of sane understanding.

Written in the form of a modern epistolary novel, the email correspondence between Ella and Itamar, People Don’t Drown in Living Rooms spins the tale of a psychologist and patient caught in an impossible situation, raising the everlasting question about the essence of psychotherapy.

This fictional correspondence was written in two voices; Dr. Yair Eldan, a lecturer on law, wrote the voice of Itamar, and Dr. Orna Reuven, a psychoanalyst and psychology lecturer, wrote the voice of Ella.

“An incredibly profound and emotional reading experience!”
— Dr. Galit Atlas, psychoanalyst, faculty NYU, an essayist and author

“An engrossing, addictive novel of letters, the reading of which is in itself a roller coaster of identifications, and which manages at the same time to touch deeply on the essence of the analytical relationship and to exceed all its rules and boundaries.”
— Prof. Dana Amir, a clinical psychologist, supervising and training analyst, poetess and literature researcher

“This book teaches us more about the intensity of the love-hate dynamics that exist between patient and analyst than any journal article on the subject.”
— Danielle Knafo, professor, psychoanalyst, author

Click Here to Read:  Review of the Way it Ends in the Scarsdale Inquirer.  

Ted Jacobs’s new novel, The Way it Ends, grips the reader from its opening pages. Jacobs’s protagonist Dr. Strickman, a psychoanalyst turned amateur gumshoe, sets off to uncover how his brother died–murder or suicide? A subplot of Israeli Palestinian conflict masterfully adds depth and tension to this engaging, dark and, yet, humorous tale.
—KERRY MALAWISTA, PHD author of the novel, Meet the Moon.

“A great read that touches the heart. As moving as it is intriguing.”
—ANDREW POTOK, author of Ordinary Daylight

THEODORE J. JACOBS, MD is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Emeritus, at The Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Training and Supervising Analyst at The New York Psychoanalytic Institute and The Institute for Psychoanalytic Education where he is also a child supervising analyst.

Dr. Jacobs attended Yale University (BA) with a major in English, and The University of Chicago School of Medicine, MD, 1957. He took his training in psychoanalysis (adult and child) at the New York Psychoanalytic Institute and his psychiatric residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is the author of Communication in the Analytic Situation and The Possible Profession: The Analytic Process of Change, 70 papers, his first novel The Year of Durocher, and also republished The Use of the Self: Countertransference and Communication in the Analytic Situation with IPBooks. He is on the editorial board of several analytic journals.

Click Here to Read: Review of Tales of the Unconscious by Christopher Gibson reviewed by Maurice Whelan

Click Below to Purchase: Tales of the Unconscious by Christopher Gibson
https://ipbooks.net/product/tales-from-the-unconscious-by-christopher-gibson/

About Tales of the Unconscious:
Tales from the Unconscious is a collection of stories from the anarchic world of the unconscious. It is for anyone interested in the inner life, as described by psychoanalysis, especially if you are approaching the ideas for the first time. The stories attempt to illustrate the vicissitudes of our inner lives and the unconscious by which we live..There are three short books in one:

Expectations, short stories about love—unrequited, failed, impossible, and cruel. In Provocations, the theme is the provocative arousal of emotions in another person. And Audacities is a collection about the audacity of suicide that affects many lives. I try to show how cruelty, unkindness, and envy creep into all aspects of life. After a suicide, nothing is resolved.

Christopher Gibson is a psychoanalyst, a child analyst, a training analyst of the Swedish Psychoanalytical Association, and a member of the International Psychoanalytical Association. He practices and teaches in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Click Here to Read: A Review of The Distance from Home by Daniel Jacobs  by Barbara Stimmel  and Memory’s Eyes by Cordelia Schmidt-Hellerau  in The Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association Volume 71 issue 1. pp. 141-149.