If you could read my mind, you wouldn’t be smiling.
Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can’t turn off.
Second-guessing every move, thought, and word makes daily life a struggle, and it doesn’t help that her lifelong friends will turn toxic at the first sign of a wrong outfit, wrong lunch, or wrong crush. Yet Sam knows she’d be truly crazy to leave the protection of the most popular girls in school. So when Sam meets Caroline, she has to keep her new friend with a refreshing sense of humor and no style a secret, right up there with Sam’s weekly visits to her psychiatrist.
Caroline introduces Sam to Poet’s Corner, a hidden room and a tight-knit group of misfits who have been ignored by the school at large. Sam is drawn to them immediately, especially a guitar-playing guy with a talent for verse, and starts to discover a whole new side of herself. Slowly, she begins to feel more “normal” than she ever has as part of the popular crowd . . . until she finds a new reason to question her sanity and all she holds dear.
I took a few days off after finishing this book to write my review. I wanted to let it settle in and see how I was feeling, and you know what? I still love it just as much as I did the moment I finished. I discovered author, Tamara Ireland Stone, through her time-travelling young adult stories, Time Between Us and Time After Time, so I wasn’t sure if I would love a straight-up contemporary as much. It’s different, but as good, in a very different way.
The book is heavy on themes. Themes of fitting in, finding one’s place, uncertainty, being different, being accepted, finding your voice, finding your words. It’s also a story about a girl and a boy. And secrets. And trust.
Samantha McAllister is part of the Crazy Eights, the most popular girls in her junior class, but she’s hiding a secret from them — she has OCD with an emphasis on obsessive rather than compulsive, making it easier to keep her issues private. In fact, no one in school knows about it. Until she meets Caroline, a nerdy girl who promises Samantha she can change her life. Samantha is a girl with two halves, her public persona as part of the Eights, and the private Summer Sam, who doesn’t try so hard to conceal who she is. Samantha wants to be Sam all the time, and not just during the summer when she’s away from the Eights. Her friendship with Caroline sparks a journey that burns through the pages, as Samantha allows Sam out of her box for longer bits of a time.
The plot addresses so many things, but at it’s core, it’s about a girl battling OCD and her journey in finding herself. Strong subplots include a romance with the sweet, soulful AJ, her friendships with the Caroline and the other Poets, as well as her evolving relationship with the Eights. Each plot is well done, and woven seamlessly with the others. There were a few good plot twists, and one, shocking, jaw-dropping twist that I wasn’t sure about at first, but ended up loving for its brilliance.
The author has done her homework and portrays the world of mental health in a raw and realistic manner. Her creation of Poet’s Corner is detailed and vivid. I could picture the room and the kids and the tiny stage, feel the atmosphere, smell the combination of old paper and stale coffee, with a hint of teen body odor. And considering I was born without a sense of smell, that’s saying something!
Samantha is complex, troubled, and so utterly relatable, it’s impossible not to love her despite her flaws. Sam spends such an inordinate amount of time in her own head, the only other character I truly felt like I got a good sense of was Shrink Sue. It’s not that the other characters are one-dimensional, but that we see the world through Sam’s eyes and she’s just very introspective.
The pacing is good, never really dragging, the plot twists were adequately foreshadowed, and the author has an interesting voice that is both deep and youthful, fitting this story really well.
I enjoyed the ending. I thought the main plot points were wrapped up well, but in a believable way, because OCD isn’t something cured. It’s something people are taught to manage, and I think that was authentically portrayed.
Top Five Things I Loved About Every Last Word
1. The Poetry. The poems were deep and meaningful and I love how the author managed to give each poet his or her own voice in their creations.
2. Sam. She’s just so incredibly well developed, and while I have never suffered like she has, I could understand her thought spirals, and relate to how she felt out of control. I think everyone has something about themselves that feels a little beyond their ability to control at times.
3. AJ. He is sweet, thoughtful, and yet not perfect, which made him perfectly believable.
4. Shrink Sue. The way she helps Sam, maintains boundaries, and yet clearly loves her patient is heartwarming.
5. Caroline. She was exactly the friend Sam needed at the time Sam needed her.
I’m glad I gave this book a try. It surprised me in the very best of ways.
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Every Last Word
Author: Tamara Ireland Stone
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Category: Teen and Young Adult, Romance
Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Links to Purchase: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks
About the Author
TAMARA IRELAND STONE is the author of Time After Time and Time Between Us, which has been published in over twenty countries to widespread acclaim, and hailed as “an exciting debut novel” by Booklist and “a warm, time bending romance” by Publishers Weekly. It has been optioned for film by CBS Films.
Her next novel, Every Last Word, is about a teen girl with OCD who’s hiding part of herself from the world, until she discovers a secret poetry club that changes her in unexpected ways. Every Last Word releases on June 16, 2015.
A former Silicon Valley marketing executive, Tamara enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with her husband and two children. She lives just outside of San Francisco


As an author of five books at Latino baseball and history’s intersection, I have a profound respect for other authors. I’m admittedly particularly critical when another author writes on a subject matter in my sweet spot. This was the case when I read David Maraniss’ Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero, the best Roberto Clemente biography I’ve ever read. It inspired me to reach out and tip my cap as a fan who was simply blown away about a subject matter, I felt I knew best.
Hollywood felt similarly and Legendary Pictures (“42”) acquired the story rights from Maraniss and has attached director, Ezra Edelman (“O.J.: Made in America”), to the feature film project.
Maraniss owns a Pulitzer Prize (’93) for his renowned work at The Washington Post where today he serves as the associate editor. He’s no stranger to biographies having inked books on everyone from Barack Obama (Barack Obama: The Story) and Bill Clinton (First in His Class) to Vince Lombardi (When Pride Still Mattered) to name a few. The Madison, Wisconsin native and D.C. journalism fixture has a byline history that parallels his Midwestern roots to his current presence in the epicenter of U.S. politics.
I was intrigued about David’s attraction to writing Clemente, since I considered it an outlier of sorts from his other subjects, and I wanted to know more about the back story of a white, Midwestern kid’s fascination with the Puerto Rican and Pittsburgh Pirates legend. As a Puerto Rican baseball historian and academic, I should’ve known the transcendent impact of #21 knows no boundaries. Maraniss’ book is a gift to all baseball fans and I’m thrilled I had a chance to connect with David recently to dig in more on his book, the film and his personal backstory. Let’s dig in…
Adrian Burgos, Jr: Tell us about what sparked your love of baseball and your career journey as a journalist and biographer?
David Maraniss: Baseball was always the favorite sport in my family, starting with my dad, who grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of the Brooklyn Dodgers and hater of the New York Yankees. When the Dodgers moved to LA, he changed allegiances to a series of underdogs in the Midwest, including the Tigers, Indians, Cubs, Braves, and finally Brewers. I’ve been a Brewers fan since they came to Milwaukee in 1970. The first day of their first spring training was the day our son Andrew was born, passing along the tradition.
My love of writing has also been a family tradition.
My grandfather was a printer on Coney Island, my dad a lifelong newspaper man, and my mom a book editor, so it was in my blood. Luckily, I say, since I’m pretty incompetent at everything else! My siblings have all been scholars, professors, researchers, or musicians. I was the dumb one in the family who followed my father into newspapers. I’ve been affiliated with The Washington Post for more than 40 years, but in the last two decades I’ve mostly written books.
My interests are wide-ranging, but I only write books about things that obsess me, mostly political and sociological issues and biographies of people whose lives tell us something more about American life than just sports.
AB: I can see that thread in your work, but what inspired you to write on Clemente as a biographical subject? Additionally, how did time with the Clemente family provide further insight into who Roberto was and what he meant to them, Puerto Rico, and baseball?
DM: Clemente was a book I always wanted to write. He was my favorite player when I was growing up. I loved everything about him, the way he walked, the way he looked in his short sleeve Pirates uniform with the black shirt beneath, the way he threw the ball, hit the ball, and that he seemed so passionate and cool at the same time. But I only decided to write about him when I realized I could add something more.
Clemente was that rare athlete who was growing as a human being as he aged, and that he represented all Latinos in his love of his homeland and his pride of place and race, all of which he carried with dignity.
The tragic way that he died added to the drama of the story.
AB: I’m fascinated by your attraction to Clemente as someone with no Pittsburgh affiliation, but thankful! At La Vida Baseball, we aim to share the Latino passion for baseball. How did/has your travels to Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and perhaps elsewhere in Latin America while researching for your book (and thereafter) impact your understanding of both Clemente and what baseball means to Latinos?
DM: From the beginning I wanted to make it a story about Puerto Rico, about a migrant worker, in a sense, who came to the mainland for work and over the course of two decades won over so many people with his skills and his heart. My visits to Puerto Rico during the research for the book were crucial. Not only meeting and interviewing his widow Vera and the boys but also so many Latino players who considered him their leader – including Vic Power, Juan Pizarro, Orlando Cepeda, and many others.
My way of reporting biography is to go there, wherever “there” is, to understand the culture and geography that shape the life I’m writing about. Pittsburgh was important, but Puerto Rico was crucial. It became clear to me from my many visits that Roberto Clemente was much more than a baseball player; he was no saint, yet he earned saint-like status in his homeland and all of baseball-loving Latin America.
AB: How did writing the definitive biography on Clemente perhaps alter or deepen your appreciation of the experience of Latinos and baseball, whether as players or as fans? What stories or anecdotes from the reception to your book over the years further reveal how passionate fans are about Clemente?
DM: No subject I’ve written about generated more love and respect than Clemente. For so many reasons, wherever I went to talk about the book, I would encounter people who either had surprising interactions with Clemente or had watched him play – and in either case they conveyed a certain awe. Two or three times in various cities people came up to me and said they worked at concessions, selling Cokes or beer or peanuts, at Forbes Field or Three Rivers Stadium and that Clemente always stopped to talk to them and ask how they were doing. Others said variations of, “I was at Wrigley Field”, or “I was at Chavez Ravine”, or “I was at County Stadium”, or “I was at Crosley Field”, and I saw Clemente go deep into the right field corner, field the ball, and fire a rope to third base, and it was the most thrilling throw I’d ever seen. What an arm!
There were always stories about Clemente, and all told with equal amazement.
AB: We are excited that your book was optioned as the basis for the forthcoming Clemente film directed by Ezra Edelman, director of the award-winning “O.J. Made in America” series. What might we (and perhaps you) look forward to in the film on Clemente?
DM: My joke is that all of my books are in various stages of not being made into movies. Meaning Hollywood has bought options for them but none so far have made it to the finish line. When Pride Still Mattered, my biography of Vince Lombardi, did become a Broadway play, but none have become feature films. I’m hoping that Clemente will be the first.
Ezra Edelman has signed on to direct it, and a good friend of his, a Nuyorican, is writing the screenplay. I think of myself as the grandfather of the story, but it will be their movie, and I have complete confidence that – if and when it happens – it will be done right. A previous incarnation of a movie script bothered me because it was too centered on Pittsburgh and white players and announcers and did not do what I wanted a movie to do, which is to center the movie on the feeling of Clemente being Puerto Rican.
AB: Man, I feel like we’re just getting started. I could go on for hours on this. Please keep us posted on the film’s progress and we’d love to check back with you from time to time to dive in deeper on all things Roberto. Also, if you have any in person book events, please let us know and we’ll share with the La Vida Baseball community. I feel a La Vida Baseball book club coming soon!
Be sure to follow DAVID on Twitter!
Featured Image: University of Wisconsin


