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Aurélien Thomas

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I am a Frenchman who lives in London (UK).

​I recently compiled and edited 'To Dads -with Love' (GMGA Publishing, 2021), an anthology of poetry celebrating fathers and fatherhood, and in support of the UK charity Family Need Fathers.
'To Dads -with Love' also features an essay of mine about the importance of fathers, and addressing prejudicial attitudes against fatherhood.

​Back in 2019, I self-published 'A Vow - A Collection of Love Poems' (re-edited by GMGA Publishing, 2020), my first poetry book in English. 'A Vow' was born out of morning love notes I used to write for my then fiancée, now wife. These notes were later expanded as poems, and finally gathered as a collection.

I am currently writing a book on domestic violence/ domestic abu

I am a Frenchman who lives in London (UK).

​I recently compiled and edited 'To Dads -with Love' (GMGA Publishing, 2021), an anthology of poetry celebrating fathers and fatherhood, and in support of the UK charity Family Need Fathers.
'To Dads -with Love' also features an essay of mine about the importance of fathers, and addressing prejudicial attitudes against fatherhood.

​Back in 2019, I self-published 'A Vow - A Collection of Love Poems' (re-edited by GMGA Publishing, 2020), my first poetry book in English. 'A Vow' was born out of morning love notes I used to write for my then fiancée, now wife. These notes were later expanded as poems, and finally gathered as a collection.

I am currently writing a book on domestic violence/ domestic abuse, mainly to debunk the idea that it's a 'gendered crime'. This book will also deal with parental alienation, a form of post-separation abuse relying on the psychological/ emotional manipulation of children by abusive parent, yet still unrecognised by the law (at least in the UK!). If you want to know more about how it's been going so far, please feel free to check out my blog: https://www.aurelienthomas.org

...more

A Vow - A Collection of Lov... A Vow - A Collection of Love Poems by Aurélien Thomas (Goodreads Author), Ayo Gutierrez (Goodreads Author) (Foreword) 4.95 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2019 —3 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Poems written under my gran... Poems written under my grandfather's tree by Imrankhan Bhayo, Ayo Gutierrez (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Ssareeta Singh (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2020 —2 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
SCENTSIBILITY SCENTSIBILITY by Ayo Gutierrez (Goodreads Author), JinQue R.D. (Illustrator), Edentu Oroso (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 4.80 avg rating — 5 ratings —3 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Momaya Poetry Review 2018: ... Momaya Poetry Review 2018: Love by Maya Cointreau (Goodreads Author) (Editor), Monisha Saldanha (Editor), Aurélien Thomas (Goodreads Author) (Contributor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2018 Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
In the Crosshairs In the Crosshairs by Ayo Gutierrez (Goodreads Author), Pete Cox (Contributor), Kelly Glover (Contributor) 4.67 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2019 —2 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Du diable vos vers Du diable vos vers it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
To Dads -with Love To Dads -with Love by Aurélien Thomas (Goodreads Author), Steven Webb (Editor), Sharon Larkin (Introduction, Contributor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2021 —2 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Hello, my name is Bobo! Hello, my name is Bobo! by Matthew Miller, Olesya Kosmodemyanskaya (Illustrator), Aurélien Thomas (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating —2 editions Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Poems Written Under My Gran... Poems Written Under My Grandfather's Tree by Imran Bhayo, Ssareeta Singh (Illustrator), Ayo Gutierrez (Goodreads Author) (Editor) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Momaya Poetry Review 2018 -... Momaya Poetry Review 2018 - Love by Momaya Press, Lorri Nicholson, Mona Dash 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars

More books by Aurélien Thomas…

The Smearing of a Mum

She is a mum. She endured abuse at the hands of a controlling husband and his family. For daring to leave him, she was 'punished' by having her children abducted to Germany (his country of origin) where they would be alienated against her. After enduring the hell of the family courts and the inadequacies of European laws, she bravely fought on to raise awareness on such issues, and for legislationRead more of this blog post »

Published on June 19, 2023 00:49 • Tags:abduction, blog, child-abuse, children, domestic-abuse, domestic-violence, family, family-laws, kidnapping, mother, parental-alienation, parenting

