Book Review: "She Walks In Beauty: A Woman's Journey Through Poems," selected & introduced by Caroline Kennedy; published by Hachette Books; 1st edition (April 5 2011)

8/22/2021

Life is a moving story, and we move forward in life and every breath, every step we take, culminates in a new experience we add to our story over time. And that is certainly what our lives amount to: a cumulated tapestry of our journey, an ongoing poem that is deep and meaningful and rich, uniquely ours to shape and pave as we see fit within the complexity of our experiences.

I purchased a paperback copy of New York Times Bestseller, She Walks In Beauty- A Woman's Journey Through Poems, back in January, 2021 and read it over time, at my leisure. When I came across it, something told me to purchase a physical copy. I am happy to report I am glad I did so. This book is a treasure, endowed with an arsenal of poems spanning a woman's life journey depicting different facets of her existence and her place within her evolving story.

The book is beautifully laid out in categories introduced by Caroline Kennedy and a number of pages are illustrated with black and white peonies, adding to the overall feminine tone of the book. It clocks in at 332 pages yet it feels lightweight and did not place any hand holding fatigue on me while reading. I find Caroline Kennedy's detailed introduction to each section a personal touch which connects with the reader.

As an avid, poetry reader and writer, I can appreciate the mosaic of thoughts and feelings conveyed in the poems depicted in this book as they unfold throughout a woman's life journey from childhood through to old age. These are not poems just stuck together. They are carefully chosen to reflect an expanding timeline.

I can also appreciate the unique styles from various poets that come together to create a deeply meaningful anthology that speaks to the reader. I enjoyed reading work from well known and lesser known poets. Discovering new writing talent is always a bonus for an avid reader. As we age and time marches on, I believe our sensitive side is triggered by our experiences and the world around us and everything and everyone within it becomes more and more meaningful to us.

You do not have to be a writer yourself to appreciate these poems. Anyone can enjoy this book which makes it a keeper. I thought of a diamond after I finished reading it. It has many facets to it and so does a woman's journey for the struggles, the triumphs, the gains, the losses and the joys are all laid out in this book. It reminded me that with each step we take, we do "walk in beauty."

Definitely a keeper.

Special Notes

You can acquire a copy of Caroline Kennedy's She Walks In Beauty- A Woman's Journey Through Poems via Amazon Canada by clicking HERE and Amazon USA by clicking HERE .

I was not requested to do this review. I did it of my own volition, volunteering my views in an effort to bring the author and potential readers together.

If you read a book, please remember to leave a review on any site of your choosing. It acts as an incentive for other readers to purchase an author's book. Writers are super appreciative of this kind act.

Book Review: She Walks In Beauty- A Woman's Journey Through Poems by Caroline Kennedy.

Book Blog Copyright (C) 2021 Mary-Lisa Russo

Author

You have stumbled into the writing world of Mary-Lisa Russo, an avid storyteller observing the universe around her and her humble place amongst the stars. “Excerpts From The Wandering Mind” is Mary-Lisa’s first collection of poems and she is currently working on her next book, a compilation of romantic poetry. She is a university graduate having majored in English Literature and continues to nurture her ongoing writing education at a local college and other educational avenues. She is a member of the Ontario Poetry Society and various writers’ groups. She enjoys reading and giving a voice to fellow authors.