This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Life never promises anything, but when life unloads a crippling disease on a person, what can one do to survive, to continue to live? Retired teacher Tricia Johnson was diagnosed with autoimmune disease. Its crippling prognosis makes one feel like they’re constantly dragging around a dead weight. “Tiredness that steals in mid-sip coffee and forces your head flat on counter?/ Tiredness that stops you in your tracks and screams/ Sit NOW!/ Lay down NOW!/ If you don’t/ I will force you by simply stopping, unmoving, unbending.” Even the words haunt the reader with the heaviness of the poet’s fatigue.
Undaunted by the symptoms of the disease, this poet took to her art, her poetry, to provide sustenance, to give her life meaning and purpose again; to explain what it’s really like to carry the burden of this disease. Whirl Away Girl is Tricia Johnson’s poetic journey through unrelenting, unexpected symptoms, a diagnosis, to living with what she has – life. “Never wanting to settle for too long/ She is change, she is happy for change.” With her power of words to express the journey, this poet explains and shares her feelings, her symptoms, her fears, and, ultimately, her joys, because, yes, even with a horrendous disease to wear your down, life still can be beautiful. “Lazy eyes take all of this bounty in/ Replenish the dry soul/ Restore the wounded body/ Healing in the green of summer.” The poems are mostly free verse, full of poignant metaphors and intense imagery. This is a very soul-searching, heart-wrenching, powerful collection of poetry.