Black Book of Poems

Not only are these poems sweet and to the point but they've all got a deep Grimm undertone. The kind of undertone that makes you realize things about your own self. I felt a little more in touch with who I am after finishing this read and I also passed it on to others so that I could discuss it with others. I NEEDED to talk about this book. Just like you NEED to buy it.

The poems did not move me like I thought they would. The reviews were so promising, but there was just not overwhelming reaction like the ones pprtrayed in the reviews. The two short stories at the end were better than the poetry.

I was honestly really looking forward to receiving this book of poems, and after I started reading it I realized that they are just amateur pieces. I don't feel much passion when reading them, and the rhyme scheme just seems young to me.
The poems are sub-par, and I guess I thought the title was more 'mysterious' than it actually is. For this work, you really can just judge the book by the cover. It is a black book. It has sing-song poems. That's about it. Since this is a debut piece though, I hope that his work will only progress from here.

But this Vincent guy comes out of nowhere and pull my heart strings. Now I appreciate of the art of poetry.

I understand why people do this as a hobby or a living. It's nothing but honestly.

I compare this book like the writing style of James Hatfield's Master of Puppets.

Very metal and honest. He dives into topics that's very hard to speak about.

Ok so I ordered it because I thought it would have some really good poems. It was not very good, not saying someone else might appreciate it. Was not really my style. Poems were just.... blah. And only like 20 pages!

Excellent collection. A quick read, but like all good poetry, the real significance comes from the long game, what you think about after you've put the book down, and what you gather when you read it again and again. And yes, most importantly, this is a book I want to read over and over again. Hunanyan has a gift with words, with imagery, with allusions. Quite an excellent find, I've already gotten a copy for my sister.

I have been reading a lot of poetry lately because of my Kindle Unlimited membership. And I am so glad that I have. I was able to grab this book that had a certain uniqueness to it. Each poem was different but somehow related in different ways. Some of the poems had me reread it a few times because it was just that deep. That's how you know the poetry in a book was good when you have to go back and think did the author really say that? I enjoyed this book & glad that I had the chance to read another lovely book this week!

I saw that a lot of the previous reviewers read this book in one sitting, but I spread it out over a couple days. You could certainly read it in one sitting, but I enjoyed reading a few, thinking about them, and then going back to it a few hours later. My favorite poem was called (I think) “Ode to a Best Friend.” I plan to share it with my mother who is one of my best friends. I also really enjoyed the short stories at the end, especially the last one. My favorite parts of the book were the portions written directly to the reader. While I don’t think this book of poetry is for everyone, it is definitely worth checking out.

Hunanyan's poems were a great mixture of classic and modern poetry. Although I don't particularly enjoy the classic style of poetry and poetry that rhymes, the writing was beautiful. I'm giving this two and a half stars just for that. None of these poems spoke to me like I hoped they would, but I really liked the short stories at the end of this book. I would have to say that was my favorite part of the entire book. I'd like to read more short stories from this author rather than the poetry. But if you like the rhyming, more classic type of poetry, I'd say give it a read!

Poetry is not something I seek out. If anything, poetry tends to annoy me. Often it seems contrived; words, or even sentences, placed clumsily simply to fill space or solely to create a rhyme. Forced without purpose or meaning. None of that is the case with Black Book of Poems. Vincent Hunanyan’s writing is fluid, concise, and mostly importantly, thought provoking. He takes you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I found myself nodding in agreement, and at one point I had to put the book down because I got quite emotional. That’s what great writing does. It makes you think and it makes you feel. It’s small in size but huge in substance. Grab it.

This book was sent to me by the author for an honest review.
So, thank you Vincent for sending me this book.

This book is different than any other poetry that I have read before. It is quite dark.
His writing is really wonderful. However, because I am pretty new into poetry world, Vincent's fancy writing has made me miss a lot of the message behind it. Therefore, I gave it 3 stars, only because of that.
Hence, if you are a poetry lovers, I think you will love this book.

I got this as a gift from a friend when I was going through a hard time. It couldn’t have been brought to my hands at a perfect time.

He writes words that make you feel so grounded and secure. About love, life, sadness, ect. It’s a wonderful feeling to read poetry that speaks to a part of your soul that needed that nurturing from those words. I wish everyone could get their hands on this. If you haven’t. Please do!

This is a wonderful collection of poetry. It has feeling, purpose, flow and even humor throughout. I truly enjoyed reading it and I cannot wait to read Vincent's next collection. Keep writing and I'll keep reading!

Xo,
Rach

I don’t usually write reviews but this was certainly the one to get me started. I’m not sure if I have the proper words to describe how compelling and enticing this series of poetry and short stories were. But it left me wanting more and it certainly made me feel like I’m not alone when it comes to feeling void. I recommend this piece wholeheartedly, especially for those who identify with darker but real topics.

