My first reaction when asked if I would be interested in reviewing a book for my blog contribution was it couldn’t have come at a worse time. My wife was already on my case for spending too much time on my Disney obsession, also I just started working on a project, and I’m preparing to begin a brand new job. I didn’t think there was any way I could find the time to read and review a book. Then I found out it was a poetry book and the only poetry I know are in the lyrics in rock ’n’ roll music. So, I did a little bit of research on the author and it was that research that made me change my mind. What I found was someone whose every word has substantive meaning. I found someone who has a love for his family, humanity, and Disney. Someone we all would and should be honored to know.
The author J.B. Conway is a police officer with a poetic passion for life and Disney. This is not the first poetry book written by J.B. who after the September 11th tragedy penned ‘Crime Scene Lyrics’ to share his emotions of that horrific day with the rest of the world. He created the Mouse of Zen http://www.mouseofzen.com/ after a 2006 family vacation to Walt Disney World which sparked an enthusiasm that needed an outlet of expression which J.B. found through his love of poetry.
I won’t pretend to know anything about poetry and don’t ask me what haiku is but I do know what I like and don’t like and ‘Mouse of Zen Disney Inspired Mouse-Sized Poetry’ is something I really liked. It was such an enjoyable read from start to finish. It really made me feel like I was in the parks.
In a blog I wrote sometime ago I equated listening to Lou Mongello’s descriptive narration on the WDW Radio Show Audio Guides to watching an artist painting a masterpiece. Well, the same can be said of J.B. Conway and his new book. When you read the book you will feel his words come alive. The words paint a vivid picture of the parks as they bring to life all the sights, sounds, and even the smells we know, love, and remember from our own visits to Disney World.
These short verse poems are packed with a powerful passion that immediately grabs your attention. The author connects with our emotions and memories of Disney as he takes us on a magical journey worth repeating over and over.
Before I began to read the book I really thought I would struggle through it because of my lack of understanding poetry. I couldn’t have been more wrong and whether you’re a fan of poetry or not is really immaterial. As long as you’re a fan of the mouse I wholeheartedly believe you’ll enjoy the book.
This book of magnificent poems gets 2 thumbs up from me and is a must read for every Disney fan.
Contributed by: Stuart S. (NDD #47). Stuart is our resident Disney geek and creator of Disney Geek Dad.