Aurélien’s Recent Updates

**Aurélien Thomas**rated a book really liked it Agincourt by Juliet Barker Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle by Juliet Barker Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Infamous or famous (depending on which side of the Channel you stand and/ or are coming from) the Battle of Agincourt, fought on the 25th of October 1415 mostly between the French and the English became synonymous with the wonders of archery. Here's Infamous or famous (depending on which side of the Channel you stand and/ or are coming from) the Battle of Agincourt, fought on the 25th of October 1415 mostly between the French and the English became synonymous with the wonders of archery. Here's a key moment in the Hundred Years War when the crème de la crème of the French nobility is indeed said to have been decimated on the battlefield, not by knights fighting it hand-to-hand and man-to-man (as would have been the honorific way to go in such chivalrous time) but cowardly shot down by mere peasants, standing safely away while armed with longbows. Or... was it?Juliet Barker's book, an enlightening epic as thoroughly well-researched as it is entertaining, is noteworthy for, first of all, bursting a few common myths. It's certainly true that the English were seriously outnumbered, having suffered an epidemic of dysentery following their taking of Harfleur. It's true, then, that their victory on the fields surrounding Agincourt was everything but expected, and nothing short of miraculous. It certainly true, too, that archers were then far more valued in England than they were elsewhere; that the longbows especially was a key weapon in English military (e.g. a man who couldn't shoot at least 12 arrows per minute would have been considered unfit for military service -just imagine what an army of them could do!). It's perfectly true, therefore, that without their key role against the French forces it's highly unlikely that Henry V would have won the day -far from that! The thing is, his archers didn't decimate the French knights while they were launching their assaults. On the contrary, if they certainly caused serious damages they merely delayed their opponents, as the French nevertheless made it to the English lines (a feat in itself!) where, exhausted and covered in thick mud (it had badly rained the day before) they were 'finished off' in hand-to-hand combats, their corpses piling up to such a point that they acted as a protective barrier for the English frontline while further waves came crashing in. The view of archers taking easy shots at arrogant French knights, then, is being here easily blown apart... and it's not the only myth to be debunked! For instance, Juliet Barker also rubbishes that of the tennis balls incident, when the French Dauphin is said to have supposedly sent Henry V a set of balls for him to play with, in a message as patronising as it was supposed to be insulting (let us insist: it didn't happen). But then what? Debunking myths is great, but it's what's expected from an history book. The key features of this one, what makes it (in my opinion) a must-read for anyone interested in the subject are in fact three other things. First, her retelling of the campaign in showing how military technologies and tactics of the time were different from that of previous generations, and why. The influences of the Crusades, for instance, will be felt not only in the resort to tunnelling under besieged cities (as was done in Harfleur) but, also, in the use of hedgehogs defences to protect archers, given here a more prominent role in fighting. Then, her sympathy in explaining why the French were so easily defeated. It's easy to dismiss the French army as being a bunch of arrogant nobles, led by a mad king (Charles VI, despite being 'Beloved', was nevertheless known for his bouts of psychotic episodes) and abiding to a chivalric ethos about to go dead. As Juliet Barker demonstrates in detail yet pretty clearly is that, a profound dispute between two powerful sides (the Orléans on the one hand, the Burgundians on the other) had left the country barely recovering from a civil war, and this would leave a terrible rift running across its leaders who would ultimately allow their dissents to impede their conducts at Agincourt. The French surely were more numerous, but everything but united! Last but not least, it's her take upon Henry V which has intrigued me the most; not least, because it has led me to look into his biography further (I haven't read Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones yet, but it has joined my list "to read"...). The man, as the son of an usurper and someone guilty of what can only be called war crimes even by the standard of the time (e.g. when he ordered the massacre of French prisoners captured at Agincourt, an act violating all chivalric ethos he nevertheless claimed to abide to) still remains controversial. Juliet Barker, though, is highly sympathetic. She shows him as a cunny yet forgiving politician, whose issuing of pardons in Wales will permit the English to be backed up by loyal Welsh troops in France. She shows him as a pious man, generous, who will not hesitate, not only to write ordinances explicitly forbidding the plundering of civilians, but, also, who would not hesitate to punish by death his own soldiers for not complying. She (obviously!) doesn't go as far as claiming that his claim to go to war were justified, but, nevertheless, shows him as being far smarter and compassionate that Charles VI; for example, when he defied him in a 'trial by battle' supposedly to avoid the spilling of Christian blood (although, she reckons that the challenge was, of course, manipulative too...). In the end, then, what of Agincourt? Such a victory helped to give legitimacy to a king who had yet to prove himself, on a throne which was not supposed to be his nor his family to start with (his father, Henry IV, had usurped it from Richard II...). The English victory would also contribute, as much as a shocking failing of the French to unite at least after such a crushing defeat, to the conquests of Paris and that of the duchy of Normandy, making Henry V one of the most powerful conqueror in English history. One, then, can be excused to ponder: what would have happened to both England and France had he not died so shortly after; had the Treaty of Troyes been implemented? Pondering aside, the fact is that he died too soon perhaps; that his victories turned useless in the end since the French ultimately ousted the English from their realm; and that England, in an ironical twist of fate (amusingly not unusual as far as historical events can go...) would have to face its own civil war too soon enough, a war that (maybe?) could have been prevented had English Kings addressed English issues back home instead of being distracted in France. On that matter, then, one can also be excused to ponder too: was Agincourt pointless? Regardless, this book is -again!- a must read for anyone interested in 'the King, the campaign, the battle' that shook Europe and nearly changed history with a far greater impact than it had in fact. Brilliant! ...more
Nov 02, 2024 09:57AM · 2 likes · like · see review
