Reviews Received — ‘Yosemite of My Heart’
“In his book Yosemite of My Heart, Poems of Adventure in California, Lalit Kumar shares his passion for Nature and outdoors, always finding the poetic in the experience and in the language about it. That language carries readers along with him on his adventures to Yosemite, Big Sur, Mt. Whitney, and the Beat poets’ San Francisco city and beyond. This is the perfect collection for both readers who are familiar with California and those who have never been there, at the same time skeptical of modern poetry but with an appetite for novelty and discovery of new territory — they will not put it down and come back to it as reference to historical and emotional connection again and again.”
- Terry Lucas, Poet Laureate Emeritus of Marin County, California
“We set sail on our course-
Alive to the adventures that lie ahead,’
from the poem ‘Sailing in Oakland Estuary’. This book definitely captures the heartbeat of California, and a must in the libraries of California and beyond!”
- Anuradha Gajaraj-Lopez, Author and Poet
“Yosemite of My Heart: A Calling to All Poets, Adventurers, and California Dreamers… In San Francisco, artists sought freedom from the limitations of traditional literary and commercial structures by creating innovative work that deviated from traditional literary forms. Consequently, Kumar’s poetry collection is reminiscent of the cut-up method of Beat writer William S. Burroughs, who encouraged writers to cut up any form of media and recombine it to create spontaneity. Kumar’s poetry collection shows how we should also embrace spontaneity and adventure in our life stories.”
- Faithe J. Day, Writer and Artist
“It delves into themes of adventure, self-discovery, and the immigrant experience, using poetry to capture the state’s beauty and cultural richness. Kumar emphasizes the universal desire for adventure and the transformative power of exploration, inviting readers to embrace nature, adventure, and the power of written expression.” — Indiaspora
“A love letter to California — the landscape, people, and sense of belonging that it provides.” — Rhona Bowie, Reedsy Discovery (Books)
“People with wanderlust spirits will feel the poems touching their hearts” — Camelia Saha, Solitude and Books
“Poems and travelogue together…Passionate about nature, Lalit has a way with words since he has turned his adventures into pieces of poetry…” — Booxoul
“It’s like taking a mini vacation without leaving your couch!” — Abhishek Roy, Reader
The Book, Yosemite of My Heart was recently launched at San Francisco Writers Conference 2024’s event to a warm reception. The book is available on multiple platforms including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart Online, and some of the local bookstores in San Francisco Bay area.
