SPEAK TO ME, MOTHER BELOVED is Albert Russo’s new book dedicated to his adored mother and to POETRY, with about 140 poems and as many photos in both black and white and in color, that he took along the years on the four continents in which he has resided and during his travels around the world.
This hardcover coffee-table volume is published by l’Aleph in Sweden - http://l-aleph.com/project/speak-to-me-mother-beloved/ - and is available from all major online bookstores, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, etc. pages 284 - 8 x 10 in Case Laminate Bound on Creme - ISBN 978-91-7637-569-3.
Speak to me mother beloved is Albert Russo’s new book dedicated to his adored mother and to POETRY, with about 140 poems and as many photos in both black and white and in color, that he took along the years on the four continents in which he has resided and during his travels around the world.
This BIG hardcover COFFEE TABLE BOOK is published by l’Aleph /
from all major online bookstores, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, etc. pages 284 - 8 x 10 in Case Laminate Bound on creme - ISBN 978-91-7637-569-3.
Reviewed by Eugenia Fain- Speak to Me, Mother Beloved is a collection like no other. It is embellished with costumes, statues, mask, flowers, architecture, family and many different scenes. The author's extensive travels in America, Italy, Africa, and France are commemorated. He even writes in foreign languages. The book holds raw emotion on many topics. The inspiration for his writing of many of the poems are the photographs that he treasures of his mother and his travels. Though he is agnostic, he prays, and hopes she is in a pleasant place reunited with his father. He hopes to see his beloved mother again. This book is a masterpiece that chronicles the author's travels with his family. The inspiration behind the poems is a life well-lived.
AMAZON REVIEWS:
Book Review of SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED by the Book Excellence Awards. SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED is a beautiful collection of poetry and images that explore a diverse set of universal themes: life, family, relationships, theology and more. In the book, author, Albert Russo, presents an intimate look at his life, inviting the reader into a wide range of experiences that span over 40 years in history. He captures and distills many experiences; of family, relationships, loss, and carrying on--as we all must do. The way the words that are written make you feel emotional and help you to connect to what the writer is stating. Albert spins poems that are both deeply personal and universal. Overall, Albert Russo stuns with an exquisite volume of original poetry.
Reviewed by Jay Fruchtman in the US on February 24, 2020
SPEAK TO ME, MOTHER BELOVED is an impressive artistic achievement filled with literary and visual imagery that, at various times, can transport, excite, pierce and ultimately, move you….most importantly, move you… The title is a direct reference to Albert’s mother but also serves as a metaphor for his country of origin, the continent of his birth and the various places that he felt/feels comfortable enough to call home; “mother” as nurturer, “mother” as inspiration. His poems are often deceptive in their simplicity and conversely, many are often prose-like and often complex in their presentation...but they are always captivating! Albert’s placement of his words on a page has been artfully chosen so not only are the visual images he uses carefully curated but so is the positioning of his words; word placement that also becomes visual image. A most enjoyable experience which can and should be revisited many times over!
Reviewed by Franck Giaoui in the United States on Feb 28, 2020
In SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED, Albert Russo leads us into his secret and cherished garden with Mamica his beloved mother. This garden is flourishing with diverse colors, fragrances, flavors and sounds as is the author’s life. From intimacy and nostalgia to the infinite expanses of Africa, the reader-traveller connects naturally with the poet, his guide, and resonates with palpable emotions. The odyssee crosses overtime more than 40 years although history is conveyed only in the background. Diversity is also present through the forms of rich poetry and photography. Albert Russo excels both in classical and more contemporary writing, illustrated with a personal collection of moving pictures. SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED is a unique way to travel in space and time while enjoying the comfort of your favorite couch.
Reviewed by Susan Varon in the US on February 22, 2020
A sumptuous, evocative epic work filled with outrage and longing, sensuality and melancholy. Among its’ diverse themes and topics, Mr. Russo explores devotion, loss, religion and prejudice as well as the mysteries of life, relationships and mortality. He bears witness to our humanity and inhumanity. Rich, colorful and personal, this is a provocative, dense work that one can re-visit and explore countless times and still feel there is so much more to experience.
