4 out of 4 stars
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Of Myriad Paths: To resilience, tenacity and hope is written by Saal Baraan. Using this pen name, the author shares poems that emerged from his experiences of serving as a pediatrician and taking care of his elderly parents. Hope and resilience are two of my favorite philosophical themes and psychological traits. Hence, the subtitle captured my attention, and I decided to read the collection. Although the poems contain complex thoughts and emotions, I was able to comprehend and appreciate them.
Doctors frequently encounter children, teenagers, and adults who are clinging to hope amid suffering. The image of an autumn leaf on the cover page as it remains clinging to the branch, despite an inevitable future, is an apt symbol of the reality of life. In the contents of this book, I noticed the enigma of coexisting weakness and strength, hopelessness and hope, heroes and antiheroes, as well as feelings and thoughts. The poems and illustrations depict the immensity of suffering that family members, friends, and medical personnel go through as they take care of the sick and aged.
The book has 21 poems revealing real-life and thought-provoking events. They contain the poignant theme of “loss” as we journey through life. A spouse suffering from a stroke because of a small clot, a seven-year-old girl in a wheelchair, mastectomy due to cancer, bipolar disorder, begging, catatonia, the doctor’s fees, and many more stories are included. They are filled with sadness and hope. This is a short poetry book with only 90 pages. It contains illustrations by Antonija Marinić. The artwork is exceptional and conveys the emotions involved in the concerned stories. They challenge readers to transform their way of thinking and their attitude towards people around them. I shall not spoil the read by giving out more details.
Overall, I felt as if the author was suffering from a burnout. Writing poems was cathartic and helped him to process the experiences. Suffering drains energy, but resilience shines through the stories and the people involved. This is my favorite aspect of the book. It is awe-inspiring. Since Saal is also a professor, I think medical students who read this will learn to be compassionate in their practice. As a doctor, reading the poems helped me to release pent-up feelings and be more relaxed. It could be the other way round for a few readers who might find the poems increasing their pain. It depends on each one’s context and personality.
After considering all this, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It seems to be professionally edited, and I found only 3 grammatical errors that were not distracting. There is nothing that I disliked about the book or the stories. I did not give it a lower rating because I found the theme very interesting and unique. I am pleased to recommend Of Myriad Paths to healthcare professionals and patients. It may also appeal to counselors, social workers, and people who take care of the sick and aged.
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Of Myriad Paths
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