This is one of the best poetry books I have read in quite some time. The author amazed me from the beginning and kept my attention all the way to the end. I'm beyond thankful that I came across the Black Book of Poems. It will continue to inspire me.

Absolutely loved this book! After really dipping into poetry and enjoying books such as Milk and Honey, or Depression and other Magic Tricks, I was really excited to read some more really touching books. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves poetry!

I read the book in about a half hour. The words were powerful that's for sure. I would say it was about an 8 on the dark scare. There was literally no happiness to me in this book. For the attracted to the dark you may love this. The writer asked for a review. Your wording was powerful easy make you see and feel what you were writing about.

I love poetry very much, and have been reading a wide array of books that have been coming out, ordering every week something new. I found this book and related in many ways, I felt as if I was inside of the mind of the author and so descriptive. A great read for everyone, I give 5 stars ?

I finally received my book , I read it within an hour I must say the author is very talented . I enjoy a great book especially when it’s comes to pieces one can relate too . One of my favorites pieces is Ballad of Broken Man the entire time I was reading this poem I thought of one single person who relates to this piece it was beautifully written . & the last poem the trail of desolation I could relate to so much . It’s a great read definitely recommend this book .

When I read poetry, I like to use sticky notes to mark the pages of poems in particular that I enjoyed.
I got to a point about halfway through the book where I caught myself marking every page.
Needless to say, I thought this was an outstanding little book of poetry, and one that I will certainly share with friends.

Thank you, thank you Vincent for your work.

I despise rhymed poetry, so this really wasn’t an enjoyable read for me. In addition, the author can be a bit heavy handed with cliches and over the top language. It just makes the work seem tacky and amateurish.

This was one and probably is the only book of poetry that hit so close to home. I loved everything about it and highly recommend taking the time to read is. It left me with so many raw emotions I don’t even know where to start to explain or express them. Trust me on this take the time and read it.

I've been reading more poetry than I never thought I would, and I'm enjoying it very much. And it's books like this one that make me have mixed feelings. I got the feeling the poems in this book effortless but at the same time full of puré emotion and that's what I like about book, no matter the genre.

I loved the writing in this. I adored the short story segment and every poem made me feel something deep. I love poetry and poetry books in general. So this was a very captivating read. I highly recommend.

These poems are absolutely beautiful, not because they are all about good things but because they are raw in nature. They are about the truth, Vincent Hunanyan truth that is,it is an absolutely beautiful thing to be able to see the world from someone else point of view which is exactly why this book is amazing.

I will never say a port is bad because poetry is so personal to the author. But, this book just didnt really strike any chords with me. While I appreciate how hard it is to write, I just didn't think any of these poems were wonderful.

I absolutely loved this book and I have shared it with several friends and family. My 20 year old son is reading it now and was also impressed with Vincent Hunayan's mastery of words. In his poetry and stories, he eloquently translate thoughts and emotions into powerful poignant words. I can't wait to read more.

I never did a review before on a book but after reading this unknown Jewel I just had to......
A friend of mine recommended me to read this one, and what a book this is! This book is for anyone. And if any of the poems don't resonate with you, you will still enjoy and study this book because of it's masterful writing. The melody and rhythm are among the best I've seen.

Black Book of Poems offers a very classic poetry feeling from a contemporary poet. The poems offer some deep and emotional insight on Vincent’s life and feelings. Strong imagry and metaphors, accompanied in amazing poems. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys poetry and wants something more unique!

This was an absolutely beautiful book and every poem is written with such raw emotion. My boyfriend had gotten me this as part of my birthday present and it has become one of my favorites. Can't wait to see all that Vincent will do!

I found this book at coffee shop in D.C. during a book scavenger hunt.

Excellent read!!! The author's Preface to book succinctly describes his writing style as unique and non-privileged. I highly recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of poetry or to non-traditional poetry curious types.

Did I like every poem, no, but each I read with enjoyment. This Black Book of Poems is truly something special and I urge everyone to follow Vincent's career. He is a special writer with insights into human nature that many writers are afraid to explore.

This book has so many great poems. Obviously I'm terrible at writing so when I read more to a best friend i had to send it to my mother. This poem expressed everything I cannot. Thank you for the great work you put into this book.

I loved the book. Very authentic and transparent in a poetic sense. I’d recommend this to those who are into poetry such as myself. And i rated this book 5 stars because it was phenomenal and it deserves more than that.

This book just didn't make me feel anything (aside from annoyance at the sing-song rhythm). I am not a fan of poetry that rhymes this much. It almost seemed to me that the author went out of his way to make it rhyme. As a result, I found it trite. The stories at the end didn't engage me, either. I am sure many others will enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.

I loved the book. Very authentic and transparent in a poetic sense. I’d recommend this to those who are into poetry such as myself. And i rated this book 5 stars because it was phenomenal and it deserves more than that.

This book just didn't make me feel anything (aside from annoyance at the sing-song rhythm). I am not a fan of poetry that rhymes this much. It almost seemed to me that the author went out of his way to make it rhyme. As a result, I found it trite. The stories at the end didn't engage me, either. I am sure many others will enjoy this book. It just wasn't for me.

Armenian born author Vincent Hunanyan earned his degree in creative writing from UCLA. He now lives and writes in Stockholm.

It is refreshing when a new poet offers an explanatory note about his art before the poems begin - from his stance we are more tied to his mission: ‘I believe that good poetry resonates with people on a metaphysical level; you can read a poem without quite being able to put into words why you enjoyed it. It could have been the shivers that ran down your spine or the elevating of your heartbeat. Or, it made you smile, or even cry; made you feel something. A key component of good poetry is honesty; much of the poetry in the world doesn’t speak to people because it is forced and pretentious. If what you write is true and honest, and you put some actual effort into it, I believe people will respond to it. I write only that which I know, that which I can feel and try to transcend to the reader through a few lines. Nothing else concerns me. I think that most people don’t read or appreciate poetry because they have been exposed to too much poor poetry, and been told by their professors to interpret them in a certain way, like there is a science to interpreting a poem. There isn’t; poetry, just like any other piece of artistic creation, is subjective. You cannot ruin someone's interpretation of a poem by explaining it. But if the poem doesn't speak for itself, ultimately, it is a failure.’

A few examples of this impressive new poet follow:
Romeo’s Elegy
To broken hearts, to broken dreams
To me and you, to you and me
To all the friends and all the foes,
To those who love and those who don't

To those who have and those without
To parent's scorn, deprived of doubt
To those who give, to those who save
To those afraid, and all the brave

To all the seconds, unforgiving
To the departed and all the living
To those who dare, to those who care
To those in bliss and in despair

To all the smiles and all the laughs,
To all we love, on love's behalf
To all the pain and single cry
To happiness and every high!

City Nights

In solitude in bed I lie
And all the while the sirens cry
A homeless bastard passes by
The smell of urine rises high
And hides away, above the sky
Forsaken dogs bark in the park
Fireworks in distance spark
And I wake up, and still it’s dark.

Sensitive, probing and holding thoughts that speak to each of us in our own needs, Vincent has succeeded in his first publication that his is a voice worthy of our following. Grady Harp, September 17

Black Book of Poems reflects the thoughts and feelings of the poet. In many ways it is simple in language while deep in perspective. "Red Brick House" and "Brillant Mind" are two examples of that. Then the poet wows you with a chain of connections in "The Stage". Most of these poems are about family and relationships. Some are sweet and reminders of the days of innocence. Others have a harsh edge of some realities. There is an honesty and vulnerability that can hold the reader's interest in this short read. There are also two short stories at the end that demonstrate the lyrical quality and craftsmanship of words that show well in narrative. When looking for a short read full of content that can lead to reflection, this book fits those requirements. The poet speaks to individuals as well as the general audience.

I was given this book of poems as a special gift and have been enjoying it so much i've decided to purchase 2 of them to give as gifts now to keep it going. I really enjoy the vulnerability in these poems and found that they have the power to put me in a dream like trance as i read them. I feel like i can hear beautiful melodies in my head as i read them.

For me, poetry should make you feel as much as it should make you think. The Black Book of Poems does exactly that. It is an easy read, not to be underestimated. I enjoyed the different layers the author was able to show with each poem. I loved the short stories at the end. This book is just a perfect example that, sometimes more is just tha, "more"... not better. I very much enjoyed this book, hence I strongly recommend this buy!

I bought the book just a few days ago and I've already read it about 10 times. I take it with me everywhere already. And I'm just slightly obsessed. (I'm lying I am extremely obsessed)
The choice of words and just all about this is perfect and matching and wonderful. It's so beautiful that I can't put it into words. Wether it be German or English.
It's worth way more than this!

Especially loved "The Stage"; one of the only good books of modern poetry that I've read. nice rhymes, some meter, sing-songy verses at time, raw content, allusions to shakespeare, western philosophy/literature, greek mythology...

Some good days and some bad days but all worded beautifully.
My epic battle with my favorite books are that they cause me to contemplate my own exsistance or lack their of and this holds true with each and every poem .