OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "This Ain't IT!" by Michael Galen.]

Title: This Ain't It
Author: Michael Galen

In this rather short yet jam-packed book, the author describes his dissatisfaction with subjects such as the state of politics, marriage, women, and religion. He is a man with many bones to pick and does it through very clever, forthright poetry and prose. I feel his emotions through his writing, and nothing seems fair in his world. He poses so many questions and is very pessimistic. This is not a happy book. The mood is one of despair, anger, and honesty. I love the way the poetry sometimes changes 'rhythm,' which emphasizes what he has to say.

In regard to the big subject of racism, I would like to note that this unfortunate aspect is rife everywhere in the world, from the corrupt tribal racism of Africa to the caste system in India to the unjust treatment of women in Afghanistan, where girls are not even entitled to an education. There is unfairness everywhere.

I enjoyed his views on marriage and women; it was very sardonic.

As I write this, I feel that my words are too gentle and reserved compared to his harsh and to-the-point descriptions. His accent really comes out in his prose; I enjoyed it.

All in all, it's a fiery and cynical book and well worth reading. Michael Galen is very talented. There are some lovely lines, such as the ironic line:

'The sun draped Loudoun County in a syrupy gold, stretching itself lazily across lawns manicured in a lie'.

Although I did not take to the book, it was too cold, and I am not a fan of hip-hop 'speak', I recognise that it was very well written and beautifully edited. The odd little illustrations were fun. It would be a good book to introduce to English literature students. I cannot award it a full five stars, as I did not enjoy the harshness of the prose, so I will award it four stars out of five.

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This Ain't IT!
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

I can really sense the author's fiery and cynical tone through your description of his dissatisfaction with politics, marriage, women, and religion, and how his poetry and prose convey a mood of despair, anger, and honesty. It's interesting how you highlight his "hip-hop 'speak'" and the ironic lines like the one about "Loudoun County." It sounds like a powerful and thought-provoking read, even if its harshness wasn't entirely to your taste. Thanks for this insightful review.

Wow! A pessimistic? I think this might be right up my alley. Thank you for writing this good review. You're good at this. I will give it a chance. Keep it up.

Well, it appears more often than not, the world seems to be packed with so many things that would cause one to wonder about the future of humankind, and the topics addressed in this book summarize most of them. I am glad, though, that there is always a silver lining in every dark cloud. Thanks for the honest, brilliant review, @Rebecca De Figueiredo.

Nicely done! Your review was clear and engaging. I enjoyed reading your take on the book.

While you mention that you didn’t enjoy the "cold" tone and hip-hop-like style, I appreciate how you recognize the book’s talent, the beautiful editing, and even the fun illustrations. It’s clear that, although the content wasn’t for you personally, the author succeeded in crafting a well-written and compelling piece. I can see how this could be an excellent text for discussions in an English literature class, where students could dive deeper into its themes and explore its unconventional style.

I appreciate your honest take on the tone of the book. It sounds intense and thought-provoking, even if it’s not for everyone. The line you quoted really stood out—very vivid writing. Thanks for the insight!