Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite

Honey & Pearls: A Unique Collection of 100 Word Poems is sort of what author L.A. Jones says it is – a collection of one hundred poems, each roughly 100 words long. This is a substantial volume in comparison to many poetry books I have read and the author certainly deserves credit for that. The poems cover a wide gamut of topics and styles, so although they are short and sweet, they certainly are not homogeneous. The poems are all formatted differently and seamlessly draw the reader through different styles. There are a number of genres covered, with no clear, collective theme, except that most of the poems are uplifting and positive. As well as poems reflecting on traditional topics such as the seasons, love, romance, growing old, childhood memories, there are also some which are quite fun and quirky.

L.A. Jones has brought us an enjoyable collection of verse in this volume. I enjoyed many of the efforts and did appreciate the author’s note at the end where Jones explained the selection policy for this volume and included the author’s son, Jamie, in the process. As with any collection, there are always some that stood out and resonated more than others. These include one poem which I could totally identify with, “Growing Old Disgracefully”; “Grandchildren”, which is a magical description of the joys of being a grandparent and one I’m sure all grandparents (like me) can identify with. “A Squirrel’s Song” was a whimsical look at a squirrel who has lost his nuts and the effect it has on him – this was one of Jamie’s selections and I did enjoy it (as he apparently did also). “Stand and Deliver” tells the tale of a highwayman and his appeal, even though he is a criminal. Finally, “Have You Ever” which literally asks the question have you ever done a wide variety of things like seeing a ghost, loved and lost, cried and cried? There are many other poems worthy of mention but suffice to say, I enjoyed this collection and can recommend it to poetry fans.