Reviewed by David Alexander in the US on December 30, 2019
In "Speak to Me" author Albert Russo has turned the power of poetry and images into an arrow that flies unerringly to the heart of the reader. Like an arrow this volume is razor-sharp, and also like an arrow, it carries the hidden energies of the archer's bow from which it was unleashed in its flight. Don't try to hide from this book. Instead, face it bravely. Let the arrow find its mark.
Customer Review: C.R. Mathews - 5.0 out of 5 stars Moving Poetry - Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2020This work of poetry and photography, published in 2019, is a beautiful tribute to the author's beloved mother. Many of the poems directly concern his mother, his abiding love for her, her smile, her pain, ultimately her absence and the author's desire to communicate with her still. The poems are often addressed directly to his mother in an apostrophizing fashion. Within this collection these poems are especially moving and intense, driven in their creation, the reader feels, by a barely controlled authorial agony of loss. The first quarter of the volume is directly focused on Russo's mother and his childhood, although there are references in other poems to her throughout the book (see, e.g., "Embellished Youth", p. 110). The remaining poems include some that have been previously published (e.g., the brilliant, disturbing "Dissolving the Masquerade", p. 56, accompanied by a no less disturbing photograph. Other sections (undesignated as such) contain small groups of poems on different themes: cities, history in a broad sense, ethical issues (the treatment of animals, e.g., "The Day Animals Take Revenge", p. 66), contemporary cultural conflicts, religion, etc. A few contain stanzas or phrases in other languages (French, Spanish, Italian).The excellent photographs are by the author himself, pictures of his mother or of subjects that complement a nearby poem's subject or emotional focus. The book is beautifully produced, with photo reproductions of high quality and strong color. Nostalgia is one of the book's recurring themes. (See, especially, the poems on pages 110, 146 and 172) Nostalgia not just for his departed mother but for his own "lost" past. As he writes in "Embellished Youth" (p. 110): "indeed, nostalgia is the frame one tries to build/around the chaotic pieces of our lives,/it dilutes the sadness and the melancholy we no longer wish to remember..." (p. 112) While nostalgia is one of the themes of the work, the writing does not devolve into bathos but, rather, becomes a kind of exalted hymn to life in all its complexities and challenges and curiosities. And, its humor. For Russo can write amusingly of his own and the world's foibles, in a manner that brings a knowing and appreciative smile to the reader's lips. What struck me in this way were, especially, "Life's Little Nuisances" (p. 88) and "Albert Russo's Lifelong Menus...and Then Some" (p. 184). As always with Russo's writing, the syntax is clear, the mot juste is always chosen, poetic cross-references and imagery subtly abound. And one is always struck by the author's uncanny ability to remember details of the past, especially his youth, in a very Proustian manner indeed. This reader reacted with a special kind of satisfaction to his reference to "strawberry flavored Bazooka bubble gum" and the memory of his grandfather's ever-present supply of "hard, chewy mint toffees" (p. 14). It is interesting to find and read at the back of the book a small number of essays from the large appreciative critical literature dealing with Russo and his work. This attractive book is highly recommended to lovers of beautifully-wrought poetry that sensitively spans the full spectrum of human emotion and experience.
Excerpt
THAT PICTURE OF YOURS
Mamica, I look at you
and you stare back at me,
no words exchanged;
yes I’m repeating myself
because I want to prod you to ...
to what? Do I have to explain?
Just your smile, that magnificent smile
which is the envy of every woman,
that broad smile of your eyes
would melt even the hardest man’s heart;
no, it’s not seductive, you don’t like to play
that type of female game,
though otherwise, you can be a real trickster.
How many times have we bowled over
with laughter and hiccups
because of your sharp sense of humor,
because of your lightness of being,
even when you yourself are full of pains;
how does one describe it?
Inside out, from within, transparent?
but it is so patent, so clear,
nobody can doubt it;
it comforts, it invites confidence,
no, not the gossip type,
you can’t stand that;
there’s no irony, no mockery either,
nothing that could hurt anyone;
it’s a smile even animals bow to,
they would lick your face.