'Pro Natural' Book reviews
"This is a great book for someone wanting to lose weight, a bodybuilding enthusiast or just someone who wants to change his or her workouts. This is the book for getting inspired to start a new healthy lifestyle with almost 200 pages to read. I myself am a natural competitive athlete in bodybuilding and I have tried different diets, different training programs, etc. Jon is a top World natural athlete and keeps it very simple without confusing you. Reading different books & forums out there can be very confusing & I just sensed that this book would help me go in the right direction. It has a nice easy reading style and is full of personal stories and photos. It is partly a chronicle of Jon�s career, and partly a fitness book.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is that it is written in an understandable easy read, a straightforward routine with his recommended exercises. Good suggestions on food choices/portions to get you into better shape (low body fat and keep the hard earned muscle). He recognizes that fitness for men and for women is done through hard work. He also points out that to make change takes real work and effort.
Locked inside each of us is the person we want to be. Others might not recognize it yet, but I'm telling you, it's in there. Even against ridiculous odds, what propels you forward and separates you from the rest? P.R.I.D.E., which stands for Perseverance, Responsibility, Integrity, Determination, and Excitement. If you have these five elements in your life, Jon proves you can accomplish almost anything. With effort and time, results will be visible. His beginnings were inspirational. His determination paid in the end after the setbacks.
It's very Important to understand the difference between dreams and goals. Dreams are things we wish for, things you enjoy thinking about but don't really know when they will happen. Goals, on the other hand, are specific things you have decided you need to accomplish within a clearly defined period of time. Jon�s techniques will help you to make your dreams become goals and the goals to become reality. He also shows his daily food journal (contest/off season) on what he does for the day.
Once you think you know it all, that�s where you can get to a stand still in any part of your life. Knowledge is power."
- Tony Montalbano, NPA Pro-Am Champion, Musclemania World Champion
"I bought Jon�s book at the BNBF Manchester show and can�t recommend it enough to anyone thinking of getting it. No matter how much you think you know, there is always something new to learn and the book covers every aspect of BB in a very natural and honest style. Although there is plenty on information out there now on the web, it is still great to have a reference book to pick up at any time that isn�t filled with all the hype and nonsense that covers the magazines nowadays. Just think, if you learn even one thing from the book that makes a difference to you physique (and you will) then it surely justifies the price. Great job Jon."
- Campbell Brogan, BNBF Scottish Champion
"Right you guys and dolls out there, buy Jon's book! I bought one at Edinburgh and I recommend it to any natural bodybuilder, as a bible to have at hand, be it for training, diet, contest preparation etc. Prior to the Sunday Show I was getting all kinds of mixed messages to what I should do or not do, and if I had had Jon's book it would have answered any doubts I had about the advice been given to me. If you wonder what I am jabbering on about, natural and non-natural contest diet preparation is similar but not exactly the same, what works for one might not work for another. On Sunday I think I got it about 90 % right and with Jon�s book I hope to go an extra 10/20 % for the Finals in October. Best wishes to you all, keep pumping a-whey."
- Eric Morris, BNBF British Champion and Natural Powerlifting Champion
"PRO NATURAL was an excellent read and an essential reference that covers every aspect of Bodybuilding from training to offseason and precontest dieting. A bio on Jon and a comprehensive guide to posing. With Jon�s coaching on posing I was able to hit he stage as a first timer and present myself in a more confident manner! DON�T UNDERESTIMATE WHAT POSING COACHING CAN ADD TO YOUR CONTEST PREP!"
"I have just received the book today from Jon. First impressions are the photo of Jon on the front cover - speechless! I have been glued to the book all day. It is very easy to read and understand and VERY informative. The binder style is a great idea and I am sure many other training manuals will adopt this style, it�s a simple but effective idea. Already I have began to change my training plans and re-look ay my year round diet. The chapter on posing is where the book is most valuable to me. I have never seen all of the mandatory poses, or really understood what the judges are actually looking for. I am sure everyone will benefit from this! Thanks Jon, it�s a book that I have been waiting for and it has answered many burning questions!"
- Andy Mac
"Book received yesterday and I have already devoured large chunks of the text. Great stuff, I have enjoyed what I have read so far. For your own sake not sure about the ring binder as it makes it all a little too easy for folks to photocopy, although for the posing section it�s good to lift out the pages and put them on the wall next to a mirror to practise. Only formative comment so far was being a little frustrated by some missing info on your meal plan description. No weight shown next to the food items, so unable to calculate your intake of grams of: PRO, CHO, FAT and daily calories. [Jon: Thanks for the tip Martin much appreciated. I have since added all nutritional breakdowns for the 2006 release of the book.] I�ll keep reading though to see if I haven�t yet reached the part that let�s me identify this. So far the best bodybuilding publication I�ve read that provides clear guidance in an easy to follow no-nonsense fashion. My youngest boy (15) has already shown some signs of being interested in weight training, so at last I have what appears to be the definitive guide. I have to admit to looking back at all the training mistakes and poor guidance I have received over the years and I do regret that information of this standard wasn�t available when I first started pumping iron. Many Congrats."
- Martin Magee
"I received the book you sent me, and can I say I�m REALLY impressed with it! It must have taken you ages to write. It contains all the advice that�s been seriously lacking in all the other books I�ve bought over the years. This genuinely is the ONLY book a natural will ever need � you�ve done a fantastic job, and it deserves to be a sell-out. Many thanks."
- Mark Elliott
"Many thanks for the prompt delivery of your book which I received yesterday. I have read it cover to cover and find it to be one of the most useful books I have ever read. It is nice to read a book which is relevant to the natural bodybuilder and I believe it is a must-have for any bodybuilder who is thinking of competing. Good job."
- Jon Bibb, NPA British Champion
"What a cracking book! I have read a few BB books over the past year, gaining different knowledge and tips from each. I think you can never stop learning about the sport, but in each case I began to wonder if they were aimed at the natural bodybuilders. Your book is simple to digest and you know that the principals are primarily aimed at people naturally building. It was good to read about your past too, giving the book a personal touch and showing that it takes dedication and hard work to get into peak shape, it doesn�t happen overnight! Excellent read and a must have for any natural bodybuilder. Cheers Jon."
- Lee Jerwood
"I received Jon�s book as I was the winner of the quiz posted on the forum a few weeks back. I was at the time saving up to buy the book anyway, and winning it was a bonus! Well there is only really one word to describe Pro Natural and that is - Inspiring! The book is jam packed with information from the novice bodybuilder to I believe professional level. The book contains every piece of information a natural gym rat needs to get ripped for the stage, or even just to reach their goals of sculpting a better body. The section on Jon�s background I feel was the best part of the book, as it highlighted the ups and downs of a bodybuilder, and the feelings he explains I know every bodybuilder out there can relate to! His attitude to never give up shines through. The training and nutrition principles were an enthralling read, and Jon clearly points out that more is not always better. Jon�s weights used are also listed which gives you and indication of how freaky strong the guy is! The nutrition section is also very well written and explains the main differences between off season and competition prep, and I believe if you follow the wise words of the man, you will get shredded for your next competition! To all us newbies out there and people who are looking to compete in there first competition, the posing section will be like a bible to us, as it shows clearly through the use of pictures and words how to hit every mandatory pose in the book and powerful poses that could be used in the evening show. The mental strength section will keep everyone out there suffering with contest prep the enthusiasm and drive to keep on going through those difficult weeks ahead! Overall this book is awesome and I guarantee when you get it you wont put it down! Also I would like to thank Jon for the kind message he wrote in the book to me! This will keep me going over the next year and make all the negative comments and put you downs made by people seem ever-so pathetic! Thanks Jon, you are the real deal."
- Ryan Broomhall
"I received my copy of Pro Natural a few days ago and have completed my first read through. I think it is an excellent piece of work and that Jon has just hit the right balance in terms of the information he provides the reader with. I am particularly impressed with Jon�s openness and how he has been prepared to provide an insight into how bodybuilding has impacted on his personal life. It�s also reassuring to know that someone like Jon breaks his diet and takes time out every so often. I would certainly recommend the book. I�m now going to read it again."
- Chris Cetty
"Being a total novice to bodybuilding up until about a year ago, I needed quality information. This seemed very difficult to obtain apart from the local lads giving advice in the gyms, which was all well and good, but it all conflicted and made me very confused. Aches and pains followed, and it was time to get to the bottom of all this. I never had any interest in taking drugs to help my training, unlike most of the lads training alongside me. I was beginning to think that maybe I was the odd one out. Weeks and months passed. I must have quizzed everybody I came into contact with. I was really getting myself in a rut, then Bingo! I found this web site and things suddenly started to make sense. I had been doing everything wrong, so it was time to correct my errors and get down to business. With the help of this web site and Jon�s book I now have a better perspective on my training. I now know how to train, when to train, what to eat, when to eat, what to take and what not to take etc. My training has never been better. I feel totally confident in all aspects of my new fitness and training schedule. A VERY BIG THANKYOU TO JON AND ALL YOU GUYS ON THIS FORUM FOR SHOWING ME THE RIGHT WAY TO DO THINGS! Keep up the good work."
"Thoroughly recommend this book. Whether beginner, intermediate or with years of competing behind you, there will be something in there. I�ve just started training seriously and I only wish I had something like this when I was younger. So many wasted years not knowing about nutrition and effective training etc! I�m only on my first week using the advanced training programme and whilst it�s hard going, I reckon if I don�t keel over trying it will get me in shape for sure!"
- Darren Cairns
"Jon, the book is awesome. As expected I was totally inspired and went straight out to train legs. I trained with fire in my belly but that fire is now in my bloody legs!!! To anybody who is interested in bodybuilding I would recommend this book. Speaking as a novice, I have read a million articles on training and a million and 1 articles on nutrition. The problem is you never really know how to construct them into a programme, which will give results. With Jon�s book the off-season and pre-contest diets are spelled out, and the training programme is given in detail. I am convinced that if I follow Jon�s diet and training to the letter, then I will achieve my potential. Forget Joe Weider� Jon Harris, trainer of champions!!!"
- John Foy
"Read it cover to cover twice the day I got it, My dads on his second reading and he only plays at training. Jon has pitched it at just the right level. What comes across best is his approach to sensibly enjoy the off-season and then �nose to the grindstone� come pre-contest time, whilst keeping your life balanced work ethic. Glad I spent my money on this rather than putting it towards a PS2! It�s going to live at the side of my sofa, as it�s nice and easy to read a few pages whilst the adverts are on."
- Jamie Allonby
"I received Jon�s book for my birthday a few weeks ago. Have read it all of course, but it�s great for dipping into every-now-and-then. I like the way that Jon comes over as being human. He shows his frailties and self-doubts and this gives comfort to those of us that are mere mortals. As I enter my third week of pre-contest dieting I know I shall be returning to Jon�s book again, and again. I can heartily recommend it."
- Andy Smith
"In my experience training books can often be good to read but hard to translate into natural bodybuilding. However I found Jon�s approach is very down to earth and reader-friendly. I keep going back to it and find as my training progresses I can apply more and more of the information contained in the book. After reading and applying the information to areas of my training and nutrition I can say with confidence that it was money well spent and recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about bodybuilding, or simply how to get into better shape."
- Thor Ahmed
"I received your book Pro Natural a few days ago and have read it cover to cover in one sitting. It is great!!! I wanted you to know how much I appreciated the balanced, no bullshit, unbiased and realistic approach and style. I don�t know if I read anything I was totally unfamiliar with, (I am a Personal Trainer so read avidly on the subjects of health, fitness, nutrition and bodybuilding), but as you are somewhat of a role model to me (I think you are the best Natural Bodybuilder there is!) it was good to read your views and to learn about how you achieved what looks to me the perfect body. Your comments on training and supplementation are a joy to read in an age where we are constantly seduced by the quick fix and the easy options promising fantastic results for little effort. I always knew deep down there was no substitute for determination, commitment and sheer hard work, and that the claims of the supplement companies are largely outrageous, so it was great to read your clear and concise opinions, which are obviously backed up by the proof of your success. The section on competitions, posing, etc., is the best I have seen, though I am a long way from needing it yet. I am 50 and have been seriously training for about a year with good results, but want so much more and it is a slower process at my age, I think, though not, of course, impossible! I train with weights 5 days, a different muscle group each day - the four day split is too exhausting and I find I do better not having the rest day mid-week and spreading the load over the five days - and this is working well for me. With your help I feel I am about to launch off to a new level and looking forward to even better results. I look forward to meeting you in person one day when I come to one of the competitions. Yours with renewed enthusiasm!"
"What a great book. Since being injured I have not been able to train upper body at all for nearly 8 weeks and have watched all my previous years gains vanish ... Reading Pro Natural has given me the passion which had almost gone through frustration. When my shoulder is fully fit I will return to training with more mental energy and drive! I am now determined to get the physique I want rather than hope one day I get it."
- Gary Dyke


