Raving Dove Literary Journal- Lauren W.

Lauren Weinberger
Techniques of Fiction
Prof. T. Humer
11/15/08
Literary Magazine Review
“Raving Dove”

The Raving Dove online literary journal is a publication of mixed-genre. It includes non-fictional, poetic, and fictional writings. The mission of the Raving Dove is to resist all forms of violence through prose, poetry, and artwork. It can be found at www.ravingdove.org.
A new publication of Raving Dove is released online during each new season. They are now open for submissions for the winter of 2009. Submissions are welcome from all who are passionate about what Raving Dove represents.
Raving Dove began as a reaction and opposition to the US’s involvement in war in 2004. The editor, Jo-Ann Moss, emphasized the fact that “War is a concept far removed from our daily cappuccinos, kids’ soccer games, and peaceful hikes in the mountains.” Although Moss hope for change in her note to her readers she believes there is still much work to be done.
Moss also believes this literary journal is a reaction to not only the physical violence of war, but the psychological violence of everyday life. This may mean sexual or racial violence.
It is the Raving Dove’s belief that sometimes “through creativity comes enlightenment, and through enlightenment comes greater understanding.” Through writing perhaps the small community of readers can have a general understanding of both types of violence.
Last January of 2008 Raving Dove was ranked #1 for poetry in an online journal in the Preditor’s and Editor’s Readers’ Poll, 2007. Raving Dove also participates in the Pushcart Prize, storySouth’s Million Writers Award for Fiction, and the Best New Poets award.
Upon reading the entries of the online literary magazine I found that there is definitely a common theme of violence amongst every entry. One poem entitled “The Quiet” written by Jenny Williams addressed the after effects of a battle scene. She writes in the present, and although the narrator did not witness the battle, the childless mothers, and new widows inform what happened. “I did not hear the night of children or the barking of dogs, the screams of those losing limbs, losing lives…” The reader is pulled in through what the narrator did not see, but instead how she only “heard the wind as it sighs through the broken windows of an abandoned school…”
In another poem entitled “Allahu Akbar” by Robert Malone describes violence as well. An interesting theme of violence within the innocent is brought up in his poetry. “The soldiers, slender and young, children only…” he writes. The idea that they are seduced by hatred from a young age is brought up. We do not get a sense of the exact setting, but the reader gets the feeling that this could be in any common small town.
A similarly themed prose piece entitled “Little Angel” describes a gladiator’s point of view after he has won his battle in the arena. As in “Allahu Akbar” the reader is informed that from a young age children are violent. “Such a pretty child,” he thought, So innocent, so like my own sweet little angel…” It is the Emperor’s daughter, Octavia, who decides that Flavius, the gladiator will finish off his opponent by cutting off his head.
I enjoyed reading Raving Dove. I found it’s point of view on violence interesting and I think I would definitely read it again. The fictionally pieces and poetry were what I enjoyed most while going through the magazine. Most of the poetry was written in prose like style, which I found I could relate to. I think I would consider publishing writing or artwork in this online literary journal. I like the fact that it is free so anyone can find it and read it. I also like the inclusion of artwork because I am a painter. Raving Dove is accepting to many views and there was not one piece of writing that I didn’t find interesting.