I could relate to some of the poems, moments where her words went to my head and lingered around a bit, waiting to be digested. Reading along I could see many of her fears spill forward in her writing. The raw, emotional tone in her writing style makes for instant connection, especially if you are someone who has also dealt with depression and anxiety.
Quite a few of the poems stood out to me, such as “Seven Small Ways In Which I Loved Myself Today.” With self-care being a major buzzword lately, it was refreshing to read a realistic list of ways someone struggling with mental illness might use a self-care plan. Sometimes it’s all you can do to remind yourself to floss daily or eat sweets without getting on the scale afterwards. Though these things are not glorified nor glamorized, they are very much a part of self-care.
“Explaining Depression to My Mother” was easily my favorite poem of the collection. After hearing her perform it on YouTube, I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me. I had never heard depression spoken of in such a raw way. I was in awe, as I felt like there were finally words out there to fit the emotions I experience when anxious. Maybe her mom didn't understand, maybe she never will. But I did and I'm sure anyone else who has experienced depression and/or anxiety could relate.
Depression and Other Magic Tricks is a truly touching collection of poetry. I recommend it anyone who enjoys modern poetry as well as those who can relate to the subject matter. To purchase your own copy, click here. And to get more familiar with author Sabrina Benaim, be sure to check her out over on IG. Also, if you're a big fan of modern poetry, I urge you to check out Button Poetry if you aren't already familiar. I’ve been binge-watching spoken word poetry from their YouTube channel since reading Depression and Other Magic Tricks and am blown away by how extremely talented all of the poets on the platform are!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Depression and Other Magic Tricks for review.
Quite a few of the poems stood out to me, such as “Seven Small Ways In Which I Loved Myself Today.” With self-care being a major buzzword lately, it was refreshing to read a realistic list of ways someone struggling with mental illness might use a self-care plan. Sometimes it’s all you can do to remind yourself to floss daily or eat sweets without getting on the scale afterwards. Though these things are not glorified nor glamorized, they are very much a part of self-care.
“Explaining Depression to My Mother” was easily my favorite poem of the collection. After hearing her perform it on YouTube, I felt like I had the wind knocked out of me. I had never heard depression spoken of in such a raw way. I was in awe, as I felt like there were finally words out there to fit the emotions I experience when anxious. Maybe her mom didn't understand, maybe she never will. But I did and I'm sure anyone else who has experienced depression and/or anxiety could relate.
Depression and Other Magic Tricks is a truly touching collection of poetry. I recommend it anyone who enjoys modern poetry as well as those who can relate to the subject matter. To purchase your own copy, click here. And to get more familiar with author Sabrina Benaim, be sure to check her out over on IG. Also, if you're a big fan of modern poetry, I urge you to check out Button Poetry if you aren't already familiar. I’ve been binge-watching spoken word poetry from their YouTube channel since reading Depression and Other Magic Tricks and am blown away by how extremely talented all of the poets on the platform are!
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Depression and Other Magic Tricks for review.