**Aurélien Thomas**wants to read The White Ship by Charles Spencer The White Ship: Conquest, Anarchy and the Wrecking of Henry I’s Dream by Charles Spencer (Goodreads Author) Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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**Aurélien Thomas**wants to read Cromwell by Antonia Fraser Cromwell by Antonia Fraser Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
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**Aurélien Thomas**wants to read The Anglo-Saxons A History of the Beginnings of England by Marc Morris The Anglo-Saxons A History of the Beginnings of England: 400–1066 by Marc Morris Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Nov 02, 2024 04:56AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofThe Anglo-Saxons A History of the Beginnings of England by Marc Morris. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Anglo-Saxons A History of the Beginnings of England by Marc Morris
**Aurélien Thomas**wants to read Henry V by Dan Jones Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones (Goodreads Author) Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Nov 02, 2024 04:56AM · like
**Aurélien Thomas**wants to read The Plantagenets by Dan Jones The Plantagenets: The Warrior Kings and Queens Who Made England by Dan Jones (Goodreads Author) Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Nov 02, 2024 04:56AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofThe Plantagenets by Dan Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Plantagenets by Dan Jones
**Aurélien Thomas**wants to read The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones The Wars of the Roses: The Fall of the Plantagenets and the Rise of the Tudors by Dan Jones (Goodreads Author) Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Nov 02, 2024 04:56AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofThe Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones
**Aurélien Thomas**rated a book really liked it Agincourt by Juliet Barker Agincourt: The King, the Campaign, the Battle by Juliet Barker Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
Infamous or famous (depending on which side of the Channel you stand and/ or are coming from) the Battle of Agincourt, fought on the 25th of October 1415 mostly between the French and the English became synonymous with the wonders of archery. Here's Infamous or famous (depending on which side of the Channel you stand and/ or are coming from) the Battle of Agincourt, fought on the 25th of October 1415 mostly between the French and the English became synonymous with the wonders of archery. Here's a key moment in the Hundred Years War when the crème de la crème of the French nobility is indeed said to have been decimated on the battlefield, not by knights fighting it hand-to-hand and man-to-man (as would have been the honorific way to go in such chivalrous time) but cowardly shot down by mere peasants, standing safely away while armed with longbows. Or... was it?Juliet Barker's book, an enlightening epic as thoroughly well-researched as it is entertaining, is noteworthy for, first of all, bursting a few common myths. It's certainly true that the English were seriously outnumbered, having suffered an epidemic of dysentery following their taking of Harfleur. It's true, then, that their victory on the fields surrounding Agincourt was everything but expected, and nothing short of miraculous. It certainly true, too, that archers were then far more valued in England than they were elsewhere; that the longbows especially was a key weapon in English military (e.g. a man who couldn't shoot at least 12 arrows per minute would have been considered unfit for military service -just imagine what an army of them could do!). It's perfectly true, therefore, that without their key role against the French forces it's highly unlikely that Henry V would have won the day -far from that! The thing is, his archers didn't decimate the French knights while they were launching their assaults. On the contrary, if they certainly caused serious damages they merely delayed their opponents, as the French nevertheless made it to the English lines (a feat in itself!) where, exhausted and covered in thick mud (it had badly rained the day before) they were 'finished off' in hand-to-hand combats, their corpses piling up to such a point that they acted as a protective barrier for the English frontline while further waves came crashing in. The view of archers taking easy shots at arrogant French knights, then, is being here easily blown apart... and it's not the only myth to be debunked! For instance, Juliet Barker also rubbishes that of the tennis balls incident, when the French Dauphin is said to have supposedly sent Henry V a set of balls for him to play with, in a message as patronising as it was supposed to be insulting (let us insist: it didn't happen). But then what? Debunking myths is great, but it's what's expected from an history book. The key features of this one, what makes it (in my opinion) a must-read for anyone interested in the subject are in fact three other things. First, her retelling of the campaign in showing how military technologies and tactics of the time were different from that of previous generations, and why. The influences of the Crusades, for instance, will be felt not only in the resort to tunnelling under besieged cities (as was done in Harfleur) but, also, in the use of hedgehogs defences to protect archers, given here a more prominent role in fighting. Then, her sympathy in explaining why the French were so easily defeated. It's easy to dismiss the French army as being a bunch of arrogant nobles, led by a mad king (Charles VI, despite being 'Beloved', was nevertheless known for his bouts of psychotic episodes) and abiding to a chivalric ethos about to go dead. As Juliet Barker demonstrates in detail yet pretty clearly is that, a profound dispute between two powerful sides (the Orléans on the one hand, the Burgundians on the other) had left the country barely recovering from a civil war, and this would leave a terrible rift running across its leaders