Author Name: Diamante Lavendar
Publisher Name: Diamante Lavendar, 2016
Reviewed By: Jessica Bucci
ABOUT THE BOOK
In this rare collection of nonfiction Christian poetry and prose based on real life experiences, Diamante Lavendar, a victim of abuse, shows the reader the raw emotions of pain, hate, and denial that occur before a victim of abuse can find a way to heal from the pains of assault. Knowing herself the very difficult journey of being a victim, Diamante was abused as a child, and turned to alcohol and drugs to numb the pain. Many years later, she started to heal under God’s watchful eyes and was able to find love in her life again. She shares these truly inspiring, religious poems in the hopes that it may help other victims heal their hurts, as she did while writing the poetry collection.
MY REVIEW
Rating: 4/5
‘Poetry and Ponderings’ is a poetic collection filled with raw emotion, beautiful imagery, and an inspiring message. Diamante Lavendar deals with the dark subject of abuse in a mature and respectful manner. The poems vary in length, structure, and rhyming scheme. Each individual poem can stand alone, but together tell a story with a powerful message about hope and healing. I found a lot of the poems had a calming and peaceful effect on me. My favorites included ‘Please Do Not Weep,’ ‘Sometimes, Life is a Dance,’ ‘Crying for a Savior,’ ‘Don’t Give Up,’ and ‘The Journey,’ among many others. Readers will not have a problem finding a poem that they can connect with and that speaks to them. The design of the book beautifully compliments its words. The italicized font creates a calming atmosphere. The corners of the pages contain branches that grow as the piece continues. The book itself is short and simple, yet effective as Lavendar’s word choice and style is elegant and awe-inspiring.
I would recommend ‘Poetry and Ponderings’ to readers who appreciate religious pieces, who have been or know victims of abuse, and who may need uplifting and hope in their lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diamante Lavendar has been in love with reading since she was a child. She spent many hours listening to her mother read to her when she was young. As she grew older, she enjoyed reading novels of all genres: horror, fantasy and some romance to name a few.
She began writing in college and published some poetry in anthologies over the years. After her kids were older, she wrote as a form of self expression and decided she wanted to share her stories with others.
Most of her writing is very personal and stems from her own experiences and those of her family and friends. She writes to encourage hope and possibility to those who read her stories.
Diamante believes that everyone should try to leave their own positive mark in the world, to make it a better place for all. Writing is the way that she is attempting to leave her mark—one story at a time.
Author’s Website
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.