Title: No One Knows But Me
Author: Briana L. Boggio
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1-5320-5665-9
Pages: 118
Genre: Poetry
Reviewed by: Jessica Schmidt
Pacific Book Review
No One Knows But Me is a splendid collection of poetry by Briana L. Boggio. The poems are thoughtfully organized into sections including Throughout the Year, Patriotic Side, Splendor of Nature, Feelings from the Inside, Family and Friends, and Treasures that I Lost.
The author has created a lovely book that will be enjoyed by her friends and family as well as colleagues and all her readers. The poems are well written, and the layout on each page is beautiful and creative. Boggio’s talent for writing shines through as her words create rich pictures in the reader’s mind and stir up emotions and feelings. For example, in the poem “Downhearted,” all readers will be able to relate to the intense feelings… “My heart aches all day. My mind goes every which way… I keep it all bottled inside”. This book will be especially meaningful to Ms. Boggio’s friends, family, colleagues, and readers of her other books. However, the themes are universal, and readers of all ages will enjoy the poems and learn interesting facts and wisdom along the way.
My favorite poem in the book is called “The Dance of Fire” because of the visual imagery and how it relates to my own experiences sitting around campfires with friends and family over the years. I enjoyed all the poems in the book and could especially relate to the poems in the section titled “Feelings from the Inside.” The writer touches on universal themes such as love, loss, loneliness, depression, sadness, struggle, and letting go. As an avid reader, I appreciated the author’s attention to detail and flawless presentation; I noticed zero spelling errors or typos.
Each reader will no doubt have a favorite section and a favorite poem. Ms. Boggio has shared her knowledge, wisdom, and personal experience about love and friendship, but also serving in the military and being a veteran as well as interesting details about sharks and the amazing essence of the natural world. Her book of poems is a treasure.
I am impressed with the overall design and specifically the scroll motif that enhances each page and the title pages for each section. The visual typography of each poem is unique and well-crafted to match the theme of the individual poems. The poems themselves are heart-felt, meaningful, and deeply personal.
