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At the age of twenty, Cheryl Wilder got behind the wheel when she was too drunk to drive. She emerged from the car physically whole. Her passenger, a close friend, woke up from a coma four months later with a life-changing brain injury. Anything That Happens follows her journey from a young adult consumed by shame and self-hatred to a woman she can live with… and even respect. Along the way, Wilder marries, has a son, divorces, and cares for her dying mother. Anything That Happens examines what it takes to reconcile a past marked by a grave mistake, a present as caregiver to many, and a future that stretches into one long second chance.
Reviewed by Jacob R LaMar for Readers' Favorite
Anything That Happens is a collection of 60 poems composed by Cheryl Wilder. Written in free verse format, this story does not display a standard rhythm or rhyme, but it does utilize bits of continuity on a poem-by-poem basis. The author’s work of art centers around a 20-year-old Wilder and her redemptive journey, following a grave mistake in her youth. When guilt consumes your life and shame becomes a constant companion, this collection of verses touches on the arduous process of reconciling with the person you were and wish to be. Much like the author's path, this book targets the broken and aims to repair what - at the moment - may seem irreparable.
Anything That Happens is a book rich with the experience of a life well-lived. Deep with meaning and heart, readers can learn a great deal by focusing on the significance of each piece. Much like a young sibling that learns how to avoid mistakes by watching their big brother or sister, this book allows its readers to learn through the trial-and-error process of the author. I would recommend this book to poetry lovers that prefer intense, non-traditional writing, as this manuscript has that in spades. On a side note, I wish there was a bit more color or some form of visual aspect to complete this one. This would help to set it apart from other books that are similarly written. That aside, I really think many poetry lovers will enjoy Anything that Happens, and I appreciate reading Cheryl Wilder's work.
