Book Review time! - Bruised but Unbroken

Battered and bruised
Beaten for life
No scars show
A comb and a brush
Calm the dissaray
A dash of lipstick and blush
Puts back the colour
Eye liner and eye shadow
Blot the real shadows.

Outside face
Ready to face the world
The smile hides much
A mask that covers
Inside hell.
           - "Outside Face" by Cheryl Antao-Xavier 


I'd like to take a break from my ongoings in life to bring you this book review. My aunt, Cheryl Antao-Xavier has just written and published her second anthology of poems - Bruised but Unbroken.

Ok, honestly, I don't read poetry often, I'm also not that great at writing it either. But when my aunt sent me a copy, I thought I should add her expertise to my own library.

Bruised but Unbroken is a personal, in-your-face collection of poetry that focuses on the theme of not giving up, of overcoming, of reflecting on what's been done to you, to your loved ones and taking a stand.
In a few words, I loved it. There were numerous poems that really made me feel the emotions that were meant to be evoked.

Great poetry is moving. It is personal and philosophical, and shines light on our hidden hopes and secret despairs. Antao-Xavier's collection does exactly that.

Whether or not you read poetry, this is a great book to add to your collection. If you have some scars and from time to time need to be reminded on how you overcame, Bruised but Unbroken is for you.

You can get a copy from www.inourwords.ca