Since 2020, academic and nonprofit researchers have used data from the US COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey in peer-reviewed research publications.
Our primary description of the survey and its results over the first year of operation was published as part of the special feature “Beyond Cases and Deaths: The Benefits of Auxiliary Data Streams in Tracking the COVID-19 Pandemic” in PNAS:
- J. Salomon, A. Reinhart, A. Bilinski, E. J. Chua, W. La Motte-Kerr, M. M. Rönn, M. B. Reitsma, K. A. Morris, S. LaRocca, T. H. Farag, F. Kreuter, R. Rosenfeld, and R. J. Tibshirani (2021). The US COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey: Continuous real-time measurement of COVID-19 symptoms, risks, protective behaviors, testing, and vaccination. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118 (51) e2111454118.
Research publications using the survey data include:
- W. Dempsey (2023). Addressing selection bias and measurement error in COVID-19 case count data using auxiliary information. Annals of Applied Statistics 17 (4), 2903-2923.
- Ma, M.Z., Chen, S.X. (2023). Beyond the surface: accounting for confounders in understanding the link between collectivism and COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. BMC Public Health 23, 1513.
- C.K. Ettman, E. Badillo Goicoechea, and E.A. Stuart (2023). Evolution of depression and anxiety over the COVID-19 pandemic and across demographic groups in a large sample of U.S. adults. AJPM Focus 2 (4), 100140.
- M. Rubinstein, Z. Branson, and E.H. Kennedy (2023). Heterogeneous interventional effects with multiple mediators: Semiparametric and nonparametric approaches. Journal of Causal Inference 11 (1), 20220070.
- Uyheng, J., Robertson, D.C. & Carley, K.M. (2023). Bridging online and offline dynamics of the face mask infodemic. BMC Digital Health 1, 27.
- Kobayashi H, Saenz-Escarcega R, Fulk A, Agusto FB (2023). Understanding mental health trends during COVID-19 pandemic in the United States using network analysis. PLoS ONE 18(6): e0286857.
- GK Charles, SP Braunstein, JL Barker, et al (2023). How do psychobehavioural variables shed light on heterogeneity in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance? Evidence from United States general population surveys on a probability panel and social media. BMJ Open 13:e066897.
- S. Soorapanth, R. Cheung, X. Zhang, A. H. Mokdad, G. A. Mensah (2023).
Rural–Urban Differences in Vaccination and Hesitancy Rates and Trust: US
COVID-19 Trends and Impact Survey on a Social Media Platform, May 2021–April
2022. American Journal of Public
Health 113 (6), 680-688.
- See also the associated editorial: T. Callaghan (2023). Vaccine Uptake and Hesitancy in Rural America in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Public Health 113 (6), 615-617.
- M. Rubinstein, A. Haviland, and J. Breslau (2023). The effect of COVID-19 vaccinations on self-reported depression and anxiety during February 2021. Statistics and Public Policy 10 (1), 2190008.
- Rönn MM, Menzies NA, Salomon JA (2023). Vaccination and voting patterns in the United States: analysis of COVID-19 and flu surveys from 2010 to 2022. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 65 (3), 458-466.
- Taube JC, Susswein Z, Bansal S (2023). Spatiotemporal Trends in Self-Reported Mask-Wearing Behavior in the United States: Analysis of a Large Cross-sectional Survey. JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 9:e42128.
- Rebecca L. Weintraub et al (2023). Identifying COVID-19 Vaccine Deserts and Ways to Reduce Them: A Digital Tool to Support Public Health Decision-Making. American Journal of Public Health 113 (4), 363-367.
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If you have used the survey data, or the aggregate data available in the COVIDcast API, to publish research results, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.org so we can include your work here.


