Review of “The Lilacs I Once Knew” by Roni Rosenthal, Friddie Stoleru

Score: 95+/100 (9.5+ out of 10)

The Lilacs I Once Knew is a truly outstanding poetry book compiled by Roni Rosenthal, containing the works of her great-aunt, Friddie Stoleru. It is a poignant tribute to resilience, memory, and familial legacy, beautifully presented through the life and poetry of Friddie.

Rosenthal curates Friddie's poems with a reverent, immersive touch, allowing each verse to unfold like a memory, filled with both nostalgic beauty and harrowing sorrow.

As we learned in the author's previous book, Where the Lilacs Bloom Once Again, Friddie lived as a Jew through the horrors of both Nazism and Stalinist antisemitism as these ideologies and evil forces spread their influence across her country (Romania) and Europe. Friddie was unjustly convicted of a crime she never committed, serving nine year in a Romanian prison followed by four years in a communist labor camp.

Friddie proved herself to be a fighter and a survivor. Her indomitable will, undying spirit, love of family, and the grace of God helped Friddie to survive the unthinkable. She emerged from that horrific period in human history as an inspiration.

With all of that in mind—in fact, even in the absence of that incredible context--The Lilacs I Once Knew stands out as one of the best poetry books we've ever read!

Indeed, this collection treats us to 40 of the best, most lyrical poems to come our way in years!

The poems in this book excel in so many ways including with their emotional depth, vivid imagery, storytelling, beat, rhythm, and the overall quality of the writing.

"Down Memory Lane" reflects on fond memories of youth, capturing the innocence and simplicity of childhood in Romania.

"A Girl in Bucharest" a young girl dreams and wanders through Bucharest, filled with ambition and wonder.

"Cișmigiu Gardens" romantic and serene imagery of lovers sharing moments in the beautiful Cișmigiu Gardens.

"Infinite Horizons" a declaration of confidence and determination, celebrating youthful optimism.

"Stepping Stones" examines qualities like passion, determination, and remorse as essential forces in life’s journey.

"My Voyage" describes an adventurous spirit seeking self-discovery across mountains and valleys.

"If" ponders philosophical questions about existence, eternity, and life’s mysteries.

"Seascapes" explores the raw power of the sea as a metaphor for inner turmoil and peace.

"Elemental Harmony" describes the harmony found in natural elements, symbolizing inner peace.

"Falling for a Spy" tells of a young woman’s heartbreak after falling in love with a mysterious man.

"Echoes and Names" reminisces about family memories and the powerful impact of names.

"Broken Promises" reflects on unfulfilled promises and the gap between childhood ideals and reality.

"Silent Companion" a haunting depiction of loneliness and inner torment.

"Don’t Eclipse Her Sun" emphasizes the beauty and resilience of a woman who remains unbroken.

"Firelight Tales" celebrates the warmth of storytelling and family heritage.

"History Lessons" honors the lessons learned from painful historical experiences.

"Chronicles of Renewal" a hopeful view on resilience and personal growth.

"From Betrayal to You" expresses a journey from heartbreak to self-forgiveness.

"Mama’s Lessons" a tribute to a mother’s wisdom and the enduring impact of her teachings.

"My Roots" celebrates the poet’s Romanian heritage and sense of belonging.

"I Still Miss My Romania" is a nostalgic look at Romania as a lost homeland.

"Seeds of Everlasting" speaks to the enduring influence of one’s cultural roots and legacy.

"Blue-Winged Bird" symbolizes freedom and hope amidst suffering.

"In the Abyss of Despair" conveys the darkness of despair, echoing the hardships of imprisonment.

"The Sky Is Red" reflects the urgency and pain of life during times of turmoil.

"They Don’t Hate Me" expresses defiance and courage against societal judgments.

"Oracles" contemplates the wisdom and mystery of life’s unanswered questions.

"Beacons of Danger" warns of impending dangers while promoting resilience.

"Like a Lone Canoe" conveys feelings of isolation and determination.

"Chains of Black and White" examines themes of confinement and prejudice.

"Paranoia" a tense, anxious portrayal of inner fears and mistrust.

"Misery" depicts the overwhelming weight of suffering.

"Stop" a plea for an end to emotional pain and turmoil.

"Tragedy Will Not Claim Another" a vow to overcome adversity and defy despair.

"Veins of Salt" embraces resilience and the capacity to endure life's harsh realities.

"A Sequence of Sorrow" depicts stages of grief, from denial to acceptance.

"I Am a Voice" asserts the poet's role as a voice for the voiceless and forgotten.

"Locked Inside My Head" explores the confines of inner thoughts and fears.

"Behind the Mask" shows the hidden pain behind a composed exterior.

"Vulture Circles" describes a sense of dread and hopelessness in adversity.

Above even the storytelling and the emotional depth, what really resonated and excited us is how great the writing quality is and how lyrical these poems are.

Each of these poems reads like a song! They flow so smoothly and beautifully, like a gentle stream or—perhaps more fittingly—like a powerful, roaring river!

One of the techniques that the poet employed the best is anaphora. For example, in the poem titled “If” the phrase “If I could leave” repeats at the beginning of each stanza, emphasizing the peril and frustration of the situation. A feeling of being trapped and having one's personal choices stripped of them pervades this poem thanks to the use of this literary technique.

The poem titled “Broken Promises” likewise employs anaphora with the phrases “They promised,” “They said,” and “They whispered” repeating, emphasizing how people, governments, the world, the universe and the poet's society broke promises and failed to keep their word to the poet. This poem is full of dismissive and idealistic statements, one's that can only ring true in an ideal world. And we don't live in an ideal world.

One more thing we really loved about the poet's writing are the rhymes and how hey add to the rhythmic, lyrical beat and flow of the poems. The poet pulls off some ambitious rhymes like marrying:

“Derision” with “Prison”

“Creation” and “Communication”

“Dare” and “Repair”

“Power” and “Hour”

“Odyssey” and “Victory”

“Seek” and “Unique”

Even a rhyme that seems relatively simple like “After” paired with “Scatter” is special in that there are actually two separate rhymes in these words: the “ah” sound and the “er” sound.

This is a phenomenal poetry book.

Check it out on Amazon!