Review of Awakening

[Diana Lowery]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Awakening" by Michael Trudeau.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Michael Trudeau's collection of poems called Awakening does not neatly fit into any category. His works have elements of narrative, lyrical, and epic poetry. Trudeau's journey of self-discovery is lacking an epic hero, but his poems certainly evoke the emotions found in lyrical offerings. The story unfolds with the narrator waking up in a forest with no idea how he arrived there. The 13 poems that follow could be considered stand-alone poems, but they connect to tell an epic story.

Each poem centers around a specific theme. The topics range from love and regret to sorrow and alienation. There are no set meters or rhyme. Some poems follow a specific pattern for a while, but then they deviate for emphasis, usually at the climax of the poem. Most of the titles are variations of the who, what, where, when, and why basic, information-gathering, question words.

My favorite poem is "Where is God?" The narrator complains that God hides when needed such as during earthquakes, fires, and wind storms. This poem has seven stanzas. All but the sixth stanza end with the word there. The last stanza reveals God's hiding place. The poem "What Was if Where It Is?" uses onomatopoeia, repetition, and rhyme, which gives it a unique feel, unlike the majority of the other poems. The repeated use of the line "lock the door" conveys an aura of confusion and fear.

My least favorite parts of this collection are the times that mention the desire for using guns to inflict harm. The poem "Who Am I?" is an example. The narrator states, "I wish I could destroy my grief. Perhaps the answer is at the end of the barrel. Perhaps I should make life brief." Regardless of the intention of the poet to be relatable, the words disturbed me.

The quality of the paperback edition was excellent. The cover is attractive, and the font is an appropriate size. There are no illustrations or artwork of any kind. For some reason, the titles of each of the poems are underlined at the top of the page instead of being inside quotation marks. There are no introduction, preface, or author pages. There are 81 total pages, but the text only appears on the right side of the book. All the pages on the left side are blank.

Researching the author revealed that he has been a book editor for 17 years, owns a publishing services studio, and has authored approximately 12 other books, including textbooks and other volumes of poetry. My rating is 4 out of 4 stars. I found no reason to deduct any stars. This book would appeal to individuals who are looking for answers to the meaning of life and those who are searching for a way out of depression. Some of the contents could cause a trigger reaction for certain readers, so caution is advised.

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Awakening
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[Chinemezu Okafor]

I love poetries, and I love the fact that you found no negative aspect in this book. Thank you for this wonderful review.

[Chinemezu Okafor]

I love poetries, and I love the fact that you found no negative aspect in this book. Thank you for this wonderful review.

[Diana Lowery]

I love poetries, and I love the fact that you found no negative aspect in this book. Thank you for this wonderful review.

I appreciate your comments.

[Jenni Schmitt]

I would not have suspected this was a poetry collection from the cover. Thank you for this review, it is an excellent advertisement for the book.

[Oyedeji Funmilayo]

I enjoyed reading your review and I look forward to reading the book. The author writing style is commendable and I like the fact speak on different aspects of life and existence. Welldone!!!

[Oyedeji Funmilayo]

I enjoyed reading your review and I look forward to reading the book. The author writing style is commendable and I like the fact speak on different aspects of life and existence. Welldone!!!

[Diana Lowery]

I enjoyed reading your review and I look forward to reading the book. The author writing style is commendable and I like the fact speak on different aspects of life and existence. Welldone!!!

I appreciate your comments.

[Nwaka Chukwuemeka]

Wow, by the content of this review, I strongly believe that this book will be interesting to read
I will give it a try. Great review.

[Diana Lowery]

Wow, by the content of this review, I strongly believe that this book will be interesting to read
I will give it a try. Great review.

Thank you for reading and commenting.

[George M Kollie jr]

Wow, thanks for the review,I really love this review, and I love your favorite poem. Thank you for this lesson.

[Mildred Echesa]

I have much to agree on in your review, such as when God hides during the most crucial moment in life. This book is eye-opening and I have to read it.

[Diana Lowery]

Thanks, Sarah1738. I appreciate your comments.

[Jelly_J]

Wow! I've never seen a poem that can add together to tell an adventurous story. Its themes seem to be relatable as well. Great review.

[Honest-reviewer]

This collection of poetry seems interesting. Now I am curious to know how the narrator landed in the forest. Thanks for your brilliant review!