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Nova
'Nova' delivers deep lyrical poems that are refreshingly
honest in their portrayal of life, love, grief, pain, survival and celebration.
"Often moody and melancholy.
Sometimes sensual.
Sometimes happy and contented.
Always honest and thought-provoking."
This is the third collection of poetry by Joanne Van Leerdam.
honest in their portrayal of life, love, grief, pain, survival and celebration.
"Often moody and melancholy.
Sometimes sensual.
Sometimes happy and contented.
Always honest and thought-provoking."
This is the third collection of poetry by Joanne Van Leerdam.
- GenresPoetry
72 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2017
3 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Van Leerdam
20 books171 followersJoanne Van Leerdam is a poet and author of short stories. Her body of work consists of aix poetry collections, one general short story collection, a play, four collections of horror short stories, and a contribution to several anthologies.
When she's not writing, Joanne is a teacher of English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.
Her hobbies include reading, photography, and music.
She is proud to be both an Australian and an honorary Canadian.
She does like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
When she's not writing, Joanne is a teacher of English, History and Drama/Production. She is an active member and performer in her local theatre company.
Her hobbies include reading, photography, and music.
She is proud to be both an Australian and an honorary Canadian.
She does like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 7, 2018
Reading a book of poetry is like walking through an art museum. Good ones have variety, and not every piece is to one’s liking. But, should you discover a masterpiece, or more realistically, something that you like within the collection, then your time has been well spent.
I especially liked “Insomnia”, the second poem. It took a common psychological event and shaped its abstraction into a string of familiar images. Van Leerdan’s best poems all do this. One line in “Arrow” is “whatever holds her back is preparing her for flight.” I liked that one. Van Leerdan’s free verse was much less contrived than her rhymes. The rhymes get in the way of her images. But that’s only a personal preference.
On my way out of the museum I gazed at the pictures again. Yes, I read the poems twice. A line from “Teen Think” stuck with me, “I have the dumb.” That whole poem reminded me of my days in the classroom. It was short, almost like reading something scribbled on a desk top. Very cool. One of the longer poems, “The Sea,” was also excellent. My mind bobbed up and down in the water, as one moment I saw the words describing a natural scene, and the next they revealed a meaning beneath the surface.
If you choose to wander through these pages, it is likely that you will discover other poems, with different images and words, that speak directly to you. This artist is worth exploring. As she says, “share a poet’s cup with me, lest all the stories be my own.”
I especially liked “Insomnia”, the second poem. It took a common psychological event and shaped its abstraction into a string of familiar images. Van Leerdan’s best poems all do this. One line in “Arrow” is “whatever holds her back is preparing her for flight.” I liked that one. Van Leerdan’s free verse was much less contrived than her rhymes. The rhymes get in the way of her images. But that’s only a personal preference.
On my way out of the museum I gazed at the pictures again. Yes, I read the poems twice. A line from “Teen Think” stuck with me, “I have the dumb.” That whole poem reminded me of my days in the classroom. It was short, almost like reading something scribbled on a desk top. Very cool. One of the longer poems, “The Sea,” was also excellent. My mind bobbed up and down in the water, as one moment I saw the words describing a natural scene, and the next they revealed a meaning beneath the surface.
If you choose to wander through these pages, it is likely that you will discover other poems, with different images and words, that speak directly to you. This artist is worth exploring. As she says, “share a poet’s cup with me, lest all the stories be my own.”
March 8, 2018
This is a lovely collection of poems by Joanne Van Leerdam. Many of the selections exhibit a masterful sharing of emotions that spring from life experiences such as love, loss and loneliness, while others simply and artfully paint a picture and tickle the senses. There are touches of brilliance here that deserve five stars, but taking all verses into account averages my rating to four.
I was particularly drawn to the following selections: Under The Butterfly Tree, for its evocative imagery; Deadly Sins, for its vivid impression of addiction and withdrawal; and July 19, 2011, which so profoundly captured my experience of losing my own mother in 2012. I also have a soft spot for The Library. Wouldn't any book lover feel the same?
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys deeply emotive poetry on the human condition.
I was particularly drawn to the following selections: Under The Butterfly Tree, for its evocative imagery; Deadly Sins, for its vivid impression of addiction and withdrawal; and July 19, 2011, which so profoundly captured my experience of losing my own mother in 2012. I also have a soft spot for The Library. Wouldn't any book lover feel the same?
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys deeply emotive poetry on the human condition.
February 13, 2018
Poetry aficionados will probably scorn me for saying this, but when I read poetry, I’m more interested in the feelings each poem evokes than structure and form. Nova evokes feelings in spades, so I have no hesitation in saying I think this is a five star collection.
