September 13, 2018

Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart


"What does it take to make us smile when we feel the sword of anger and hatred sharp against the backs of our peaceful necks?" ~ 54%

Author of Pulitzer Prize-winning The Color Purple, Alice Walker, shares a moving collection of nearly seventy new poems about a life well-lived. The poems are written mainly in 2015-2016. Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart is a peak into her world of love, hope, activism and gratitude. It is a comforting reminder that the arrows we feel in our hearts are not ours alone, but we must learn to remove them.

Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart is a bilingual collection. Manuel Garcia Verdecia, a respected poet and writer in Cuba, translated the poems into Spanish. English translation immediately follows each poem in the book. Alice Walker met Manuel back in 1985. Ever since, it has been a renewing spiritual experience working together. I am pleased to learn that Cubans are voracious readers; it makes me want to visit Cuba sooner rather than later. What a pleasure it would be to explore literature there.

"An unbalanced wakefulness can be as treacherous as blind sleep." ~ 30%

Back to the subject at hand...I prepared a tall glass of sweet iced tea, muted all devices and settled in with an advance reader copy (ARC). I expected to be wow-ed. I expected to be in awe. I expected nothing short of greatness. My hopes were met! I took small breaks only to highlight and journal thoughts while reading.

Alice Walker fans, we have been blessed with new free verse. Although some of the poems are written for Muhammad Ali, Jesse Williams, Cynthia Erivo, B.B. King and more public figures, I was able to relate to its meaning. And it didn't go over my head like most poetry or deep prose. No matter the race, gender or political affiliation, Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart is pure inspiration for people of all stages in life. The poems force you to think beyond the page.

"Widespread sorrow and unrest have become the norm of human experience. The world is divided into many groups, many of which are pitted against each other in games of power conditioned by self-interest and expediency. The human family is at a breaking point." ~ 72%

Happy Early Pub Day, Alice Walker. Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart will be available Tuesday, October 2.

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart
Author: Alice Walker
Published: October 2018
Pages: 288
Edition: Galley
Rating: 🖤 🖤 🖤 🖤

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