Customer Reviews

Lemonade Street: Love Is Like Lemonade: Sometimes It's Sweet, Sometimes It's Sour

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I've never liked poems, I mean never. Growing up, I was forced to study poetry but could never like it. A nice, talented guy I used to like wrote me poems and I just couldn't bring myself to like 'em...and I tried. So I "ventured into Lemonade Street" thinking I'd be struggling to understand the poems.

I Simply put, I've not read an anything so richly infused with pure talent and an intelligent organisation of words in the English language since I read the writings of the likes of Chinua Achebe, a world- renowned Nigerian Author.

I never like poems so I had to figure out Why are these poems are so captivating? They follow a perfectly logical pattern of thinking, they're unbelievably imaginative, but most of all, many readers will relate to the poems in this book. They are easily understandable. You can read and understand them even when the poems stanzas follow a rhyming pattern. I must add, I'm not the romantic type, yet I liked a lot of the "love- themed" poems. Just imagine how much you'll love `em if you are a romantic!

I started with a highlighter hoping to spot a few favourites. (Usually when you read a book, even when you buy a music album, the favourites or the roaring "hits" are a few Well, I kept highlighting title after title, that I stunned myself with how many of the poems I thought were outstanding.

Number one on my `favourites list' is "Complete Me". Every adult needs to read this. To see a demonstration of that pure talent of which I speak, read "Can I Touch You?" Also, try reading "Lay Me Down"...sends chills down the back of your neck. It's a mixture of imaginative, a little spooky, but then romantic. I'm not even sure my descriptions do these poems any justice.

I can't wait till Bernice Angoh (the author) gets on Oprah. She (Oprah) shouldn't be cheated of the opportunity to lay her fingers on a different kind of writing, by a budding phenomenon.

Bernice Angoh has written a heartfelt collection of poetry, bursting with throw-it-to-the wind passion that displays a soul simultaneously injured and elevated by love. Often written to the men in her life who have hurt her, the pain is as palpable as her zest for life. Her words are easy to swallow and unpretentious. Even within her straightforward approach, there are undertones of profound artistry, such as in this excerpt from "Follow Me."

Follow me
Let me take you to a place where the sky hugs the city lights
and popcorn floats like air in space,
In that place, time never ceases, no one ever sleeps
It rains milk and shines confetti.
Hold my hand
Let me guide you to the house on Cinnamon street

Ms. Angoh follows each piece of poetry with interesting commentary, detailing the origin of each piece or adding insightful philosophies.

It appears Ms. Angoh has suffered deeply - from an absent father to the possible loss of a child. Her ability to love deeply and intensely comes through in this poem, entitled "You Will Miss Me."

You Will Miss Me
Cruel disregard
Of my delicate heart
The smirk in your eyes
The restlessness of that left foot
So distastefully
You called it off
I may as well
Have been a ghost
You brushed past me
Taking it all with you
I'm leaving you a gift
Chosen with love and care;
"Here is my heart, take it with you
I need it not, at heaven's gate"
Someday when it all settles in, when sunken ships have risen to shore and you've
been through hell and back; you will miss me.

The sadness creeps into every poem, and brings to light a life full of losses.

Sundance Queen
I lost myself in the morning sun
Fought and cruised till everything was gone
I craved the sweets, I felt misled
In the barnyard, I worried over nothing
Cried and mourned for there was no blood
But in the dark
I found myself
For I am Sheeba
The Sundance queen

Ms. Angoh's book consists of a collection of over 100 poems and is available through Publish America and at online bookstores everywhere.

If you have ever listened to a song, and imagined the perfectly fluid dance moves that go with it but knew you could never get them right if you stood up and tried, this is how I felt reading lemonade street. That someone had felt the joy, the pain, the hurt, the realease, the hope, the myraid of feelings I have felt, with the same intensity that I had felt them, but amazingly was able to capture the beauty of each moment in a wonderful poem.
I don't write poetry, neither am I a very big fan, but Lemonade street captured my soul. I go back to it all the time when I need a pick-me-up, it is that beautiful. The authors simple writing style and easy command of language are a beauty in themselves, and the subjects covered are so varied that there has to be something special in it for everyone.

Mrs Angoh spared no feelings or anything else in expressing the topic of her book. We all know that love can be a sweet and sour adventure but very few people can put it into verse like she did. Reason being so many people aren't too honest about their feelings of love or the affairs. Most people play the blame game or the hide and no seek game when it comes to love. Mrs Angoh played no games in expressing the verse in her book, she pulled no punches. Her book of verse is honest, refreshing and sincere to mention a few. I'm a poet also and I find it very hard to write verse without giving up a part of myself. In order for a poet to be effective he or she must give up a part of their heart and soul and sometimes then some, Mrs Angoh shot an arrow in my heart with this book, I learned a few lessons about life and love myself by reading it. One poem in particular caught my eye and attention, I will not name the poem or quote anything from it but I will tell you this, Mrs Angoh wasn't afraid to venture into her own imperfections when it comes to love and life. It takes a brave honest person to turn the mirror on themselves and share that honesty with the world, like I stated above most play the blame game and hide and no seek. This book covers all aspects of life and love, personal, friendship and family. I would recommend this book of verse to everyone, lovers and non-lovers, haters, and whomever. If you're a human being and can read, buy it and be amazed, if you can't read get someone to read it to you or just simply hold it in your hands to receive the blessings of a lovely sincere poetess, but whatever you do don't try to put it down until you have finished the whole book.

Virginia Terry - Author
Facets, Phases and Transformation
It is obvious that Bernice Angoh was blessed with the gift of expression at a very early age. Some of her work goes back as far as when she was a precocious ten year old, and you would not know it if she did not reveal it at the end of the poems that she wrote during that time. This is one of those books that you really don't want to put down; each poem is so full of volume you almost feel as though each one is a short story. Lemonade Street is chock full of tasty nuggets and each one comes straight from the author's heart; whether she is sharing revelations of sad moments, passion for her husband love for her beautiful daughter, and mother or giving us a taste of humor as in - Your Fly is Open. Lemonade Street is sweetened with loads of love and wisdom and just as sweets will quench your thirst for a spell, and then will have you craving more, Lemonade Street will have you going back for seconds over and over again.

Have a few sips to tantalize your taste buds: " Today I swear, I smelled you in the wind - I saw your shadow walk right into my soul." - "Call mother, write a song, watch a sunrise, wish on a star."
"Amira... she didn't get the chance, she lived to die unborn." The author's compassion shines through her work - in a potpourri of emotions. I have found her work to be compelling, passionate, prophetic, humorous, and I could go on and on. I love this beautiful book of poems and I highly recommend it. Prepare yourself for a lovely journey, take a stroll down Lemonade Street find a spot under a shade tree and quench your thirst.

Start with the very first poem, "Lay Me Down", and walk all the way through Lemonade Street. This is how poetry should be written! It should ignite you, captivate you, make you go weak in the knees, make you laugh, make you cry, make you think, enrich you..."Lemonade Street" is a gem. Worthy of every star!