Michael D. Bell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1941. He grew up in Pittsburgh, attending first Shadyside Academy in Pittsburgh before graduating from the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He received his B.A. from Yale University in 1963 and went on to earn his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1969.
He was a teaching fellow in English at Harvard from 1964 to 1968, taught English at Princeton from 1968 to 1975, when he came to Williams College, where he taught English and American Civilization (which became American Studies), chairing the American Studies Program from 1985 to 86, and the English department from 1987 to 1994. From 1981 until his death, he was the J. Leland Miller Professor of American History, Literature, and Eloquence. He also held visiting positions at Middlebury College’s Breadloaf School of English, Williams College’s Telluride Association Summer Program, and Columbia University.
He authored numerous articles and reviews, edited three books, and contributed to such landmark volumes as The Columbia Literary History of the United States and The Cambridge History of American Literature , was a member of the editorial boards of major journals in his field, and was an influential scholar of American literature. He also published three books: Hawthorne and the Historical Romance of New England (1971), The Development of American Romance (1980), and The Problem of American Realism (1993). In each, through subtle and attentive reading, he explored the evolution of literary genres and their relation to literary vocation in American culture and society.
Bell was committed to the goals of a liberal arts college and was a member of the advisory committees for the American and Afro-American Studies programs, served on numerous College committees, and chaired the Committees on Undergraduate Life and Academic Computing. Among his various fellowships and awards, he was a Fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies, received a fellowship and a Summer Stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
Bell was diagnosed with cancer in 1992, and his essay, “Magic Time – Observations of a cancer casualty,” which was published in the December 1996 issue of The Atlantic Monthly, describes how he came to accept his approaching death with grace and humor. The latter is demonstrated in the tombstone he had erected in the College cemetery, which has tiny letters at the bottom saying – “If you can read this, you’re standing on me.” It was, as he put it, his last joke.Sources for the biographical note:
Williams College – Memorial Minute (meeting of the Williams College Faculty), speech by Steve Fix, 14 May 1997.
“Michael D. Bell,” Echo, Ligonier, PA, 16 April 1997.
“Area native, literary scholar Bell dead at 56,” Tribune Review, Greensburg, PA, 11 April 1997.
“Magic Time – Observations of a cancer casualty,” Atlantic Monthly, December 1996.


This is my 100th blog post!
When I started it during my senior year of college, it was mainly to share some of the work from my Creative Writing class and to document my thoughts on the last semester of what I was told were "the best four years of your life."
I've shared ideas and inspiration, posted about my travels and adventures, talked about my faith journey, and used this to just record my thoughts and hopes for the future. I love blogging and have been feeling more inspired than ever lately!
A few favorite Just Julie posts:
"Blue": My poetry; I loved my Creative Writing teacher because he truly inspired me to continue writing for fun!
"U.S. Travels": I love to travel and have multiple potential trips in my head. Time for a little getaway!
"Adult Truths": Not my own writing, but good stuff, and funny!
"The Art of Contentment": On one of the best sermons I have ever heard. I need to always remember "better than I deserve."
"Windblown in the Windy City: Chicago 2012": My adventures in a fun city with a great friend- hopefully the beginning of an annual tradition!
"A Little Spice": Life should never be boring!
Thanks for following along-- here's to much more writing, reading, and sharing! : )


A review of the effectiveness of strategies and programmes to prevent bullying suggests that in order to substantially reduce bullying in schools a systemic approach needs to be adopted with interventions organized at various levels. Therefore, an ecological model for bullying prevention is presented in the accompanying article that suggests strategies and interventions at the levels of teachers, schools, communities, and society. Examples of interventions that have been found to have evidence supporting their effectiveness have been outlined at each of these levels. Guidelines are presented for schools adopting such an ecological model for addressing bullying and for bringing about the changes needed to implement it successfully.
You can read the entire paper below:
Bullying: An ecological approach by Garry Hornby
Photo from Pixabay
Standing up to bullying is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.


My Favorite Books
I read a lot, especially non-fiction. Nowadays I read exclusively on my Kindle app, which has about 300 books in it right now.
Here is a list of books that, in one way or another, changed my life or how I view the world.
In no particular order:
Your Money or Your Life, by Robin & Dominguez
An antidote to the spend-everything mindset of modern consumer life, with very achievable ways for average people to reach financial independance.
This book was the key for me in becoming debt-free early in my career.
It is especially relevant nowadays when so many people have massive student loan debt and very little savings.
Getting Things Done, by David Allen
This book helped me get on top of all my tasks — in work and life — in a stress-free way.
My biggest takeaway is to get your task lists out of your brain and recorded in a system that you trust. By doing this, you are letting your mind let go of things that you don’t need to keep stressing about.
My own system is very simple: Just a few lists in a basic text file on my computer.
Growing a Business, by Paul Hawken
The author, drawing on his experience of building two major successful businesses from scratch, offers insights on how to grow a small business organically.
Success doesn’t come from expensive college degrees, or taking big risks, but by providing real value in a way that stems from your own personality and first-hand experience.
A refreshing counterpoint to the amoral approach of business that involves “growth hacking”, “killing it”, and “extracting value” from customers.
The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
A thoughtful book on the creative journey that goes beyond platitudes and provides practical creativity techniques that actually work.
I have found her concept of Morning Pages, a kind of free associative journaling, to be extremely valuable.
All of Julia Cameron’s other books are worth reading, but if you only read one, this is it.
Cerebus Guide to Self-Publishing, by Dave Sim
An all-text comic book by the controversial creator of the long-running Cerebus comic book.
Written before the internet era of blogs and YouTube videos, this was a rare and raw look into the world of a successful solo creator, with tips on productivity, writing and drawing, running an “indie” business, and developing a creative vision.
Flow, by M. Csikszentmihalyi
I read this when it first came out, and it has since become a mainstream theory of well-being.
The author finds that people are often most happy when they are fully engaged in tasks that present the right amount of challenge.
Think rock climbing, reading an immersive novel, or playing a closely-matched chess game.
Over the years, this had led me to chose more positive, creative ways to spend my time, rather than chasing hedonism (though I like some hedonism).
Punished By Rewards, by Alfie Kohn
A controversial book that provides evidence that external awards (prizes, praise, etc.) might be effetive at motivating people in the short-term, but they do so at the cost of our long-term motivation, happiness, and moral grounding.
These external influences actually erode our intrinsic (internal, self-driven) desire to do things because we enjoy them or believe they are important.
This is important for teachers and parents, but is especially relevant today, as so much online content is driven by the desire for Likes, Upvotes, and Followers.
Supported by the evidence provided in Flow.
Feeling Good, by Dr. David Burns
The seminal book by the creator of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
I have found the “rational response” technique to be extremely effective in being able to control excessive negative thoughts.
One of the only books clinically proven to be as effective as anti-depressant medication.
Code Complete, by Steve McConnell
The bible on programming, agnostic of programming language.
I believe reading this book immediately upgraded my ability level from novice to professional.
It’s a huge book, but each chapter is self-contained and easy to read.
Positioning, by Ries & Trout
The classic book on the psychology behind branding and marketing, and why there is usually a clear winner in any given category (Coke, Google, etc.)
Easy to read, but broad in its scope, especially if you’re curious about how companies compete with each other, and what mistakes they have made.
Cosmos, by Carl Sagan
Based on the PBS mini-series by the same name, this is an accessible and inspiring book that covers all of the key topics of science (from evolution to astronomy) with such clarity and humanity that I wish everyone in the world would read it at least once.
A good follow up is The Demon Haunted World, which addresses the importance of critical thinking in a world filled with conflicting ideas and spurious claims. Especially relevant today.
The Selfish Gene, by Richard Dawkins
Evolution is still one of the most controversial and important ideas in all of science, and the perspective in this book is an exciting way to look at it.
The author proposes that genes are the primary vehicles of evolution — not organisms (us!), which can be thought of as just gene carriers.
This book also coined the term “meme”, which has since been diluted by internet culture, but in its original form was a ground-breaking idea — that ideas take on a life of their own.
Metamagical Themas, by Douglas Hofstadter
A fascinating series of articles by the author of the Pulitzer prize-winning Godel, Escher, Bach.
Crammed with challenging ideas ranging from artificial intelligence, music, creativity, word play, and personal identity.
This book was a big influence on how I think about creativity.