I know, you don’t like dogs
licking your face,
but that’s what they want to do,
and as for cats ...
Who gave you that name
Pussuccio? One of your
three children, but who?
for you do have that lovely
feline look of a Cheshire cat,
smoothing its whiskers.
Oh Pussuccio, give me
at least a meow, a muffled one,
if you refuse to speak;
cracky Moses! (your expression) give us a sign
so that we know you are still caring for us;
I know you do,
but we’re so used to hearing it,
again and again
and now ... purr please ... purrrrr
HOW SEPARATED?
Since you left us, Mamica mia,
a void has filled my heart,
it is unfathomable,
as if a volcano has erupted,
burning everything in its way,
and it hurts, oh how it hurts!
But now you are reunited
with your loved ones, especially
with Papacci, your dear parents,
your two brothers and two sisters.
But tell me, I hope the people
who were so nasty with you,
who made our lives a misery,
I need not mention them,
don’t bother you anymore.
There, where you now reside,
you must be free to ignore them,
or maybe you will never have
to meet these people again,
for surely they must have been cast
elsewhere, not in your vicinity!
You know I am an agnostic,
still I shall mention the words:
you, Papacci and our loving family
are in Paradise, whereas they, they
certainly weren’t allowed to enter it
so, tell me, tell me that they
will no longer, ever be in your way;
yes, now I believe in discrimination,
where good and evil
are forever separated,
and that they do not share
the same space as they do hereunder,
reassure me, for I want to know
that you are surrounded
by love and beauty, uniquely,
which you have deserved
all your life, but which unfortunately
you only got when you fell ill,
it was very late, much too late!
You were blessed with the care
and the proximity of Shelly,
that daughter of yours who
saw through your eyes
and felt through your body,
and by our own regular visits;
but you were already suffering so much,
and still you smiled that unmistakable smile
at your other children and their families,
making them feel more important than your own pain.
TO CRY AND TO LAUGH
The heart is in tatters,
yet all you see on my face
is a sparrow like grin.
That darling person
who has given birth to me
is my life, my soul.
She can’t help frowning,
her forehead a parchment
of untold suffering.
She closes her eyes
as if to discard my pain
and cracks a joke.
I don’t tell her
she’s lost so much weight;
I want to cry.
Oh how she reads through me,
knowing that I cannot take
or envisage the worst.
Her reality
is as clear as it is cruel,
yet she mocks it.
She tells me to picture
her and my dear old uncle
who is 99.
Two joyful ghosts, she says,
no, rather two packs of bones,
rattling in a ‘pas de deux’.
In spite of it all,
she gets me into a fit
of laughter.
Professional Reviews
A beautiful collection
Book Review of SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED by the Book Excellence Awards. SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED is a beautiful collection of poetry and images that explore a diverse set of universal themes: life, family, relationships, theology and more. In the book, author, Albert Russo, presents an intimate look at his life, inviting the reader into a wide range of experiences that span over 40 years in history. He captures and distills many experiences; of family, relationships, loss, and carrying on--as we all must do. The way the words that are written make you feel emotional and help you to connect to what the writer is stating. Albert spins poems that are both deeply personal and universal. Overall, Albert Russo stuns with an exquisite volume of original poetry.
An important artistic achievement
Reviewed by Jay Fruchtman in the US on February 24, 2020
SPEAK TO ME, MOTHER BELOVED is an impressive artistic achievement filled with literary and visual imagery that, at various times, can transport, excite, pierce and ultimately, move you….most importantly, move you… The title is a direct reference to Albert’s mother but also serves as a metaphor for his country of origin, the continent of his birth and the various places that he felt/feels comfortable enough to call home; “mother” as nurturer, “mother” as inspiration. His poems are often deceptive in their simplicity and conversely, many are often prose-like and often complex in their presentation...but they are always captivating! Albert’s placement of his words on a page has been artfully chosen so not only are the visual images he uses carefully curated but so is the positioning of his words; word placement that also becomes visual image. A most enjoyable experience which can and should be revisited many times over!
