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Robin L Harvey

Reviewed on Apr 16, 2022

Must read 🏆

What a courageous book! I feel I have met a kindred soul. It touched me in so many places. The design is beautiful, the work, sublime.

Synopsis

Journey into the Shadow and the Sunshine continues the theme of Journey into the Dark and the Light, the first book by Annabel Harz. Disarmingly honest words and images reveal more of her personal experiences: the deep shadows of loneliness and depression; the recognition of the value of survival at her lowest point of feeling unworthy; the importance of mental and physical space in creating a safe place for personal exploration and growth; and ultimately the sunshine of wellbeing when—through sheer grit and endurance—her personal demons had been conquered and set free.
Sustained effort is required to rise out of depression once it is established as a daily state of being. The poetry and artwork in this collection exemplify the resilience required to rise above the despair of mental ill-health, and with candour and sincerity depict the internal strength which facilitates reaching a place of well-being.

"When words so incisively and uniquely capture the experiences of pain, misery, shame and heartache, it gives the mind and soul a new way of understanding these events. And perhaps, these words then help to heal." - Sonia Street

TRIGGER WARNING: This book discusses domestic violence and emotions associated with depression, including suicidal ideation.

Review of Journey into the Shadow and the Sunshine by Annabel Harz, published through BalBoa.Press, a Division of Hay House. Available as E-book and Paperback

           Annabel Harz’s uplifting poetry collection, Journey into the Shadow and the Sunshine reflects the author’s journey from the depths of trauma and depression through to a happy, centred life.  Harz’s poems flow through haunted memories, growing self reflection and knowledge, finally landing her readers in a world of growth and joy.

            The book progresses using straightforward, logical organization of the work makes it easy for the reader to follow and be drawn into the content. In the first section, Shadow, Harz’s words aptly echo her bleak beginnings and longing for a better life. “Dreams of Reality” and “Soul Prison” are a particularly gripping portrait of the author’s life before recovery, described an open jail,

" where, “… my waking life is as unreal as my dreams."   

       The next section, Survival, shows the author inching toward a better life. In “Breakdown,” readers who have lived through trauma can connect with this poignant epiphany that gave the author strength.

“I know I am slowly but surely digging my own grave.”

           In the uplifting poem, “Yesterdays,” Harz bids goodbye to suicide with a palpable finality that almost punches the reader in the gut it's so direct and intense.

“You were never meant to be one of the options … Nevermore do I want to go back there. Ever.”

           At last, the reader can breathe when hope shines in the section Space. Here, a damaged spirit finds an inner reserve to grow. “Ghosts of The Past,” dramatically presents her aspiration to find

“an opening that allows a glimmer of hope to shine through?”

            Harz’s final poem in the section Sunshine, “I Am,” is a touching metaphor for transformation. The author looks back at her journey as

“… a weary traveller arriving home with gladness. I am music. I am poetry. I am art. I am.”

           Harz uses direct yet evocative word choices. A minimalist poet, she employs dramatic narrative with little imagery or stylistic embellishments,to balance the collection’s forceful and, at times, disturbing subject matter. However, some readers might find the style a too simplistic and wish for more abstract representations of the author’s journey using literary devices.

Still, her conversational style, combined with the author’s illustrations, one each to accompany each poem, creates a unique lyrical narrative within a stunning, visual/poetic mix. This author’s work is authentic: witness the impressive list of presentation testimonials near the front.

This book will engage most readers, especially those who know someone living with the impact of trauma, as well as survivors of trauma, as they walk their own path to freedom and transformation. Highly recommended!


           



Reviewed by

Robin L Harvey has published the poetry book PTSD Poems to Slay Demons. She writes on pop culture, books, theatre and the arts for notthepublicbroadcaster.com and reviews for IndieReader. Over her career, she's been an award-winning reporter, editor, critic and public editor at The Toronto Star.

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