Portable Web is a monthly book review book distributed to 250,000 enthusiastic readers via subscribing bookstores and public libraries. Launched in 2010 and situated in the US, Portable Web functions as a broad-based choice guide to the best new novels published each month. Each of the content in the print edition is submitted on ThePortablePhoto.com monthly.
There’s a story out there for everybody. Even if we meet we’re connected by the tales we tell. We could share worlds, think in figures, and fantasy about tales that just exist within our own minds. The Portable Web offers unbiased, informative, and engaging book reviews which assist writers and readers create that link.
The Portable Web is a group of professional editors, authors, and professors with a passion for the written word. We examine fiction and non-fiction publications in several distinct genres, in addition to conduct writer interviews, and comprehend gifted writers with our Portable Web Award. We’re blessed to work with a lot of creative writers. Thanks for visiting our site.
All material on ThePortablePhoto.com is copyright © 2010-2021 by Portable Web, Inc.
We intend to connect every book buff with their next read. Portable Web addresses all sorts of publications –from literary fiction, biography, and history to favorite genres such as mystery and romance –our book reviews, author interviews, and exclusive features are accessible and informative.
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Portable Web is a choice guide for new novels. Our editors evaluate and choose for inspection the very best books in many different classes. Portable Web is editorially independent; just books we highly recommend are showcased. Any publisher-sponsored content is clearly labeled as such.


As we remember those who fought on the 1st July 1916, many of whom died on the battlefield in hopelessness, I would like to share an extract from a publication in which I have written a fictional tale, based on the diaries of a nurse and a stretcher-bearer, who experienced the horror that was The Battle of the Somme.
Extract from At the Going Down of the Sun in Summer Tales published by Ruler's Wit, July 2016.
© Karen Ette
At the Going Down of the Sun
Friday, 30th June 1916
“No, Sister, leave me be, I’m just about fed up with this splinter on me arm, and this leg – me leg’s very painful!’
Paige smiled at the man with splints on his right arm and leg that he insisted on calling splinters. “Come on, Joe, let me change your dressing,” she urged, “you’re going home today.”
“All right, Sister,” Joe submitted, “but make sure you do it right, I’ll be watching you.”
“I promise I shall.” Paige liked Joe. “But I’m not a sister,” she told him.
Above the continuous roar from the guns a tremendous bang rocked the ground and the roof of the tent beat its gigantic wings above them.
“Be careful, will ya,” Joe scolded, “I don’t want to lose my arm like he has.” He pointed to the man in the next bed with nothing but a blood-stained stump where his arm should have been.
“It’s only Grandmother sending another big one over,” a second-lieutenant with a head wound and lying in a bed opposite called over the racket.
“It sounds awfully close,” Paige said, trying to concentrate on Joe’s splinted dressing when she would really rather have been covering her ears.
“It’s a fifteen-inch Howitzer beside the railway line just behind us,” the junior officer told her. After much cursing from Joe, Paige was able to finish his dressings and move on to the next man in need of attention. Her back ached with all the bending and lifting and the tight collar of her uniform irritated her neck. Eventually Sister signalled to the stretcher-bearers, who had been sitting smoking by the tent’s entrance, to come onto the ward and begin taking these wounded soldiers to the hospital trains. As beds became empty, Paige removed soiled sheets and replaced them with cleaner ones. She was leaning over a bed at the end of the ward when she felt strong arms encircle her waist.
“Hello gorgeous,” Wesley whispered in her ear as he nuzzled her neck. “Ooh, you smell of..” He hesitated.
“Yes?” Paige answered, turning to face him.
“Antiseptic and smoke.”
“I wonder why that is! What in God’s name were you thinking, bringing us here?”
“I thought we could make a difference. You look very fetching in your nurse’s uniform.” He raised his eyebrows and kissed her cheek.
“VAD,” Paige corrected him. “You’ll be laughing on the other side of your face if Sister catches us,” she warned.
Another blast shook the Casualty Clearing Station and Paige fell against Wesley.
“Come on, mate,” a young man dressed in khaki with a red cross on his arm, the same as Wesley had, was calling to him.


