Title: Visions of Light
Author: Raymond J. Klein
Publisher: Redemption Press
ISBN: 978-1632323439
Genre: Poetry, Photography
Pages: 144
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares

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When you think of a book, the first image that comes to mind is probably pages filled with words, maybe a few pictures here and there, depending on the audience. There is often a singular structure to a book where a story is told from start to finish, or maybe a skill is taught. Visions of Light throws all of those conventions to the wind to create a unique and delightful experience, unlike any you’ve probably ever encountered.

It is hard to put this book into a category, but at its heart, I would have to say it is a book of art. It is filled with brilliant images of photography and digitally produced images, sometimes both at the same time. Art is always in the eye of the beholder, but there are multiple images in this book which could only be described as striking. It would be easy to give this book a seal of approval from the pictures alone, but this book keeps on giving.

The imagery in this book is impressive, and it accompanied by equally inspiring poetry. The poetry in this book runs the gamut of topics from the battle cry that is It Is of Benefit to the hopeful Come Away With Me. Visions of Light offers a poem for every mood, and they will all resonate with readers in different ways. A book of poetry and art is worth its weight already, but Visions of Light takes it one step further and makes for a truly unique experience. The last third of the book spotlights much of the art and talks in-depth about the creation process of many of the images contained in the book. It also shed some light on the inspiration of both pictures and poetry contained in the pages.

The art contributor and primary author of Visions of Light, Raymond J. Klein, did a great job with this book, and he knows it. My only complaint would be that the book felt a little self-serving at times, but I would probably brag too if I had accomplished as much as he has. It is great that he works in mediums that will allow him to continue as long as he is content to do so. Hopefully, we will continue to see art and poetry from Mr. Klein.

This multifaceted book is fun to page through and genuinely brilliant. I am partial to the picture titled “The Newsboy,” but there are so many images to enjoy. I could see myself returning to this book for inspiration or displaying in the sitting area in my home. Whether you are a fan of art or an artist yourself, you’ll enjoy Visions of Light and gain something from it at the same time.