That’s not to say I don’t appreciate a structured poem too. The standout example for me was Renegade, which is potent, delivered in short, sparse lines, sometimes only a word. It would be right at home as the lyrics to an Alice in Chains song.
Some of the poems are raw insights, others are impressions, some tell stories. Teflon, Teen Think and Unique Retail Opportunity are cunning pieces of social commentary. Under The Butterfly Tree reads like you’re looking at a Gauguin painting in an art gallery. Frangipani is a beautiful example of how smell evokes memory.
Hard to pick favourites from this collection as the writing is consistently good. The ones I read twice were Broken, Distant Kiss, The Sea, and July 19, 2011. Recommended, and not just for fans of poetry.
That’s not to say I don’t appreciate a structured poem too. The standout example for me was Renegade, which is potent, delivered in short, sparse lines, sometimes only a word. It would be right at home as the lyrics to an Alice in Chains song.
Some of the poems are raw insights, others are impressions, some tell stories. Teflon, Teen Think and Unique Retail Opportunity are cunning pieces of social commentary. Under The Butterfly Tree reads like you’re looking at a Gauguin painting in an art gallery. Frangipani is a beautiful example of how smell evokes memory.
Hard to pick favourites from this collection as the writing is consistently good. The ones I read twice were Broken, Distant Kiss, The Sea, and July 19, 2011. Recommended, and not just for fans of poetry.
March 2, 2017
Nova is a wonderful collection of poems, ranging from deep sadness to intense longing to contentment and love. Joanne Van Leerdam is a master poet who combines an old-worldly feel to her poetry with a modern flavor. My favorites in this collection are Nocturne, Firefighter, Beloved, and Wine Cups. I highly recommend this book to any lover of the written word!
July 3, 2018
Nova is a wide-ranging collection. Some of poems evoke deep sadness. Others paint a beautiful picture of the natural world. All these poems exhibit a deep sense of honesty. Van Leerdam is taking us into her heart and showing us raw emotion that she has drawn from personal experience. July 19, 2011, about the loss of the poet's mother, is a prime example. In Bleeding Words, Van Leerdam says as much: "My soul, exposed for all to read feeds a pool of printer's ink."
But these poems are not all about life's harsh realities. Wine Cups celebrates story telling and the part the reader plays: "the wine within these cups heals pain and makes us whole." One of my favorites is Fusion, which captures the spirit of Bronte's Wuthering Heights. And what reader or writer would not love to have the room envisioned in The Library.
But these poems are not all about life's harsh realities. Wine Cups celebrates story telling and the part the reader plays: "the wine within these cups heals pain and makes us whole." One of my favorites is Fusion, which captures the spirit of Bronte's Wuthering Heights. And what reader or writer would not love to have the room envisioned in The Library.
February 8, 2017
Obviously, any review I wrote for 'Nova' would be biased because I wrote the book.
Instead, let me tell you something about what you can expect from 'Nova'.
These are poems about my own experiences and observations about the highs and lows of life, and everything in between.
I don't aim for things to sound pretty and rhyme neatly, but I do try to use language that sounds beautiful when its read. I aim for my ideas and feelings to be communicated in a way that makes someone stop and think, and maybe see something or someone in a new way. Sometimes my writing helps me - and other people - make sense of what's going on in my head or in my life. And sometimes I write poems because it's the only way I can find to say what other people are afraid to say.
So if you're up for some honesty, some joy, some sorrow and some celebration... this is the book for you!
And so is 'Leaf'... also by me.
Instead, let me tell you something about what you can expect from 'Nova'.
These are poems about my own experiences and observations about the highs and lows of life, and everything in between.
I don't aim for things to sound pretty and rhyme neatly, but I do try to use language that sounds beautiful when its read. I aim for my ideas and feelings to be communicated in a way that makes someone stop and think, and maybe see something or someone in a new way. Sometimes my writing helps me - and other people - make sense of what's going on in my head or in my life. And sometimes I write poems because it's the only way I can find to say what other people are afraid to say.
So if you're up for some honesty, some joy, some sorrow and some celebration... this is the book for you!
And so is 'Leaf'... also by me.
September 22, 2017
This is my first time reviewing a book of poetry. In truth, I've never really had an affinity for poetry. I think it has always sort of sailed above my head. So I was pleasantly surprised when I dug into Nova and found it easy to connect with many of the poems. There is definitely something here for everyone. Joanne has a knack for connecting words and emotions to paint a vivid picture. I found myself going back to re-read some of the poems again, lingering over them and marveling at how well they struck to the heart of my experience with the topic at hand. There are a lot of poems in this book as well. Way more than I expected there to be. So if you like poetry, you'll find a lot to love in this book. And if you're like me, a little less certain, it serves as an excellent gateway.