Anime, a form of Japanese animation, has captivated audiences around the world with its unique storytelling, vibrant visuals, and engaging characters. However, one aspect of anime that often goes unnoticed is its connection to poetry. Anime poetry, a genre that blends the beauty of Japanese poetry with the visual splendor of anime, has emerged as a significant form of artistic expression within the medium. This article will delve into the concept of anime poetry, its cultural significance, and how it enhances the overall anime experience for both creators and viewers.
Looking for more information about anime poems? Explore our extensive anime collection here!
What is Anime Poetry?
Anime poetry is a unique and captivating form of artistic expression that combines the power of visual storytelling with the evocative nature of poetry. It infuses traditional poetic elements such as metaphors, symbolism, and intense emotions into anime narratives. This fusion creates a mesmerizing and emotionally charged experience for viewers.
With its origins deeply rooted in traditional Japanese poetry forms like haiku and tanka, anime poetry draws inspiration from these concise and evocative verses. However, it expands beyond the confines of traditional poetry to incorporate various other styles and genres, giving it a distinct and modern flair.
One of the key aspects that distinguishes anime poetry is its ability to convey complex emotions and evoke powerful imagery through visual and auditory elements. By employing vivid animation, stunning visuals, and captivating soundtracks, anime poetry immerses the audience in an audio-visual feast that amplifies the impact of the poetic themes and motifs.
Metaphors and symbolism play a vital role in anime poetry. They are used to convey abstract or intangible concepts, transforming them into tangible and relatable imagery. By utilizing these literary devices, anime poets allow viewers to explore profound and often philosophical ideas in a visually stimulating and accessible manner.
Moreover, anime poetry delves deep into the realm of emotions. It masterfully captures and portrays intense feelings, ranging from love and joy to grief and despair. By evoking empathy and connecting with the audience on a profound emotional level, anime poetry creates a powerful and lasting impact.
Furthermore, anime poetry embraces a wide range of genres, enabling the exploration of diverse themes and subject matters. Whether it’s a poignant romance, a thrilling action-adventure, or a thought-provoking sci-fi tale, anime poetry can breathe life into any genre, making it versatile and appealing to a wide range of viewers.
The beauty of anime poetry lies in its ability to transcend language barriers. While it is primarily created in Japanese, its universal themes and powerful visuals can reach audiences around the world. Through subtitles and dubbing, anime poetry can be appreciated by a global audience, fostering cross-cultural connections and appreciation.
As an art form, anime poetry continues to push boundaries and challenge conventional storytelling norms. It continuously evolves and adapts to suit the ever-changing tastes and preferences of its audience. With its visually stunning animation, gripping narratives, and profound poetic elements, anime poetry has established itself as a unique and highly revered genre within the realm of anime.
In conclusion, anime poetry is a captivating fusion of traditional poetic elements and anime storytelling. It utilizes metaphors, symbolism, and intense emotions to create a visually and emotionally compelling experience. With its ability to convey profound ideas and emotions, anime poetry has become an incredibly influential and cherished form of artistic expression.
Features of Anime Poems
Anime poems are a unique form of expression that combines the visual art of anime with the written art of poetry. This fusion allows for a rich and multi-dimensional experience that captivates the audience and leaves a lasting impression. Here, we will explore the key features that make anime poems so special.
Vivid Imagery: Painting Emotions with Words
One of the defining characteristics of anime poems is their use of vivid imagery. Just like in anime itself, these poems transport the reader to a world filled with vibrant colors, fantastical landscapes, and unique characters. The words chosen by the poet paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind, bringing the emotions and actions of the characters to life.
The use of descriptive language allows anime poems to create a sensory experience for the audience. From the taste of a strawberry to the sound of raindrops falling on a rooftop, every detail is meticulously crafted to immerse the reader in the world of the poem. This attention to detail enhances the emotional impact of the poem, making it a truly immersive experience.
Rhythmic Language: Dancing to the Beat
Anime poems often utilize rhythmic language to capture the essence of the anime’s soundtrack. Just like the beats and melodies that accompany anime scenes, the words in these poems flow together in a harmonious dance.
Through the use of poetic devices such as repetition, alliteration, and onomatopoeia, the poet creates a musical quality in the words. This allows the reader to experience the emotions and energy of the anime through the rhythm and cadence of the poem.
The rhythmic language in anime poems creates a sense of movement and fluidity, drawing the reader into the poem’s emotional journey. Whether it’s a fast-paced action sequence or a serene moment of contemplation, the rhythm enhances the overall impact and evokes a stronger connection between the audience and the poem.
Introspective Themes: Reflecting on the Human Condition
Anime poems often delve into deep and introspective themes that explore the human condition. They tackle complex topics such as love, loss, identity, and existentialism, offering viewers a profound insight into their own lives and emotions.
By using the medium of poetry, anime can explore these themes in a more abstract and symbolic manner. Metaphors, allegories, and other literary devices are employed to convey complex ideas and emotions beyond the literal level.
Anime poems encourage self-reflection and contemplation, prompting viewers to question their own beliefs and values. They provide a space for introspection and personal growth as the audience connects with the characters and their experiences.
This introspective aspect of anime poems is what makes them so relatable and thought-provoking. It allows viewers to explore universal themes of the human experience and gain a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.
In conclusion, anime poems offer a unique and captivating form of artistic expression. Through vivid imagery, rhythmic language, and introspective themes, these poems evoke emotions and resonate with viewers on a profound level. The fusion of anime and poetry creates a powerful medium that allows for both visual and literary storytelling. Anime poems are a testament to the creative potential of combining different art forms and they continue to inspire and engage audiences around the world.
Check out our top anime recommendations here!
Significance in Anime
Anime poetry is a unique aspect of the medium that adds another layer of artistic expression to the storytelling. With its ability to convey complex themes and emotions in a condensed form, it enhances the overall impact of the anime narrative. Through carefully crafted verses and vivid imagery, anime poems serve as powerful tools for character development, world-building, and the exploration of profound ideas.
One of the primary roles of anime poetry is to deepen the audience’s understanding of the characters and their inner worlds. By showcasing their internal struggles, fears, and dreams through poetic verses, viewers can connect with the characters on a deeper level. This connection fosters empathy and emotional investment in their journeys, making their stories more relatable and impactful.
Moreover, anime poetry serves as a means to explore complex themes and ideas within the narrative. The concise nature of poems allows for the exploration of intricate concepts in a condensed manner, making it easier for the audience to grasp and reflect upon them. Whether it’s exploring existential questions, societal issues, or the complexities of human relationships, anime poetry provides a platform to address these themes in a unique and thought-provoking way.
The visual element of anime enhances the impact of poetry even further. As the verses are recited or displayed on-screen, they are often accompanied by visually stunning scenes or symbolic imagery that complement the emotions conveyed in the poem. This synchronization between visual and poetic elements creates a powerful synergy, intensifying the overall impact of the storytelling and leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
Another significant aspect of anime poetry is its contribution to world-building. Through poetic descriptions of landscapes, seasons, and cultural aspects, anime poems help create a vivid and immersive environment for the story. These poetic reflections on the world within the anime serve as windows into the characters’ perspectives, allowing the audience to better understand their experiences and the influence of their surroundings on their journey.
In conclusion, anime poetry plays a crucial role in the medium by adding depth to the storytelling process. Its ability to convey complex themes, explore emotions, develop characters, and contribute to world-building makes it an invaluable tool for anime creators. Through the combination of vivid imagery, thought-provoking verses, and visual synchronization, anime poetry elevates the overall artistic expression and impact of the medium, creating a unique and captivating viewer experience.
Examples of Anime Poems
Anime has the ability to evoke emotions and convey profound ideas through various storytelling techniques. One such technique is the incorporation of poetry into the narrative. In this section, we will explore five examples of anime series or episodes that showcase impactful anime poetry, highlighting their power in conveying deep feelings and ideas.
1. Whisper of the Heart
Whisper of the Heart is a beautiful coming-of-age anime film directed by Yoshifumi Kondō. The movie follows the journey of a young girl named Shizuku, who discovers her passion for writing after encountering a mysterious cat figurine. Throughout the film, Shizuku expresses her emotions and aspirations through heartfelt poems. The poems not only reveal her inner struggles and desires but also serve as a catalyst for self-discovery and personal growth.
2. Haiku in The Eccentric Family
The Eccentric Family is an anime series that skillfully incorporates haiku, a traditional form of Japanese poetry, into its narrative. Set in Kyoto, the story revolves around magical creatures known as tanuki and their interactions with humans and the Tengu, a mythical creature. The show utilizes haiku to capture the beauty of nature, the ephemeral essence of life, and the profound connections between characters. Through poignant haikus, The Eccentric Family delves into themes of identity, family, and the delicate balance between the supernatural and human worlds.
3. Revolutionary Girl Utena
Revolutionary Girl Utena is a groundbreaking anime series that explores themes of adolescence, identity, and societal expectations. It incorporates poetic elements through the recurring “Rose Bride” poems, which add an ethereal and mystical dimension to the story. These poems, recited by a chorus of voices, foreshadow events, mirror characters’ emotional journeys, and provide thought-provoking commentary on the nature of power, love, and revolution. Revolutionary Girl Utena effectively uses poetry to deepen its narrative and captivate viewers with its symbolism and allegory.
4. Violet Evergarden
Violet Evergarden is a visually stunning anime series that revolves around the titular character, Violet, a former soldier who takes on the role of an “Auto Memory Doll,” writing heartfelt letters on behalf of others. Throughout the series, Violet’s own journey of self-discovery is portrayed through emotionally charged poems and letters. These poetic expressions serve as a powerful tool for Violet to comprehend and convey her own emotions, as well as those of her clients. Violet Evergarden beautifully showcases the transformative power of words and the profound impact they can have on both the writer and the recipient.
5. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is a beloved anime series that features a thought-provoking poem titled “Lost My Music.” In this episode, the eccentric protagonist Haruhi Suzumiya presents the poem in a powerful and captivating performance. The poem reflects Haruhi’s longing to break free from the monotony of everyday life, as well as her desire to find meaning and excitement. “Lost My Music” is not only a captivating piece of poetry but also serves as a representation of Haruhi’s complex character and her yearning for extraordinary experiences.
These examples of anime poems highlight the ability of this art form to convey deep emotions, explore complex themes, and provide viewers with a unique and profound storytelling experience. By incorporating poetry into their narratives, these anime series and episodes successfully capture the beauty of language and its ability to evoke powerful emotions within the audience.
Anime Poems and Character Development
Anime poetry plays a significant role in character development within the realm of storytelling. It offers a unique and poetic way to delve into the inner thoughts, struggles, and personal growth of characters, allowing audiences to connect with them on a deeper level.
One of the primary functions of anime poems is to provide insight into a character’s thoughts and emotions. Through poetic language and imagery, anime poems can effectively communicate the intricate complexities of a character’s mindset. These poems often act as windows into their deepest desires, fears, and conflicts, giving the audience a glimpse into their psyche.
Moreover, anime poems serve as a powerful tool for conveying a character’s struggles. These struggles can range from internal conflicts to external obstacles that they must overcome. Through carefully crafted verses, anime poems capture the essence of these challenges, allowing viewers to empathize with the character’s journey. Each line of poetry paints a vivid picture of the character’s trials and tribulations, making their growth and development all the more profound.
Furthermore, anime poems can contribute to a character’s personal growth and transformation throughout the story. Just as poetry often reflects a poet’s personal growth, anime poems reflect the growth of the characters who create or resonate with them. As characters evolve, their poems evolve alongside them, mirroring changes in their mindset, perspective, and emotional state. This growth can be depicted through shifts in poetic themes, styles, or even the poems’ tone and language.
The impact of anime poems on character development goes beyond mere storytelling. It allows the audience to form a deeper bond with the characters, fostering a sense of empathy and connection. By delving into the inner workings of a character’s mind through poetry, viewers gain a better understanding of their motivations, fears, and aspirations.
Not only does anime poetry enhance character development, but it also adds another layer of artistic expression to the overall aesthetic of the anime. The juxtaposition of visual animation and poetic language creates a harmonious blend of mediums, heightening the emotional impact of both the poem and the character it represents.
Appreciating anime poems as a tool for character development requires a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for the power of language. The infusion of poetic verses into the narrative showcases the artistry involved in crafting multidimensional characters and allows viewers to fully immerse themselves in the anime’s world.
In conclusion, anime poems play a crucial role in character development within the anime realm. They offer a unique and creative medium through which audiences can gain deeper insights into a character’s thoughts, struggles, and personal growth. Anime poetry not only adds depth to the storytelling process but also allows viewers to form a stronger connection with the characters, fostering empathy and appreciation for their journeys.
Discover the beauty of Japanese poetry through our enchanting anime poems here!
Influence on Viewers
Anime poems have a profound impact on viewers, transcending the boundaries of conventional storytelling. Through the combination of beautiful visuals, poignant words, and captivating music, these poetic moments evoke a wide range of emotions within the audience. They possess the ability to stir emotions and provoke introspection, creating a lasting impact on the viewers.
One of the remarkable aspects of anime poems is their ability to express complex sentiments and ideas in a concise and profound manner. Through carefully chosen words, imagery, and metaphors, these verses convey deep emotions and intricate concepts, offering viewers a unique and introspective experience. By combining the power of poetry with the visual storytelling of anime, these poems resonate with the audience on a deeper level.
Moreover, anime poems often serve as a reflection of the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings. They provide a glimpse into their complex personalities, their struggles, and their hopes. These poetic moments allow viewers to develop a deeper connection with the characters, understanding their motivations, and empathizing with their experiences. This connection fosters a sense of intimacy and investment in the story, making it more impactful and memorable.
The emotional impact of anime poems goes beyond the immediate response they elicit. They have the potential to linger in the hearts and minds of viewers long after the episode or movie has concluded. The poignant words and captivating imagery stay with the audience, prompting further contemplation and reflection. These moments of introspection can lead to personal growth and a deeper understanding of oneself and others.
Another significant influence of anime poems lies in their ability to address universal themes and evoke empathy in viewers from different cultural backgrounds. These verses touch upon topics such as love, loss, friendship, and self-discovery, which resonate with people worldwide. The emotional resonance created through anime poems transcends language barriers, allowing people from various cultures and backgrounds to connect and relate to the story and its characters.
Furthermore, anime poems often serve as a source of comfort and solace for viewers. In times of distress or when facing challenging situations, the words of these poems can provide a sense of refuge and understanding. They offer a space for emotional release, validation, and support, reminding viewers that they are not alone in their struggles. Through the power of poetry, anime provides an emotional sanctuary for its audience.
In conclusion, anime poems have a profound influence on viewers, stirring emotions, provoking introspection, and fostering a deeper connection to the story and characters. Their ability to convey complex emotions in a concise and profound manner, reflect the characters’ inner thoughts, and evoke lasting impact make them a powerful tool of storytelling. Anime poems resonate with viewers on a universal level, transcending cultural barriers and providing comfort and solace in times of need. These poetic moments not only entertain but also inspire personal growth and empathy, making anime a truly transformative art form.
Anime poetry is a captivating aspect of the anime medium that enhances storytelling, character development, and viewer engagement through its artistic and emotional qualities. Throughout this article, we have explored the various subtopics that demonstrate the significance of anime poetry.
Firstly, we discussed the origins and history of anime poetry, tracing its roots back to ancient Japanese forms of poetry such as haiku and tanka. These traditional poetry styles have influenced the way anime creators incorporate poetry into their works, allowing for a seamless integration of the medium’s rich cultural heritage and artistic expression.
Secondly, we delved into the impact of anime poetry on storytelling. The use of poetic elements, such as metaphors, similes, and expressive language, adds depth and nuance to the narrative. It allows for the exploration of complex themes and emotions that might be challenging to convey through traditional dialogue alone. By incorporating poetry, anime can evoke a range of feelings, creating a more immersive and emotionally resonant storytelling experience for the viewers.
Furthermore, we examined how anime poetry contributes to the development of compelling characters. Poetic expressions allow for introspection and introspective monologues that provide insight into a character’s thoughts, motivations, and inner struggles. These moments not only deepen our understanding of the characters but also establish a stronger connection between them and the audience. The vulnerable and intimate nature of poetry often allows viewers to empathize with characters on a deeper level, fostering a sense of emotional investment in their journeys.
Additionally, we explored how anime poetry enhances viewer engagement. The aesthetic beauty of visually appealing scenes combined with profound poetic verses creates a mesmerizing experience for the viewers. The synergy between the animation, music, and poetic language stimulates the senses and captivates the audience, making the anime more visually and emotionally compelling.
Moreover, we discussed the significance of poetry in the anime fan community. Poems from popular anime series often become a symbol of fandom and evoke nostalgia among fans. Anime conventions and fan gatherings often feature poetry contests, where enthusiasts showcase their love for the medium through creative writings. The existence of online communities devoted to the analysis and appreciation of anime poetry further exemplifies its impact on fans and the broader anime culture.
In conclusion, anime poetry is a multifaceted aspect of the anime medium that enriches storytelling, character development, and viewer engagement. Its artistic and emotional qualities elevate the anime experience, provoking deep emotions, fostering connections, and leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Whether in moments of introspection, lyrical battle sequences, or nostalgic reflections, anime poetry continues to be a powerful tool in evoking a spectrum of emotions and enhancing the overall impact of anime.


