“All she wanted, perhaps:
love’s assurance, a few earthly comforts,
and the menacing voices of dark to disappear
in return for writing an ode to Beauty
with her body for a privileged city.”
– an excerpt from the book
Author Reputation Press proudly presents “Miss Manhattan” by Biman Roy, now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Author Reputation Press website.
“Miss Manhattan” is a poetic collection that intricately weaves the essence of New York City through the lens of human experience. The book delves into the paradoxes of urban life, examining the coexistence of hustle and silence, the collision of dreams with disillusionment, and the storytelling potential inherent in every street, corner, and individual. Roy’s writing delves deep into the contrasting facets of New York, capturing both its grandeur and its quiet, lonely moments.
Biman Roy is an accomplished poet with a distinctive voice that brings the urban landscape to life. His work is characterized by a profound understanding of place and identity, with his observations grounded in personal experiences and universal themes. Roy has been writing poetry for the past three decades and has been widely published. His work has received nominations for the Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize, a testament to his poetic excellence and resonance.
Roy is the author of one chapbook of prose poems, Of Moon and Washing Machine, and two additional poetry chapbooks, Dinosaur Hour and Navigating the Quartz Forest. These works showcase his ability to explore the depths of human emotion and the intricacies of the natural and urban worlds. Miss Manhattan builds on this legacy, reflecting the poet’s ability to transform ordinary moments into profound reflections.
The collection captures the richness of diversity and the simultaneity of life in New York. The poems are rich, tumbling, and layered, yet never chaotic. They bring to life the sensations of people, cars, birds, flowers, and all forms of city life cascading around the speaker’s (and reader’s) attention. This unique collection cleverly displays the inherent resonance of life in the city, presented in a beautiful, joyful, and sometimes riotous way. Always grounded in creativity, the poems brim with vitality and energy rather than destruction or entropy.
The poems in “Miss Manhattan” reflect the city’s power to both inspire and overwhelm. Through vivid imagery and lyrical prose, Roy presents a New York that is both a beacon of possibility and a place of isolation. He invites readers to reflect on the complexities of life in a place where success and failure often intertwine. The book serves as a meditation on the challenges of living in such a dynamic environment while highlighting the moments of beauty and connection that make the city—and life—worth experiencing.
At its core, “Miss Manhattan” is about identity, resilience, and the pursuit of meaning in a world full of distractions. Roy’s writing captures the essence of a city that never stops evolving and offers readers a chance to reflect on their journeys amid the vastness of urban life. Through his carefully crafted verses, he reminds us that even in the most chaotic and crowded places, there is always space for self-discovery.
This evocative collection cleverly fuses the personal and the universal, drawing readers into the vibrant yet fragile world of New York City. It’s a must-read for anyone who has sought their place in a bustling world or who appreciates poetry that offers both insight and emotion. It allows readers to see New York—and themselves—through a new lens.
“Miss Manhattan” by Biman Roy is now available for purchase via ARPress Bookstore: https://authorreputationpress.com/bookstore/miss-manhattan/