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March 03, 2005: Regardless of where you are when you read Smoke and Thunder, it will take you to a different time and place; one where you will laugh, cry, and wonder as, somehow, you find pieces of yourself between lines that flow as readily as a mountain stream, and as refreshing. The reader is pulled through page after page of poems as readily as in a good novel, and when the read is done, will find himself, or herself, picking it up again and again. One dose is simply not enough. Not fleeting, pretty-poetry, Chandler's poems stick to your ribs and find a place within your heart.Thought provoking, moving, mysterious and commonplace, sometimes all at once, he captures the magic, the adventure, and sometimes what seems to be the futility of life and love, in a nonapologetic way devoid of martyrdom or angst. With a startling degree of honesty, Jim Chandler has put his life in the forefront of the literary world for over 30 years: this compilation is a must-read. Such talent. Such wisdom. You'll be glad you bought this book.
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July 03, 2004: I borrowed this book from a friend but after reading about 20 pages decided to buy my own copy. I wasn't familiar with this poet but he is one of the best I have ever read. I recommend it to anyone.