Reviewed by Courtney Staib
This book is an extremely powerful collection of poetry and stories, both fiction and non-fiction, that everyone can relate to in one way or another. These stories consist of themes relating to depression, suicide, sexual abuse, love, and physical abuse. The use of personal essays, not just poetry, allows the reader to fully grasp the intensity of the topic being talked about. For example, in the short story, I am a Survivor, we see a young girl dealing with sexual abuse. We read about her recollections of the abuse from beginning to end, seeing her inner thoughts and struggles about speaking out. As emotional as this book is, it offers insight and positivity into these incredibly difficult situations and allows the reader to know that they are not alone in their struggles.
These collections are so powerful that this book is a page turner like no other. The writers of these stories are unbelievably talented and brave for speaking out about these issues. Topics like the ones revealed in this book are often shoved under the rug, not talked about, and masked with medication. The true issues are never resolved. The title Person Suit makes reference to the mask that people wear in order to conceal the burdens they carry. For example, in the story, I am a Survivor, the speaker says, “For months I kept silent…I told everyone who asked that I had a loving family…It was partly true.”
For these reasons, I am rating this book a 5 out of 5. The incredibly powerful stories shed light on important topics that need to be discussed, and this book does so in such a beautiful and insightful way. I recommend this book to anyone who has struggled or knows someone who has struggled with mental illness or abuse or has any interest in these topics.
DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for writing a review. I was not obligated to give a positive review, and all thoughts are my own.
About The Authors
11 different authors contributed to the making of this collection. They have taken off their
person suit” and exposed their stories for the world to see that no matter what situation anyone is going through, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. These authors encourage others who are going through mental illness or abuse to speak out and find help.