Customer Reviews

The Difference Now

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a beautiful first book by Cherie Burbach. It's heartfelt and honest, and reminds us to forge on when we are faced with grief, failure, and lost love. I found the overall message inspiring, and particularly liked the spiritual "With Every Breath."

It is obvious this book is a collection from a turning point in the author's life. Rather than coming off bleak or whiny, she provides an underlying powerful message that I found quite comforting.

I especially liked the poem "Read the Label" and could easily picture the story it told. I gave this book to both my daughter and my mother and they both found poems they drew meaning from as well.

While I am not usually a fan of poetry (who is?) this book makes me want to pay a bit more attention to poetry from now on. I found myself reading some of these poems several times, especially the title entry of "The Difference Now". It reminds me of myself at times when suddenly I have to take time out of my busy life to claim it over once again. Women especially will be able to relate.

I read this book on a plane yesterday. It was a twenty-minute flight, and I completed it well before the wheels hit the ground. Even so, I read some of these wonderful and heartfelt poems more than once.

My favorite is the title poem, The Difference Now. It's bold and wise and champions maturity. I also liked If Life Were A Book, suggesting we do have the power to write our own life story. Yes, I agree that we do.

The most powerful and gripping section of the book consists of poems that focus on the author's late father, who I assume, committed suicide. The pain of the child left behind is apparent, but the sense of recovery is even more apparent. Your Life, My Lesson is especially well done. The weakest area, however, is a series of poems that come across as the revenge of a thwarted woman in an ill-fated love affair. The essence of yearning is, like one reviewer has indicated, reminiscent of a high school diary. I prefer the greater majority of poems that champion wisdom and breakthrough.

I think this book of primarily free verse poetry would make a great gift for a grieving friend. It follows a healing path and I enjoyed it very much.

From the author of I'm Living Your Dream Life and The Things I Wish I'd Said, McKenna Publishing Group.

Those who don't think verbal abuse is a big deal have no idea how it affects you every day- all day- all your life. This book shows that; and how this author struggled through and learned that forgiveness is the answer to your own peace.

It is a book filled with hope and in the end she has even shown compassion for her abusive father.I think it is uplifting and insirational and would highly recommend it.

This is a wonderful book of poems, mostly reflective of loss, grief, and inner-healing. Anyone that has suffered through verbal or emotional abuse will be able to appreciate this collection. There are several poems that stand out, the title poem is, I feel, a particularly strong one. I also enjoyed "Deepest Void" - which seems to chronicle the process of forgiveness and healing quite well.

I also feel this is a book many women will be able to relate to. I think woman especially have to deal with so many things in life in addition to taking care of parents or children, careers, spouses, homes - that it is refreshing to sit down with a book like this and reflect that taking care of yourself is equally important. In this vein, I especially liked the poem, "She Walks With Grace."

I would encourage anyone that is interested in this book to read the samples that are given in the "browse the book" feature. This will give you an idea of the works in the book. I came across this book while browsing through various categories on Amazon, and was more than satisfied with my purchase. It was refreshing to see works from what I assume is a yet, unknown author. Too often the popular authors (Dan Brown, Stephen King) get all the glory. Yes, those authors are very good but I'd also like to see more from authors that need a little boost. This book is deserving of that. I enjoyed it very much.

I bought THE DIFFERENCE NOW as I scanned through the site doing some early Christmas shopping. It popped up in a few places as a recommendation, and I'm glad it did. It's an interesting, artsy book, with about 50 poems that speak of things like inner strength and forgiveness. I found many of them quite wonderful and think I will give this book to a few ladies I know as a special Christmas present.

This book, at just under 100 pages, is the kind you can sit down in an afternoon with a cup of tea and really just relax and enjoy. It's obvious this author has struggled with things like confidence and some sort of abusive behavior, but she writes about it beautifully and in a way that really moves you.

I really liked one poem in particular, called "Forgive" which for me wraps up the importance of forgivenss with simplicity and grace.

As a mature woman in her 50s, I enjoyed these poems and found my own voice in several of them. I think the majority of the work is very strong and shows a unique potential. I especially enjoyed the first section of the book dedicated to hope and empowerment. While some women may be further along on the road to self-acceptance than others, I believe others are like me - women who know they are strong but still enjoy hearing it again. By sharing her struggles with us in the form of poetic free verse, this author has done just that. As a woman, I don't think this is a message we can hear enough.

What the reviews do fail to get across is that this is a book of poetry. If that is how you are looking to gain inspiration, this book is for you. I was not looking to read poetry when I ordered this book and was highly disappointed when that is what I received. I want to let others out there know, so you don't make the same mistake I did!

I just read THE DIFFERENCE NOW and thoroughly enjoyed it. The book seems to have three distinct sections, with the first section devoted to empowerment and strength. This is the strongest part of the book, with several breakout poems that will leave you feeling inspired. You will find yourself reflecting on your own struggles and triumphs and do it all in a way that gives you energy and peace.

The middle section has a variety of poems ranging in theme but with an underlying message of hope. I especially like "It Started With a Word" which has a fable-like rhythm that brings the message of the poem, that of the pattern of verbal abuse, to a startingly head. I keep repeating this one back to myself. Very well done.

The final section reflects on loves lost and gained. I especially liked the poem "Most Times" as it showed a rare understanding of what it's like to be an independent woman who will not settle out of lonliness, and yet wonders if her life will ever bring the kind of love that seems to come so easy to some people. If you've ever been in this situation even for a brief time in your life - you will relate to this selection.

Perhaps my favorite is the title poem, "The Difference Now," which seems to signify a life change that woman especially will relate to.

This book is a short and enjoyable adventure. I recommend it for a reflective afternoon.

I came across this writer on another web site, and I was very anxious to read the book. I am always intrigued by poetry and the ability it has to move people - to admiration, anger, reflection, and the like. Great poetry does this - and the poetry in THE DIFFERENCE NOW is, indeed, great. I am reminded of some of the early works of our advanced contemporary writers in many of these poems.

At about 50 poems this is an ambitious first effort. The title poem sums up the books theme quite well and provides deep inspiration as a theme for life. Other poems, "I'm Not That Girl" and "Tomorrow, She Walks With Grace" are wonderful coming of age pieces that I could identify and relate to.

I also liked the concept of a poem called "Hold the Flame." It provides a gentle reminder that strength is within us always, even when we tuck it away or are afraid to use it.

I believe this writer shows a unique talent in the simplicity of her work. It is far more difficult to write something that goes straight to the heart than it is to write with flowery language that confuses readers. As a former English major, I saw that all too well in the works of my cohorts.

That said, if you fancy that "coffee house" type poetry by poets that wear black and smoke cigarettes, I doubt this work would appeal to you. I would recommend using the "browse" feature that Amazon has provided to get an idea of what this work is all about.