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Friday, June 16, 2023

Review- Charcuterie of Thoughts by Rathnakumar Raghunath

 Charcuterie of Thoughts on Goodreads

GOODREADS SUMMARY:

Charcuterie of Thoughts is Rathnakumar's highly anticipated sophomore collection of poetry. Much like its previous iteration - the bestselling and critically-acclaimed Smörgåsbord of Musings - this book is a concoction made of love, life, laughter, anger, joy, despair, romance, disgust, yearning, pain, wonder, and hope.

It's a tribute to the full spectrum of the human experience, with each poem offering a unique insight into the beauty and complexity of our existence, showcasing the richness of our shared humanity.

In essence, Charcuterie of Thoughts is a celebration of all that makes us human.

Release date: June, 17 2023

Published by: Ukiyoto Publishing

Pages: 239 (Paperback), 217 (Kindle)

REVIEW:

Author Rathnakumar Raghunath’s highly anticipated second collection of poetry, Charcuterie of Thoughts, has truly been worth the wait.

The writer created magic with words with his début, Smörgåsbord of Musings. A book that is a warm hug and filled with everything relatable, Smörgåsbord of Musings is an extraordinary marvel that the author gifted the world during Covid, when all we wanted to feel was loved and hopeful, something this book will never fail to provide us, even years down the line. It has indeed found a permanent place not only on the shelves of readers, but in their hearts too.

Coming to Charcuterie of Thoughts, this collection of poetry is reminiscent of Smörgåsbord of Musings in many ways, and yet, stands as a unique, proud and grown up collection all on its own. Just like he did with his debut, Rathnakumar Raghunath has created even more magic and proven that he is the epitome of a writer of our times who is a class part yet one with us, with his new book. If Smörgåsbord of Musings is a warm hug, Charcuterie of Thoughts is like knowing you have an umbrella on a rainy day to protect you from the rain, while being fully aware that it is capable of flying away, out of your hands, at any second, if your grip is not firm. At the same time, however, and most importantly, the book pried that it’s okay to let go of this umbrella sometimes and simply make the most of the rain. It is a reality check about the fragility of life, that sometimes seems like a slap in the face, in a manner that is raw, real and relatable.

While reading any work of art, it is difficult to entirely separate the creator from his creation, and Charcuterie of Thoughts proves that Rathnakumar Raghunath has grown immensely, as a person and as a writer. That growth is something many readers might also have experienced, given the times we live in, which makes the book a true contemporary masterpiece. With the right amount of bitterness, betrayal, cruelty, darkness and disgust, balanced with the right amount of love, hope, loyalty, sweetness, fun, humour and so much more, Charcuterie of Thoughts has something for everyone. It is a well curated, meticulously thought of and immaculately written collection of poetry that speaks to the heart and the mind alike. This book romances you in way that is both loving and dangerous, which takes it to the next level, making it an extraordinary and remarkable work of art. It consumes you in a way that will leave you coming back to it and wanting more.

Rathnakumar Raghunath’s writing is reminiscent of great French poets, but he does what they could never - he puts down what’s on his mind and in his heart, in a manner that is easy to comprehend and easier to relate to. He pays tribute, in the most incredible ways, to everything he is passionate about, and he proves, that above anything else, love will always win, and there is so much peace in simply knowing that. He has the magical ability to make you believe, to convince you to never lose hope, and to simply keep carrying on, experiencing the entire spectrum of human emotion.

RATING:



BUY THE BOOK: Amazon / Odyssey