who would ultimately allow their dissents to impede their conducts at Agincourt. The French surely were more numerous, but everything but united! Last but not least, it's her take upon Henry V which has intrigued me the most; not least, because it has led me to look into his biography further (I haven't read Henry V: The Astonishing Triumph of England's Greatest Warrior King by Dan Jones yet, but it has joined my list "to read"...). The man, as the son of an usurper and someone guilty of what can only be called war crimes even by the standard of the time (e.g. when he ordered the massacre of French prisoners captured at Agincourt, an act violating all chivalric ethos he nevertheless claimed to abide to) still remains controversial. Juliet Barker, though, is highly sympathetic. She shows him as a cunny yet forgiving politician, whose issuing of pardons in Wales will permit the English to be backed up by loyal Welsh troops in France. She shows him as a pious man, generous, who will not hesitate, not only to write ordinances explicitly forbidding the plundering of civilians, but, also, who would not hesitate to punish by death his own soldiers for not complying. She (obviously!) doesn't go as far as claiming that his claim to go to war were justified, but, nevertheless, shows him as being far smarter and compassionate that Charles VI; for example, when he defied him in a 'trial by battle' supposedly to avoid the spilling of Christian blood (although, she reckons that the challenge was, of course, manipulative too...). In the end, then, what of Agincourt? Such a victory helped to give legitimacy to a king who had yet to prove himself, on a throne which was not supposed to be his nor his family to start with (his father, Henry IV, had usurped it from Richard II...). The English victory would also contribute, as much as a shocking failing of the French to unite at least after such a crushing defeat, to the conquests of Paris and that of the duchy of Normandy, making Henry V one of the most powerful conqueror in English history. One, then, can be excused to ponder: what would have happened to both England and France had he not died so shortly after; had the Treaty of Troyes been implemented? Pondering aside, the fact is that he died too soon perhaps; that his victories turned useless in the end since the French ultimately ousted the English from their realm; and that England, in an ironical twist of fate (amusingly not unusual as far as historical events can go...) would have to face its own civil war too soon enough, a war that (maybe?) could have been prevented had English Kings addressed English issues back home instead of being distracted in France. On that matter, then, one can also be excused to ponder too: was Agincourt pointless? Regardless, this book is -again!- a must read for anyone interested in 'the King, the campaign, the battle' that shook Europe and nearly changed history with a far greater impact than it had in fact. Brilliant! ...more
Nov 02, 2024 04:56AM · 2 likes · like · see review
**Aurélien Thomas**rated a book really liked it Ballades et rondeaux by Charles d'Orléans Ballades et rondeaux by Charles d'Orléans Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars2 of 5 stars3 of 5 stars4 of 5 stars5 of 5 stars
25th October 1415. Agincourt. In one of the most (in)famous battles of the Hundred Years War, the English armies led by Henry V would completely decimate the French nobility, in a decisive use of its archers and tactics that would change the face of 25th October 1415. Agincourt. In one of the most (in)famous battles of the Hundred Years War, the English armies led by Henry V would completely decimate the French nobility, in a decisive use of its archers and tactics that would change the face of warfare and chivalry alike. Under the pile of corpses stacking up on the battlefield would be found Charles d'Orléans, nephew of the French King Charles VI and leading head of the Armagnacs, one of the then most powerful houses in France (so powerful, in fact, that Charles d'Orléans was in line to inherit the French throne). Taken prisoner to England, the man was deemed far too much of a threat to English interest to be released under mere ransom, as was then customary. Charles d'Orléans, as a result, would therefore spend the next 25 years of his life into custody, in various part of England and including in the (in)famous Tower of London. What to do?To counter boredom, the young Duke would... write poetry. Being anchored in the 15th century, his work, of course, reflected a style now associated mainly with the medieval era; his poems being essentially ballades or rondeaux, some of the commonest fixed forms of the time. However, being an adept at personifications (something that set him apart from most of his contemporaries) it also allowed him for highly creative metaphors, striking for their retelling of ever changing moods that one can still relates to e.g. love and sorrow, growing old, the futility of wars, boredom and melancholy etc. He is, in any case, far more accessible than a Villon, yet another key French poet of the same period! The fact that he relied a lot on repetitions (one of my personal, favourite devices when it comes to poetry) just make his verses even more gripping and enthralling.Personally, then, I find it quite sad that when it comes to French medieval poetry from this specific era, his work still is not as well known as that of a Villon or a Christine de Pizan. His creativity and ability in writing verses so striking that they must be read again and again to be fully appreciated, let alone his very personal writing style allowing for plenty of no less striking ideas colliding in many arresting stanzas (thanks, again, to his reliance on linguistic devices which were not that commonly used back then) made him an original figure which cannot be ignored. He is, in any case, one of my favourite medieval poets. Charles d'Orléans, as a highly valued prisoner of war, would ultimately be released in 1440 and go on to father who would become the French King Louis XII. His political role might have been dashed otherwise by a very long captivity, but the impact that it made upon his work truly made him a unique poet indeed. Ballades et Rondeaux is, quite frankly, a masterpiece. ...more
Oct 26, 2024 08:44AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview ofBallades et rondeaux by Charles d'Orléans. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Ballades et rondeaux by Charles d'Orléans
**Aurélien Thomas**likedRoy Lotz's reviewofHow Europe Underdeveloped Africa: How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney
Oct 21, 2024 03:23PM · see review