April 9, 2017
Absolute Artistry
Another fantastic collection of poems. Van Leerdam once again shares her deeply emotional verses centered around love, longing, pain, and so many other feelings. Like an artist with canvas she creates beautiful art, her palette made up of her choice of words. Many of these poems really moved me and the one titled The Library, I could actually close my eyes and envision this wonderful place. Great read and highly recommended.
Another fantastic collection of poems. Van Leerdam once again shares her deeply emotional verses centered around love, longing, pain, and so many other feelings. Like an artist with canvas she creates beautiful art, her palette made up of her choice of words. Many of these poems really moved me and the one titled The Library, I could actually close my eyes and envision this wonderful place. Great read and highly recommended.
June 15, 2017
You don't have to be a poetry lover to enjoy this book!
It almost seems ss if Joanne reached in grabbed a piece of my soul, and put my feelings into words more eloquently than i ever could .
It almost seems ss if Joanne reached in grabbed a piece of my soul, and put my feelings into words more eloquently than i ever could .
March 1, 2017
Poetry that Seeps through Pores!
I deemed it necessary to read Joanne Van Leerdam’s poetry collection, ‘Nova,’ in entirety to appreciate its bloodshed in the form of poetic words used to convey a gamut of emotions associated with love, longing, sorrow, disappointment, crestfallenness, and prevailing over the human condition. That done, I will treasure it as a future reference to summon a particular verse on a needed basis when the pores of my heart and soul need quenching.
Each unique poem articulates feelings and circumstances with needlepoint precision—not through traditional rhyme, but an economy of well-chosen words strategically falling into place line by line.
For me, the theme of ‘Nova’ pivots from Van Leerdam’s last poem, “Bleeding Words,” where I’ve cited a few:
Some wear their hearts on their sleeves,
Others, as scars on their skin,
Mine is exposed on written pages
That reveal the truths within.
‘Nova’ is a poetry collection you’ll want to reach for when you seek articulation, verification, or optimism as conveyed in “Lesson from a Mountain,” to mention just one more.
I deemed it necessary to read Joanne Van Leerdam’s poetry collection, ‘Nova,’ in entirety to appreciate its bloodshed in the form of poetic words used to convey a gamut of emotions associated with love, longing, sorrow, disappointment, crestfallenness, and prevailing over the human condition. That done, I will treasure it as a future reference to summon a particular verse on a needed basis when the pores of my heart and soul need quenching.
Each unique poem articulates feelings and circumstances with needlepoint precision—not through traditional rhyme, but an economy of well-chosen words strategically falling into place line by line.
For me, the theme of ‘Nova’ pivots from Van Leerdam’s last poem, “Bleeding Words,” where I’ve cited a few:
Some wear their hearts on their sleeves,
Others, as scars on their skin,
Mine is exposed on written pages
That reveal the truths within.
‘Nova’ is a poetry collection you’ll want to reach for when you seek articulation, verification, or optimism as conveyed in “Lesson from a Mountain,” to mention just one more.
February 18, 2021
Mix of poetic styles, some rhyming, others not, but all with a cadence and rhythm where I could hear the author’s voice. The author’s word choices and structures fit whatever theme and emotion the particular poem calls for, from the vibrant, descriptive language of the title piece, Nova; to the simplicity of Teflon and Torn, with the clever questions of the first and the jagged pace of the second.
I felt Rogue Wave in particular, with the clever word usage in the last line just leaving me giddy when I should probably have been horrified; and Wine Cups, which made me think of classic epic fantasy stories. Firefighter’s imagery left me amazed.
If I have one complaint, it is that the collection bounces around in themes, so given how stirring the collection was for me, I felt the rhythm of emotions from poem to poem was uneven.
I felt Rogue Wave in particular, with the clever word usage in the last line just leaving me giddy when I should probably have been horrified; and Wine Cups, which made me think of classic epic fantasy stories. Firefighter’s imagery left me amazed.
If I have one complaint, it is that the collection bounces around in themes, so given how stirring the collection was for me, I felt the rhythm of emotions from poem to poem was uneven.
December 12, 2017
Masterpiece poetry
The book intrigued me when the author was nominated for one of my Best Indie Titles of 2017 awards on my author blog, and the author was nice enough to share the story with me for a review. I love a good poem. I think of a good poem as one that pulls in the reader, and invokes emotion, shows and makes the reader feel something, and see life through the eyes of the poet. Vanleerdam is one remarkable poet. I was drawn in immediately by the first and title poem "Nova" and it only got better from there. The words bring a light of life and show the reader how the author feels, invoking emotion within this reader. Bravo. Each page turning revealed the next poem. One of the other poems that brought me in was "Blue". It was short and to the point, and luring. Again, I must repeat myself, masterpiece poetry.
