Review: A Powerful Collection, Written From the Heart
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 20, 2014
This was an interesting collection of ideas and experiences that vividly painted a picture of the author in an honest way that most writers are unable to do. Baring your soul through characters is one thing, but to so thoroughly pour yourself and your own story into every page must be an exhausting and (at times) painful way to create. The mixture of prose and poetry in the book was well-chosen, as certain feelings should only be expressed in verse, and I felt that the author took the time to consider how he wanted the reader to experience certain elements of his life. The pervasive theme of marijuana use (or even addiction) was a strange twist, and while I haven't participated in that sort of recreational (or habitual) drug use, I know of some people who are heavily influenced by marijuana and have often explained the depths of mental exploration and self-awareness that it gives them. I could see some of their words manifested in this collection, and I felt the naked sincerity of the author as he exposed certain parts of his life. I particularly like the explanations of where his life was at when these pieces were written, or at least what the inspiration for the stories and poems were. It helped to create a framework in which I could experience each piece and then consider how the author was feeling, what he wanted to share with the reader, and what his opinions about those turning points in life happen to be (childbirth, financial struggle, complicated relationships). It made the work of the reader both easier and harder. It was easier to understand the author, but it also doesn't allow you to simply skip over any part of the book that might seem too "heady" or "deep". The bridging explanations to the author's real experiences made every element of the story stick in your mind and forced a reader to consider their own opinions and relationships with certain moments of their life. As the title of this review stated, it was a very powerful collection, and one that I will certainly recommend to other people. Beautifully written and uniquely honest.