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233 ¡ POETRY ! — 22040 members — last activity Nov 14, 2024 03:33AM
No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read No pretensions: just poetry. Stop by, recommend books, offer up poems (excerpted), tempt us, taunt us, tell us what to read and where to go (to read it!) Goodreads honors wordsmiths: poets and poetry promoted and prompted here. ~~~ "Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits." -- Carl Sandburg “God has a brown voice, as soft and full as beer.” —Anne Sexton On Clouds – “…what primitive tastes the ancients must have had if their poets were inspired by those absurd, untidy clumps of mist, idiotically jostling one another about…” —Yevgeny Zamyatin “If the poet wants to be a poet, the poet must force the poet to revise. If the poet doesn’t wish to revise, let the poet abandon poetry and take up stamp-collecting or real estate.” —Donald Hall “Poetry is a rich, full-bodied whistle, cracked ice crunching in pails, the night that numbs the leaf, the duel of two nightingales, the sweet pea that has run wild, Creation’s tears in shoulder blades.” —Boris Pasternak “Wanted: a needle swift enough to sew this poem into a blanket.” —Charles Simic “Language is a cracked kettle on which we beat out tunes for bears to dance to, while all the time we long to move the stars to pity.” —Gustave Flaubert “Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It’s that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that’s what the poet does.” —Allen Ginsberg. ~~~~~ Amy King, Moderator Amy King is the recipient of the 2015 Winner of the WNBA Award (Women’s National Book Association). Her latest collection, The Missing Museum, is a winner of the 2015 Tarpaulin Sky Book Prize. She serves on the executive board of VIDA: Women in Literary Arts and is co-editing with Heidi Lynn Staples the anthology, Big Energy Poets of the Anthropocene: When Ecopoets Think Climate Change. She is also co-editing the anthology, Bettering American Poetry 2015, and is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at SUNY Nassau Community College. ...more