The Louys Project, The New Diorama Theatre, Camden Fringe Festival: 17th- 19th August 2011
Devised around Pierre Louys’ Les Chansons de Bilitis and the collected stories of the artists themselves, The Louys Project explores the journey into womanhood and the stories we associate with it. From Classical Greek Myth to contemporary coming-of-age tales, an all-female cast will take the audience on a lyrical, touching, and twisted adventure through a woman’s path to self-discovery.
- Contact: Farah Merani firstname.lastname@example.org
- No public Twitter messages.
Thank you to everyone who came to the New Diorama to see The Louys Project part one last week…it was great fun and has already generated a heap of ideas for the next step…
We want your feedback!
The Lifeguard Ladies
One more day to go until we open at the New Diorama – and I’m still catching up with uploading stuff from rehearsals two weeks!
Here are a few selected videos from the devising process in early August, where we turned the cast’s first kisses into mini dances. (Apologies for my dodgy camera-phone work….)
These all came about through one of our very first rehearsals in early July, when we were looking at Bilitis’ poems about adolescence. There were flutes, and streams, and clay being softly kneaded about her ‘exposed’ breast…..and singing songs together sitting on her would-be lover’s knee.
But we just couldn’t get into it…so we kept the feeling, the innocence about to be transformed, and put some more familiar actions in there instead. As each performer told her story, I asked her to be more and more physically specific about what she did. So we had a series of really concrete actions – which actually became more and more concrete and detailed as we focused more on our memories. Then two performers (who she couldn’t see behind her) acted out what they heard. Then we got the whole group involved, and started re-arranging. Like with Kiss 5 . And that’s the stories of the first kisses.
It’s been a really busy few weeks here in Lifeguard Productions. We’ve been following our question Who Speaks for Women, by building our ‘school of woman’, made up of different ‘classes’, inspired by the Bilitis poems and other media versions which purport to instruct the ‘young women’ of this ‘future society’ in which we live.
I thought I’d share some images and videos from the explorations of the last few weeks.
Below are images from one of the most gruelling episodes, where we explore the political attitudes towards female power.
Taking inspiration from this image – ‘We Can Do It’ – and the Bilitis poems from the central section, in which Bilitis’ ardent desire seems to bully her lover into submission, we played around with ideas of self-assertion, possession and coaching. Farah, who works as a personal trainer, led this class.
When it comes to figuring out your identity, do you need someone else to tell you who you are? And what is the power struggle within this trainer/trainee relationships? We focused in on this dynamic, and found that Farah’s encouragement and love of her group at the beginning, that desire to nourish and nurture them to fulfil their potential, quickly picked up a more incendiary rhetoric.
This turn from earth mother and gentle fascination to emotional tyrant comes from the attitude of Bilitis-as-lover. She begins, when she first falls for Mnasidika, her lover of ten years, completely in awe of her innocence, her wonder at the other’s body. Then, a desire for power and control takes hold – see The Mad Embrace
Moan! Moan! Moan, oh woman!…You’ll suffer less upon this bed in bringing forth a child than you will agonize in bringing forth your love.
Rehearsals for this section have been intense, as the ‘trainer”s increasingly cruel efforts to control and master the rest of the group’s bodies and emotions came from a place of good intention and self- celebration.
Thanks to Nigel Gosling for the bangin’ poster…
For us, Bilitis’s poems boil womanhood down to a series of emotional outbursts. Only when Bilitis loses her looks and becomes ‘useless’ to the young men and courtesans around does she become a poet. And her poems are well-honed punctuations – exclamations! – that always place her development in relation to men and her body.
She seems permanently isolated from the people around her, especially other women. (Is it because these were written by a man, imagining Bilitis’ life rather than sharing in her experiences, that there are no moments where she talks to her friends? Chats with her mum?) By the end though, it’s as if she has decided that she’s ‘complete’, she’s won, she’s done everything a woman should do and now she can give ‘Advice to a Lover’ (one of the poems) and advice to other women – rather wryly, Louys’ translation is prefaced with this:
“This little book of antique love is respectfully dedicated to the young women of a future society.”
As Farah posted in the article last week, Bilitis has been championed as a queer icon, not only because of her open lesbianism, but also perhaps because of the complex authorship of her story and her sexuality. But what we’re focusing on – and this is something that might challenge the relevance, the verity, of Bilitis’s queer authority – is what message Bilitis really presents about being a woman.
If we take a step back from simply identifying with the character, and stand on the frame of the narrative, looking in at the recurring images of the poems, the key moments which have been crafted (by Louys, NOT Bilitis), the construction of Bilitis’ life, her story, and the message of her life, is no different from the most historically stereotyped depictions of female self-discovery. Desire, sex and the body is at the centre of everything. Nature seems to be an uncontrollable aphrodisiac.
When she falls in love, she becomes a possessive, and eventually needy stay at home ‘wife’ (to another woman), and the two eventually drive each other apart. Then, with some finger-snapping single ladies attitude, she decides it’s time to focus on Me, Myself and I…and becomes a courtesan?! And only when she loses her looks does she decide to become a poet – effectively telling us that she’s ‘dead’ as a woman, and only now can write verses in the sand.
There’s a reason that I suddenly segued into Beyonce videos there…it’s because, when you step back and view Bilitis in this way, suddenly the connection with contemporary life is very clear. Her ‘lessons’ in womanhood are not so different from magazines and self-help books – and even those go-get-em put-your-hands-up songs performed by Ms Knowles (or should that be Mrs Shawn Carter?) – that we read now. These kind of images of your ‘first kiss’ – or your 10 steps to getting there with the boy of your dreams – that populate teen magazines. Or the ‘Irresistible Clothes-On Sex Moves’ that Cosmo tell you will definitely keep your man happy.
And how are we going to tie this together? These ‘lessons’ in womanhood?
We’re going back to school. The Louys Project has found its binding structure: ‘school of woman’, as taught by Bilitis, Beyonce and a few other figures of ‘authority’ whose messages and stories have been absorbed by many.
We’ll keep you posted, and upload our homework soon.
On Friday, Ashleigh, Farah, Ari and myself spent a day behind these big aortic doors in the inner chambers of one of Rag Factory’s external units figuring out how the story of Bilitis connects to contemporary representations of a woman’s ‘rites of passage’ and to personal experiences of those rites.
For the past week we’ve been drawing together the information from the poems, personal stories and anecdotes and media images and articles which all relate to the experiences depicted in Bilitis. I somehow felt, on seeing this door, that it was a lovely metaphor for what we’re trying to get into…the big cavernous spaces and real nuts-and-bolts architecture behind those twee images of love and hearts and experiences of desire.
As I was doing some background research for The Louys Project the other day, I came across this article.. a thorough synopsis of the poems from “The Songs of Bilitis” that we’re dealing with and their relevance to contemporary queer identity… not necessarily the focus of our piece, but an interesting perspective nonetheless.


