(all reviews shared verbatim from their respective sources)
reviews for From My Front Steps
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5 out of 5 stars from Dina F., May 26, 2023 via Amazon – Refreshing take on the lockdown!
The poet’s words remind us of the veiled joys and uncomfortable moments we encounter when we are bold enough to connect with those around us.
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5 out of 5 stars from Carol Ann 57, October 25, 2021 via Amazon – “Relatable Ruminations”
I found Joseph Pinto in a poetry group and delighted in his sarcastic, humorous, raw, real life spoken and written poems. This poem book shares his thoughts while sitting on his front steps during the pandemic when the bars were closed and the barfly poet had nowhere else to go. Introspective, real, some sad, others about every day life that we all can relate to. I enjoyed reading his thoughts as he sat on his steps. My favorite poem is ‘If I’m Okay’ talking about his daughter’s first sleepover, and ‘My One’ about a relationship he hopes will return. His cynical drinkers raw honesty approach to writing captures my interest and really enjoying the poems; even the sad ones. The paperback edition is the one I have as I love to have my poetry books on my bookshelf in my book room. Anyone who likes short relatable poetry will enjoy this book and poet.
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4 out of 5 stars from AK_fish, October 21, 2021 via Amazon – “Poignant, Beautiful Poetry”
I read this on my Kindle. This in an unsolicited review.
Joseph Pinto perfectly encapsulates life in pandemic in the city. Known as the barflypoet, Mr. Pinto writes his short form poetry from the stool of a bar more often than not. Enter the closing of many of the areas bars and he found himself drinking alone, ruminating on life and wistfulness from his front steps, the world passing by mere feet away.
Due to the subject matter, the book is a bit dark, a bit cynical, a bit sad, and a lot of those thoughts that spring upon us while doing the most mundane things in life. He mentions watching the squirrels and wild rabbits, passers-by on the sidewalk, his daughter in the house, and lost love. It’s all highly relatable (other than the drinking part for me) and so I found myself nodding along as if I was sitting there listening to the man himself.
My favorite piece in the chapbook was “When Will We Be Us” which begins with the lines: ‘you can’t share my drink but we can share the sky’. Together they are tethered though something, the reader is unsure if it is distance or time, keeps them apart. It’s a beautiful, wistful piece.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy short-form modern poetry with a hint of sadness but also kindness and love. I gave this one 4/5 stars.
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5 out of 5 stars from blood_of_winter, July 12, 2021 via Amazon – “Poignant Reflections”
A lot of people hear the word “poetry” and think back to high school or college and those forced essays you needed to write on meaning or theme or meter. A shame really since poetry is so much more than that. It makes you feel in a way that prose sometimes can’t. The rhythm, the cadence, the turns of phrase. All these merge in poetry to say something unique. Joseph Pinto’s collection of poems is the kind of poetry book you want to give to all your friends, especially the ones who have deeply felt loss, longing, isolation. Joseph’s collection, written during the height (let’s hope we are over that hump!) of the Covid-19 pandemic is heart-breaking and breath-taking in its directness and raw emotion. Some of the pieces reminded me of The Doors’ Jim Morrison’s better poetry and lyrics (and Morrison was a lyric master). I didn’t feel like a school kid out of my league reading poetry I didn’t understand. It felt like someone understood me and put to words those frustrations and life’s disappointments that come your way as middle age creeps in and the world is on fire. Beautiful, poignant, and soul stirring.
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5 out of 5 stars from Michelle, July 1, 2021 via Amazon – “The Best Book of the 2021”
It was so easy to fall in love with this book. Just like it was his last.. It had everything you want to read in a great poetry book. Joe truly puts all his passion in everything he rights and I look forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book just as I would all his others. Thank you Joe for another Beautiful Read🙏💜
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5 out of 5 stars from Jessica, June 25, 2021 via Amazon – “This is definitely a must read!”
A poignant collection that takes one through the pain of lost love & navigating through a new “normal” due to the pandemic. Each piece easily visualized from the perspective of one sitting on their front steps, observing how life changed over the last year, you can almost feel the cement steps beneath you.
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5 out of 5 stars from Joe Zito, June 11, 2021 via Amazon – “Five star poetic darkness”
Another incredible collection of poetry by Joseph Pinto! Deep, mood altering display of words, penned during the early months of the pandemic. Some standouts are prophecies and promises, summer solstice, my one (or a song swimming in bourbon) Joseph is quickly becoming a top word master for all things dark.
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5 out of 5 stars from Kate Poulas, June 5, 2021 via Amazon – “Absolutely amazing”
You can absolutely feel the loss of your true love through his words. We’ve all been there, but his words make you relive and feel that heartbreak through him. Truly beautiful writing
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Joseph A. Pinto 