Outskirts Press (2009) ISBN 9781432734923 Reviewed by for Reader Views In as little as 132 pages, the author has packed an amazing amount of heartfelt emotional verse. From the reminiscence of a child to the wisdom of an adult, Donna has revealed her life and views of life as told in verse and prose. Her memories begin with the tragedy of knowing she was an unwanted child born into a dysfunctional family. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother a drug abuser, making for a hellish home life. The verse is heart retching to say the least, told with vivid recollection as if it were only yesterday. Ms. Solitario is quite thorough in her descriptions of her mother and father. Comparing herself to Cinderella, she tells of being the scapegoat for the whole family. Picked on in school and at home, she finally breaks out. "Coming Home to My Heart" has a brighter side too. The brighter side is full of wisdom and moral values. Donna speaks of praying and keeping the faith, how she turned herself over to God and entrusted him with her life. She stresses the importance of a belief in a higher power, whatever that power may be for any individual. The author is thankful to so many people in her life and expresses it very well in such fine verse as, "Debbie (A Special Strong Woman of God)," "Dawn," "Erica," and even has a special birthday poem for her Mom and Dad. There is so much in the way of encouragement for young people in her book that it makes for good reading for young adults. With passages like "Rise Above and Succeed" where she stresses the need to keep the focus on one's self and "Believe," which tells the reader to "hold on to your dreams, never give up." I have nothing but praise for Donna Solitario and her book "Coming Home to My Heart." It is written in a moral fashion without having to resort to graphic violence or adult content. "Coming Home to My Heart" is a wholesome and family-oriented book that will appeal to a general audience and is intended for all. I gave it an A and consider it to be one of the better books I have read so far this year. Listen to interview with Donna Solitario on Inside Scoop Live Read interview with Donna Solitario |
Monday, November 2, 2009
Coming Home to My Heart: For Inner Peace
In and Out of Madness
| "In and Out of Madness" is one of the most disturbing, yet also one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time. Carrying an intriguing subtitle of "A fictionalized account of a true experience," it left me wondering what is it that propels some people into madness while others seem to benefit from the harsh experiences life deals them and simply careen into growing stronger and more resilient. The book's protagonist, Lee Thames, is somebody who seems to attract violence, be it physical or emotional, throughout her life. Having grown up with an abusive grandmother and no less abusive mother, she briefly seems to find solace in the arms of her first husband. That happiness does not last and his actions - as well as his inactions - push Lee into a series of affairs, which, although endorsed by her husband, certainly contribute to the demise of her first marriage. Her second marriage becomes her true undoing. Cursed with an honest desire to please her husband, and almost unbearably willing to trust him, Lee gets entangled in an intricate web woven by her husband Joe, a slick talker who lies, cheats and exploits her in every possible way. The one bright spot of her existence, which luckily remains consistent, is her daughter Jolly. The book begins with Lee escaping from a mental facility after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. She decides to take revenge on her husband, Joe. Planning a perfect murder, Lee revisits the events that lead to this powerful decision, thus familiarizing the reader with the way her mind works. N. L. Snowden's writing is sharp, precise and powerful. The story grabs you quickly and most certainly does not let go. I found it strangely fascinating, somewhat akin to picking on a dried scab on one's knee when we were children. Yes, it hurts, but... Reading "In and Out of Madness" was much like that. Parts of me wanted to put it down, feeling like I was intruding on somebody's most private thoughts. My always inquisitive mind was dead set on finding what happens next. And I was not disappointed. This is definitely a book that I would recommend to anybody who loves solid, tight writing and to anybody who's curious about the ways people's minds work, especially in case of multiple personalities disorder coupled with a bi-polar condition. Enlightening, powerful and strangely uplifting, this is one of those books that will haunt you for a long time. |
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