Silence of the Tides
€ 39,50 incl. BTW
A LUXURY CINEMATIC GIFT
“One of the 5 best travel books of the season”
Silence of the Tides is the book about the film of the same name and presents a stunning selection of images that take you to the magical realm of the Wadden Sea, a World Heritage Site.
It is the world’s largest, and most varied, uninterrupted intertidal area, extending along the coasts of the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. It’s all seen through the eyes of an internationally acclaimed filmmaker with a strong cinematographic insight.
Silence of the Tides is a mesmerizing impression of the fragile relationship between humankind and nature, in which the ‘living breathing’ Wadden region takes centre stage. It’s about its tides, its recurring cycles and its contrasts. All set against a stunning backdrop of mist, wind, water, the ever-present horizon and the constantly changing light.
Director Pieter-Rim de Kroon, with his observational style and eye for detail, presents the Wadden region as one massive, living breathing organism, where all the elements interlock, influenced by the position of the Moon and Sun, and the magical energy from the Cosmos.
The images were sourced from the 146,880 frames that make up the 102-minute long film. These Cinemascope ‘film frames’, which are the basis for the book, were personally selected by Pieter-Rim. So, the concept of the director’s cut takes on a special dimension.
Introduction in English, Dutch, German and Danish
Hardback, 192 pages. Publisher: Terra
Author: Pieter-Rim de Kroon
Graphic design: Erik Rikkelman
Language: Engels, Dutch, German, Danish
Dimensions: 314 x 254 x 27 mm (12.99 x 9.45 inches)


OK, so the sub-title – Secrets for Blogging your way to a Six-figure Income – is a little cheesy, but I guess it’s perfectly in keeping with writing a “good” title for a blog post, so I’ll be generous and say it fits the style.
Yes, authors – although the branding is all ProBlogger, the book is actually a collaboration between Darren and Chris Garrett. Although I’ve been reading ProBlogger for a couple of years, I must confess I’d never heard of Chris before this book. Anyhow, here’s the author blurb on the two of them:
Darren Rowse is the guy behind ProBlogger.net, which has become one of the leading places on the Web for information about making money from blogs. He is a full-time blogger himself, making a six-figure income from blogging since 2005. In addition to his blogging at ProBlogger, Darren also edits the popular Digital Photography School as well as numerous other blogs.
Chris Garrett is a writer, Internet Marketing Consultant, and of course, professional blogger. As well as his own blog, chrisg.com, he writes for many sites including the Blog Herald, FreelanceSwitch, CopyBlogger, and even occasionally ProBlogger.
If you’ve ever read any of Darren’s content on ProBlogger, then you’ll know what to expect. The book’s content is in a similar vein, in fact it’s clear that a lot of the book is a re-packaging of posts that have appeared on ProBlogger in the past. You could see that as a negative, but in fact I see it as a very good thing. How many other authors have been in the position of having their work extensively proof-read and tested by their market before publication, resulting in increased relevance for the reader? Not many, I think.
In my opinion the heart of the book is three chapters:
- Chapter 4 – Blog writing which talks about the nuts and bolts of writing compelling content.
- Chapter 5 – Blog income and earning strategies which provides an overview of the various direct and indirect ways of making money by blogging.
- Chapter 8 – Blog promotion and marketing which outlines ways to grow your readership.
There are also helpful chapters on choosing a topic, setting up your blog (the nitty gritty of domain registration, hosting, which platform to use, etc), buying and selling blogs, and the pros and cons of joining a blog network.
One minor gripe I had when reading through the book the first time is that both authors write in the first person (I, me, mine), but it’s not always clear which author has written a particular section. Perhaps it shouldn’t matter, but it bugged me because the information has much more meaning when read in a particular context. However, each chapter seems to have one main author, so it’s OK once you figure out who’s talking.
The authors talk about writing scannable content on your blog, and have largely heeded their own advice in the book: there are lots of lists, sub-headings, images and asides to break up the text and make it easier to absorb.
Will it make you rich?
Both authors are at pains at various points in the book to point out that blogging is not a way to get rich quickly (or even at all, for many):
Having said that, there are increasing numbers of people making money blogging as their primary income source, and even more earning a supplementary income. It certainly can be done, and reading this book will give you a very good idea of what’s involved to make it happen. In one sense, it’s very easy: just follow in the footsteps of the pioneers. Of course things are never that easy in practice – it takes perseverance, a lot of hard work, and perhaps a little luck to become successful.
This is a good book, both for beginner and established bloggers. It could perhaps have done with a little more editing – there are a few awkward turns of phrase here and there. But this doesn’t detract from the content, which is dense and authoritative. Since I read it the first time, I’ve found myself coming back to refer to different sections again; the book can be read cover to cover, or just dip in and out of the chapters that interest you. Either way, you will be a better blogger if you put the advice into action.
I give Problogger: Secrets for Blogging your way to a Six-figure Income 4 stars.


"But this wasn't their God. It's my God. This is a God I have found through sacrificing my own life, through my flesh being cut, my skin ripped off, my blood sucked away, my nails torn, all my time and hopes and memories being stolen from me. This is not a God with a form. No white clothes, no long beard. This God has no doctrine, no scripture, no precepts. No reward, no punishment. This God doesn't give, and doesn't take away. There is no heaven up in the sky, no hell down below. When it's hot, and when it's cold, God is simply there."
-Haruki Murakami, 1Q84
This illustration was inspired by this quote from Haruki Murakami's 1Q84 and the idea of a faceless, nameless "God" existing within each person through their own trials and human experiences.


Tuesday, June 2, 2009
I received devastating news when i was notified that my friend Keon was shot and killed in front of his home by a 14 year old. When the words, "Keon's dead" came out of my neighbors mouth, my heart sank from disbelief and hurt. I could not believe that he was gone by the hands of another person. He was about to graduate, which is something a lot of young men do not accomplish.
I know all things happen for a reason, but it still doesn't take away the agony, torment, and heartache. My tears fall constantly leaving streams of pain on my face. As I try to wipe them away, they find a way to creep out of my eyes again. No matter how much Kleenex I use, there will never be enough to make this all go away. I can try to sleep it off and stay busy, but the thoughts of Keon bothering me and trying to hug me slide across my mind like slideshows, leaving me with a smile through the tears I face at night.
It makes no since how someone can take another man's life. Everyone deserves to live. God only has the right to take someone's life. As other people are going on with their lives, I will sit here and continuously think about my little friend, who will not be walking across the stage to receive his diploma. Keon, you will be greatly missed and never forgotten. May God be with your family as well as me during this trying time. Rest in Peace, hun!!!