3 out of 4 stars
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Iva Schubart’s Sanguine-Love is a motivational self-help book which aims to help readers overcome life’s challenges. Split into two major sections, the first section details the first fifty years of her life in Egypt, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and the second tells of her life after fifty. This second section is where one will find most of her advice on how to transform one’s life for the better, to achieve sanguine-love by cultivating the proper mindset.
Coming in at a short 184 pages, this is not only a fast read, but also an easy-to-digest one. In the first half, Schubart analyses the first part of her life, trying to understand what went wrong. There is much introspection on her part in this section, and she leaves no stone unturned when doing so. Moreover, there is a strong thread of sincerity and authenticity present throughout, which I very much appreciated. I was therefore able to fully immerse myself in the story, and despite coming from a vastly different background, I was also able to relate to her struggles.
The second half is where the reader will find most of her advice to work towards a better life. This includes tips on how to form new habits and a healthier diet, as well as various step-by-step exercises at the end of each chapter to kickstart the reader’s journey towards emotional and mental recovery. Furthermore, another plus point is that these exercises are presented in a succinct and clear manner.
What I found especially touching was Schubart’s likening of the process of achieving self-love to the timeless processes of nature, to life itself. For example, she teaches the reader that forging a connection with nature is one step towards recovery, be it incorporating a daily walk through the park or even to sleep an extra hour to let the body rest. It resonated with me deeply, and I believe that it would help many a reader along the process of positive transformation.
However, as for the writing quality, Sanguine-Love is unfortunately riddled with numerous grammar and syntax errors, which detracted rather significantly from my reading flow. This might be due to the fact that there has obviously been no professional editing done, coupled with the fact that English is not Schubart’s first language.
In addition, the book is also slightly messy in terms of formatting. Much of the first section could be tightened and focused, as the writing tended to ramble, which had the effect of breaking one’s immersion. Also, whilst there are quotes from many renowned people included before the start of most chapters, some of them are inserted suddenly into the body of the text, which makes it a little jarring. There are also a few incomplete footnotes present, and this is disappointing.
Therefore, I rate Iva Schubart’s Sanguine-Love 3 out of 4 stars. I decided to round it up from 2.5 stars as the book, whilst unpolished, has vast untapped potential. If the author works with an editor to iron out said issues, Sanguine-Love would definitely shine even brighter. Lastly, I would recommend this to those who are seeking/determined to change their physical and mental state for the better. However, do note that there are mentions of child abuse, domestic violence and sex abuse.
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Sanguine-love
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