The book intrigued me when the author was nominated for one of my Best Indie Titles of 2017 awards on my author blog, and the author was nice enough to share the story with me for a review. I love a good poem. I think of a good poem as one that pulls in the reader, and invokes emotion, shows and makes the reader feel something, and see life through the eyes of the poet. Vanleerdam is one remarkable poet. I was drawn in immediately by the first and title poem "Nova" and it only got better from there. The words bring a light of life and show the reader how the author feels, invoking emotion within this reader. Bravo. Each page turning revealed the next poem. One of the other poems that brought me in was "Blue". It was short and to the point, and luring. Again, I must repeat myself, masterpiece poetry.
October 7, 2018
Leerdam created a spectacular book of poems with powerful themes such as death, matters of the heart, contentment, and love. I especially loved reading The Rogue Waves. This poem first takes the reader to the highest fierce peak and then drops the reader into a peaceful valley. The author uses vividly intense language to produce these impressions. The rider of the waves watches as they build up to a fierce, potent force. Believing that they could be ridden without a problem, but somehow these waves were, angry, rough, and shouted out in rage. The waves pushed and pulled an aching, breathless body. Then spits it out and return to the ocean. This is a marvelous book of poems.
February 28, 2018
This was simply beautiful! The author has created magic around words. Get ready to be moved by emotions of love, bravery, loss, nostalgia, grief, peace…in other words, get ready to feel. How can you be reading about the Teflon in your kitchen and be so affected by the scratch of its surface? Some of my favorites were Frangipani, Mistaken identity, Unique Retail Opportunity, Child Within, Teflon and Torn. There is a poem in this book for everyone, are you ready to take this journey to find yourself?
August 21, 2018
Beautiful poems made from broken pieces. How do I find the words to describe poetry so eloquent? Nothing I say could compare to the words so beautifully arranged in Nova. Raw, bare naked emotion dressed in ruffles and silks and sleek designs, feelings and observations we can all relate to on some level. A wide range of experiences translated into everlasting images. I loved Teenthink and Insomnoir to name a few. Van Leerdam's poems sing with past regrets, wisdom and hope. Highly recommended for anyone who finds beauty in words and adores lovely, ironic imagery.
January 20, 2018
This is a collection which is half-way there. There are some real gems, some moments of clarity and vivid expression. The poet needs to craft these, capitalise on them and write more, and more, and more.
Full, detailed review here: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
Full, detailed review here: https://rhianwriting.wordpress.com/20...
May 8, 2017
A veritable feast of words and imagery, with themes ranging from love to loss. Emotion drips easily from the pen of Joanne Van Leerdam. Her poetry packs a powerful punch. A joy to read and re-read.
February 23, 2017
There is something I must explain to my readers before I begin my review of Joanne Van Leerdam’s “Nova”. Having a young adult son who is a published poet, former National Poetry Slam (NPS) finalist, and winner of numerous poetry awards, I tend, as a rule, not to not to gravitate toward books containing written poetry. For me, flowery odes of artist’s musing on an ideal utopia, a glorious sunset, or an unbound love hold no comparison to the gritty, heart-wrenching, and soul-grabbing performances that represent that dynamic genre of poetry. I confess that I’ve attended more than a few live slam poetry performances in my time, and I now find it quite difficult to simply sit still in a quiet room and read through a book of poetry. And—I’ll freely admit this because I can’t possibly make myself look like more of a snubby-street-snob—I’m a die-hard slam poetry fan who prefers the raw emotion connected to a live slam poetry performance over the passivity of reading the written word … That is until now, when a small miracle came to me in the form of “Nova”!
To my amazement, my affinity for the written poetic form was heightened when I began reading Van Leerdam’s masterpiece. Almost from the beginning, her poems felt like old familiar friends as I poured over the words already scratching at the surface of my bias. These poems touched my heart on a level I had seldom felt before. Van Leerdam bares her heart and soul to the world and takes us along on her life’s journey, and as we ride the wind with the poet in command, what gorgeous imagery and tremendous emotions sing through her words! “Nova” is, in all its glory, simply stunning!
To my amazement, my affinity for the written poetic form was heightened when I began reading Van Leerdam’s masterpiece. Almost from the beginning, her poems felt like old familiar friends as I poured over the words already scratching at the surface of my bias. These poems touched my heart on a level I had seldom felt before. Van Leerdam bares her heart and soul to the world and takes us along on her life’s journey, and as we ride the wind with the poet in command, what gorgeous imagery and tremendous emotions sing through her words! “Nova” is, in all its glory, simply stunning!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews