Life Expressed in 25 Words or Less by Jack Cantwell
Life Expressed in 25 Words or Less by Jack Cantwell is a book that is part poetry and part autobiography. The author writes his own take on the infamous Haiku, but creating what he calls “word pictures” in twenty-five words or less of situations throughout his life. This book is well written, and readers do not have to be poetic masters to connect to the verses.
The introduction sets up the book nicely by explaining the author’s process for creating the “word pictures” found within this book. Cantwell is old enough to have lived through quite a few life changes, so it was appealing to read about landmark events and also everyday scenarios from his point of view.
The “word pictures” surrounding Boston will appeal to Red Sox fans, and the specific one that touched on the Boston Marathon bomber held up the unbreakable mentality of Bostonians to always be“Boston Strong”, even in the face of a horrible tragedy.
Nature, owning a pet, grief, and faith are a few other highlighted topics that can be read in twenty-five words or less. The author also spent a lot of time in Japan and has a lot to say about his positive experience regarding working there, military service, and the overall sights and culture of the people.
The “word pictures” are at times inspiring and pretty, but these are best seen or experienced via paperback or a large screen e-reader. A bit can get lost in translation if the “word pictures” get broken up between multiple screens due to reading from a smaller kindle, tiny tablet or smart phone screen.
It should be noted that the author’s “word pictures” are not true to the traditional form of Japanese Haiku (a poem of seventeen syllables that has three lines of 5-7-5), but the essence of Haiku writing is still evident within the pages of this book. The specific poems by Cantwell that deal with Japan and the beauty of nature hit the closest to resembling a true Haiku.
The third section of the book deals with the back-stories behind some of the specific “word pictures”. This was a well-received part because it clarified questions regarding some of the short verses, and also showed where the author got his inspiration. This section made for a sort of mini book club experience with the author, who also states repeatedly that he would like feedback from his readership. If a person has a question about one of his “word pictures” that is not addressed in the back-stories, they can feel free to question the author (which is pretty neat).
To learn more about this book, click here or visit OnlineBookClub.org