Trip to America by Liana Margiva is a collection of poetry and prose that touches the heart, mind, and soul. If you love poems that show true love for imagery, rhyme, and abstract, this book is full of them. If you like thought-provoking prose that will linger in your heart and imagination, this book has that too. Liana has a gift for elevating language to an art form. Of course, we all know that is what poetry is, but these poems aren't just random thoughts put onto paper. As you read them, you will begin to realize that this is what a true poet sounds like when she is expressing her craft. Some poems are emotional, some intellectual, and some you can interpret in your own way. If you're an aspiring poet wondering how good poetry can be, and what makes good poetry truly good, Liana's pieces will show you what it looks like, and possibly teach you how to write deeply and with more meaning. Besides creating lovely images to ponder, the author inserts a bit of cynicism at times, and this lends personality to the poems, making you feel as if you're getting to know the poet in a personal way. "Shakespeare's Sonnets" is one of my favorites and so is "Music". Liana touches on a wide spectrum of emotions, from sadness to pain, to love, to joy. She certainly has a distinct voice that compels you to read more of her work. When you reach the prose sections, you will find interesting characters and scenarios, with stimulating dialogue and food for thought, but I think the author shines the brightest in her poems. This volume of poetry and prose is one that should be used in book clubs, in classrooms, and in poetry readings. If you read one book of poetry this year, please make it Trip to America by Liana Margiva.
