Book Review: Please Hear What I'm Not Saying [Edited by Isabelle Kenyon]

Please Hear What I'm Not Saying

Description

This anthology is made out of 200 pages of poetry from over a hundred poets worldwide. The theme of this collection is mental health, and covers a wide range of facets. Poems speak about depression, anxiety, OCD, Alzheimer's Disease, personality disorders, therapy and suicide, amongst others.
Proceeds from the anthology are donated to several mental health charities. The editor, Isabelle Kenyon, keeps an update of the donations on her blog Fly On The Wall Poetry. So far, almost £500 have been donated.

Here is a short video of the editor reading a poem featured in the anthology:

Editing

The anthology is split into eight sections. Something I really liked is that these sections are unnamed. There is a space for the reader to write the name of the chapter. This makes each copy individualised and that much more special to the reader. The poems are grouped in themes, and eventually grow lighter. Although they can be read in order, it is not necessary, and readers are encouraged to skip through sections (especially when some sections are too heavy for the reader). On the site linked above, the editor listed trigger warnings for each section, although this wasn't present in the physical copy of the book itself. If you find that there is a possible trigger or sensitive issue for you, I would suggest checking the site and be cautious if you decide to read that specific chapter.

I liked the presentation and font. If there was a word to describe it, it would be sleek. The titles are listed below the poems, which was interesting. Sometimes, after reading the title, I read the poem again and I understand it in completely different way. I think placing the title beneath worked for majority of poems, so that my mind isn't boxed in with an expectation. Then, I could always reread it again! It is also evident that the poets voices wasn't edited down; it appears authentic. The structure, line spacing, and all that is not standardised, and each poem has its own style and editing. That is something I truly appreciated; there was consistency in the diversity of it all.

Raw

A lot of the poems are so raw and honesty (and well-written!). Even though the poems are personal, most poets did not shy away from being as candid as possible. It felt like I was able to feel with them, being in their own head and live their experience. I believe that poetry like this is magical. It was, at times, upsetting. Especially when the feelings of depression or suicidal thoughts were presented and elicited memories or feelings that I had felt before. I'm not even sure what to say more about the poems. It was an astounding experience reading them, although I did need to take breaks between poems. There are several poems that I have reread and will keep rereading.

Diversity

The best thing about an anthology is that it includes several voices. This particular one included over a 100 poets from different backgrounds, with different experiences on mental health. As you would guess from the description, a lot of poets encounter different mental disorders to begin with. Moreover, there were several poems written by relatives of people who suffer through some of these mental disorders. One thing that fascinated me is the contrast between two poems: one by someone suffering from Alzheimer's Disease and the other by relative of someone suffering from the same Disease. The point-of-view is completely different, both so raw and real. They were both touching!

Moreover, even when it came to topics like anxiety and depression (which I am familiar with), everyone experiences them differently. Some of which, I could relate so much, that it felt like they described what I feel better than I ever did. The diversity doesn't stop here. The poets come from various countries, completely different social backgrounds. There was a specific poem that I liked (I cannot find it now). I cannot remember the exact lines, but it was directed towards a therapist or psychiatrist who emphasised the diagnosis of depression while ignoring the reality of oppression. Sometimes, the reactions of a person are completely normal given the specific situations, and we have to consider the root of the problems in the society not just in the person.

Conclusion

This anthology is worth buying! First of all, it's a great reading experience. Secondly, it's a great therapeutic experience. Thirdly, the proceeds go towards charity. If you have read some of my previous book reviews, you may know that I can be quite critical. The fact that I cannot bring myself to think of anything negative says a lot about the anthology. It is no wonder that the anthology was a runner-up at the Saboteur Awards.

Full Disclosure: I am one of the poets featured in this book. However, my review is unbiased. In fact, I feel that most poems included are so mind-blowing, that after reading them, I was left unsure how my submission was accepted. Seriously, they are so good, I cannot compare my work to them! I look forward for the next anthology that Isabelle Kenyon is working on (and I hope to be able to submit my own poetry as well). Thank you Isabelle for such an amazing anthology to keep on my shelf.