Moving Poetry
C.R. Mathews - 5.0 out of 5 stars - Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2020This work of poetry and photography, published in 2019, is a beautiful tribute to the author's beloved mother. Many of the poems directly concern his mother, his abiding love for her, her smile, her pain, ultimately her absence and the author's desire to communicate with her still. The poems are often addressed directly to his mother in an apostrophizing fashion. Within this collection these poems are especially moving and intense, driven in their creation, the reader feels, by a barely controlled authorial agony of loss. The first quarter of the volume is directly focused on Russo's mother and his childhood, although there are references in other poems to her throughout the book (see, e.g., "Embellished Youth", p. 110). The remaining poems include some that have been previously published (e.g., the brilliant, disturbing "Dissolving the Masquerade", p. 56, accompanied by a no less disturbing photograph. Other sections (undesignated as such) contain small groups of poems on different themes: cities, history in a broad sense, ethical issues (the treatment of animals, e.g., "The Day Animals Take Revenge", p. 66), contemporary cultural conflicts, religion, etc. A few contain stanzas or phrases in other languages (French, Spanish, Italian).The excellent photographs are by the author himself, pictures of his mother or of subjects that complement a nearby poem's subject or emotional focus. The book is beautifully produced, with photo reproductions of high quality and strong color. Nostalgia is one of the book's recurring themes. (See, especially, the poems on pages 110, 146 and 172) Nostalgia not just for his departed mother but for his own "lost" past. As he writes in "Embellished Youth" (p. 110): "indeed, nostalgia is the frame one tries to build/around the chaotic pieces of our lives,/it dilutes the sadness and the melancholy we no longer wish to remember..." (p. 112) While nostalgia is one of the themes of the work, the writing does not devolve into bathos but, rather, becomes a kind of exalted hymn to life in all its complexities and challenges and curiosities. And, its humor. For Russo can write amusingly of his own and the world's foibles, in a manner that brings a knowing and appreciative smile to the reader's lips. What struck me in this way were, especially, "Life's Little Nuisances" (p. 88) and "Albert Russo's Lifelong Menus...and Then Some" (p. 184). As always with Russo's writing, the syntax is clear, the mot juste is always chosen, poetic cross-references and imagery subtly abound. And one is always struck by the author's uncanny ability to remember details of the past, especially his youth, in a very Proustian manner indeed. This reader reacted with a special kind of satisfaction to his reference to "strawberry flavored Bazooka bubble gum" and the memory of his grandfather's ever-present supply of "hard, chewy mint toffees" (p. 14). It is interesting to find and read at the back of the book a small number of essays from the large appreciative critical literature dealing with Russo and his work. This attractive book is highly recommended to lovers of beautifully-wrought poetry that sensitively spans the full spectrum of human emotion and experience.
Speak to Me, Mother Beloved, is a collection like no other. It is embellished with costumes, statues, mask, flowers, architecture, family and many different scenes. The author's extensive travels in America, Italy, Africa, and France are commemorated. He even writes in foreign languages. The book holds raw emotion on many topics. The inspiration for his writing of many of the poems are the photographs that he treasures of his mother and his travels. Though he is agnostic, he prays, and hopes she is in a pleasant place reunited with his father.He hopes to see his beloved mother again. This book is a masterpiece that chronicles the author's travels with his family. The inspiration behind the poems is a life well-lived.
Book Review of SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED by the Book Excellence Awards.
SPEAK TO ME MOTHER BELOVED is a beautiful collection of poetry and images that explore a diverse set of universal themes: life, family, relationships, theology and more.
In the book, author, Albert Russo, presents an intimate look at his life, inviting the reader into a wide range of experiences that span over 40 years in history. He captures and distills many experiences; of family, relationships, loss, and carrying on--as we all must do. The way the words that are written make you feel emotional and help you to connect to what the writer is stating. Albert spins poems that are both deeply personal and universal.
Overall, Albert Russo stuns with an exquisite volume of original poetry.
From the Caribbean Sea to Machu Picchu in Peru, and from birds to flowers and butterflies, Reflections and Treasured Wonders offers a collection of images gathered from around the world.
