OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Second Coming" by Lobibah Oji Baraka.]

“Second Coming” by Lobibah Oji Baraka, also known as Gilbert H. Richards, is a collection of Baraka’s free verse, narrative, and urban poetry. This book is raw, personal, and thought-provoking. Baraka divides his poetry into five sections: self, arts, death, love, and society. In some sections, Baraka is light-hearted as he reminisces about his past relationships and experiences of love; other times, he strikes a serious tone while touching on contentious issues of inner-city life as a Black man living in Baltimore City.

Regarding the strengths of “Second Coming,” every poem felt relatable. I have family in North and West Philadelphia that I grew up visiting on weekends throughout my childhood. Experiencing inner-city ghettos and witnessing things like poverty, gang violence, and drug abuse is life-altering. Baraka, speaking as a native of Baltimore, intimately touches on these experiences in ways that are relatable and familiar. Baraka uses a beautifully artistic vocabulary; he speaks metaphorically and shares philosophical perspectives on life values and morality. Baraka describes engaging topics such as systemic inequality and his cultural identity as an African American. He also speaks about people that he loves: family, friends, and those he has lost.

Regarding the weaknesses of “Second Coming,” one minor subjective detail is that, in my opinion, the Table of Contents could use better formatting. The section headers are the same font and size as the poem titles, and the themes of each section header are not noted in the Table of Contents. However, this is minor and does not detract from the overall quality of Baraka’s writings.

While I felt very comfortable with Baraka’s tasteful presentation, I should note that “Second Coming” contains some adult language and content suitable for mature audiences.

Overall, “Second Coming” is a gem of urban poetry. Given the strengths listed above and the artistic depth of Lobibah Oji Baraka’s literature, I am thrilled to give this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am ecstatic to have had the opportunity to read this book for review, and I certainly look forward to Baraka’s future content!

******
Second Coming
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

It was fun reading your review of this book of poetry. As you know, I wrote a review for this same book. It is nice to know that we both enjoyed this book and found the words to be relatable and powerful. This collection of free verse poetry is indeed a winner!

Very nice review to read, you really communicated the positive aspects of the book, and I appreciated the personal connection you had with it, sounds like a very delightful book!

Sadly, I can't get excited about poetry, urban or otherwise. it was my least favorite subject at university (conceded pass), and I struggle to connect with it. While this book will appeal to many, it's not for me.

I like reading and writing free verse poetry so this book seems like a treat!! I also loved that the poems were relatable, something that's commendable to the author (or in this case, poet!)
Loved reading your review too, found it simple, concise and objective. Looking forward to reading more! Thanks for sharing!

Gerry Steen wrote: ↑16 Dec 2024, 08:35 It was fun reading your review of this book of poetry. As you know, I wrote a review for this same book. It is nice to know that we both enjoyed this book and found the words to be relatable and powerful. This collection of free verse poetry is indeed a winner!

Thank you for your kind words, Gerry. I enjoyed your review of this book as well! Thanks again!

Stephen Christopher 1 wrote: ↑16 Dec 2024, 20:57 Sadly, I can't get excited about poetry, urban or otherwise. it was my least favorite subject at university (conceded pass), and I struggle to connect with it. While this book will appeal to many, it's not for me.

Thanks, Stephen. Yes, that's understandable! I don't read books of poetry very often myself, though I think the author's cultural background played a role in my interest in this one. I'm tempted to go check out his first book as well. Maybe I'll pick up the Kindle version for a nice read in the new year.

Neha Panikar wrote: ↑17 Dec 2024, 17:44 I like reading and writing free verse poetry so this book seems like a treat!! I also loved that the poems were relatable, something that's commendable to the author (or in this case, poet!)
Loved reading your review too, found it simple, concise and objective. Looking forward to reading more! Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the kind words Neha! I appreciate your comments and input!

Mona Alves wrote: ↑16 Dec 2024, 16:01 Very nice review to read, you really communicated the positive aspects of the book, and I appreciated the personal connection you had with it, sounds like a very delightful book!

Thank you for the feedback, Mona! Yea, the personal connection was significant for me. It almost felt like reading poetry, as if it were written by an uncle of mine or a cousin. It landed quite close to home and was very relatable. Moreso than I had anticipated up front. That was definitely a real strength in the text for me.

Anyway, thanks again!

Wow, "Second Coming" by Lobibah Oji Baraka sounds like a truly captivating collection of urban poetry. The reviewer mentioned that every poem felt relatable, especially for those who have experienced inner-city life. Baraka's use of metaphors and philosophical perspectives adds depth to his work, touching on topics like inequality and cultural identity. Although the Table of Contents could use better formatting, it doesn't take away from the overall quality of the book. With its raw and thought-provoking content, I would definitely rate "Second Coming" a solid 5 out of 5 stars. I'm excited to read it and explore Baraka's unique perspective on life. Heartwarming story, filled with love and warmth.

I adore poetry and would love to read this one. Your review makes this book sound interesting.

Sadly, it's really difficult to me to appreciate poetry written in a language different from my native language. This book offers his artistic interpretation of several themes, including some important ones. Thank you for your great review!

This is a delight to someone like me who likes reading poetry. I love that poetry, with much fewer words, is capable of connecting with the readers. It was noteworthy that you could identify with the poems in a deeper and more relatable way. Thank you for your detailed review. Adding this one to my reading list.

While poetry isn't typically my thing, I can appreciate the depth of Baraka's work and the personal experiences he shares. Your description of the book's themes and style really helps me understand its value. Great job!

Very thoughtful and well-detailed review! It’s great to hear how the poetry resonated with your personal experiences in inner-city life. Baraka’s ability to blend light-hearted nostalgia with serious societal issues truly captures the complexities of his environment and identity.