1059034 Haney Hayes Promotions — 163 members — last activity May 06, 2021 11:27PM
This group is for Authors, Bloggers, and Readers. Authors looking for Readers & Bloggers. Bloggers looking to help Authors. Readers looking for new Re This group is for Authors, Bloggers, and Readers. Authors looking for Readers & Bloggers. Bloggers looking to help Authors. Readers looking for new Reads. Since it's a new year, we at Hanye Hayes Promotions have decided we would try this Goodreads thing out. We're going to be slow starting out, but the fact is we're working on great new things and would love to have everyone join us. Anyone is welcome in this group, so feel free to invite your friends! ...more

28172 Poetry Readers Challenge — 821 members — last activity Nov 17, 2024 02:52AM
Let's talk about poetry books. This group's members read poetry collections, with the goal of reviewing twenty in a year. C'mon. Do it. It's good for Let's talk about poetry books. This group's members read poetry collections, with the goal of reviewing twenty in a year. C'mon. Do it. It's good for you, and it's good for poetry. **** We love good poetry and we like members who review worthwhile poetry, revive our enthusiasm, introduce us to new poets, re-introduce us to old favorites, post links reviews to sample poems, and interact at least a little with the group. We don't like when people drop in solely to pimp a book. That's why we've set this group to private. You may request membership by answering the group question. We will rule out members without avatars, members with no books or very few on their shelves, members whose sole mission is to pimp their book or that of a 'friend.' If your GoodReads page suggests you've created an identity to do this, we won't approve your membership. We aren't snobs, but if you write to say you love Rupi Kaur but have never heard of Walt Whitman, then you are likely better off in another group. There are 2 threads in the group for self-promotional posts, https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... and https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... . By requesting to join, you acknowledge that any self-promotion posts are to be posted in those threads only, and violators of the rule may be banned without warning. ...more

220 Goodreads Librarians Group — 260387 members — last activity 0 minutes ago
Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Librarians Group is the official group for requesting additions or updates to the catalog, including: * Adding new books or editions * Editing book information (including covers) * Combining and merging book editions * Edits to page counts, quotes or awards * Correcting author profiles for authors not in the Goodreads Author Program If you're a Goodreads member with a new request, click Join Group. Once you're added to the group, you can post your question following this link. Simple requests (e.g. page count updates) typically take around 48 hours depending on the volume of requests, while more complex requests could take up to a couple of weeks (e.g. adding a new book). Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide. Keep in mind that Librarians don't: * Grant or give insights into Librarian applications / Librarian status * Move ISBNs or ASINs between editions * Help with non-catalog Support questions (e.g. How do I reset my password?) For help with these queries or to submit general questions, comments or feature requests, try Goodreads Help or use the Contact Us form. If you're a Librarian and want to process requests, please refer to our Librarian Manual to ensure edits are performed in line with Goodreads policies. ...more

56962 Book Bloggers of Goodreads — 2982 members — last activity Nov 16, 2024 03:17PM
This is a group for the book bloggers of Goodreads and authors seeking reviews. Book bloggers: post events, reviews, giveaways, ask questions, share l This is a group for the book bloggers of Goodreads and authors seeking reviews. Book bloggers: post events, reviews, giveaways, ask questions, share leads, find books to review or just relax and socialize with fellow book bloggers, readers or authors. Authors: request reviews, guest posts, interviews, etc. ...more

1197336 Guest Post Recruits — 18 members — last activity May 30, 2023 08:44AM
This group is open for all authors/artists who would like to be featured as a guest on my website. I have each author/artist fill out a 12-question q This group is open for all authors/artists who would like to be featured as a guest on my website. I have each author/artist fill out a 12-question questionnaire. Not all questions have to be answered and you can alter a question. I also ask each author/artist to provide me with an author/artist pic, author/artist bio, book cover pics or artwork and any links you would like featured in your post. Once I have everything, I will set up your post and have it scheduled to publish. It will publish to my Facebook page, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and of course---my website! ***The point is to have fun with it and share interesting/unique facts about your writing style, writing projects, etc.*** ...more

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