Reading with Dali’s Book Club and @chermanalil
by Ibi Zoboi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What is Hope? Hope is a butterfly that breaks out of a hard cocoon. it's the torturous journey to break out of the skin, and then out of a restrictive shell, to spread your wings and lift yourself up. to rise from what you were to what you can potentially become. Hope is Amal. Hope is his Umi. Hope is his Uncle Rashon's silent hug.
Unfortunately, not every young mind that makes a mistake, is afforded the chance to hope, to transform their life. To correct their path and to make of themselves, what they could have if they had listened to their misgivings, before the mistake. This is because of their formative wings are cut off at the bud, by the society, the adults around them who's perception is formed not by what the young life was up to this point, what it could potentially be, but solely focused on the 'Mistake' and that is all they see.
Being a true crime buff, this book intrigued me. And when you watch as many documentaries and as many books, one sees some innocents squashed under the wheels of Justice, among the scores of deprived minds that commit a crime. This book gave me a fresh new perspective about the journey of a those few innocents and a journey of Hope.
View all my reviews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
What is Hope? Hope is a butterfly that breaks out of a hard cocoon. it's the torturous journey to break out of the skin, and then out of a restrictive shell, to spread your wings and lift yourself up. to rise from what you were to what you can potentially become. Hope is Amal. Hope is his Umi. Hope is his Uncle Rashon's silent hug.
Unfortunately, not every young mind that makes a mistake, is afforded the chance to hope, to transform their life. To correct their path and to make of themselves, what they could have if they had listened to their misgivings, before the mistake. This is because of their formative wings are cut off at the bud, by the society, the adults around them who's perception is formed not by what the young life was up to this point, what it could potentially be, but solely focused on the 'Mistake' and that is all they see.
Being a true crime buff, this book intrigued me. And when you watch as many documentaries and as many books, one sees some innocents squashed under the wheels of Justice, among the scores of deprived minds that commit a crime. This book gave me a fresh new perspective about the journey of a those few innocents and a journey of Hope.
View all my reviews
This book is loosely inspired by a True Crime incident in which 5 innocent teens were incarcerated. The book intrigued me, as a True Crime fan and having vaguely heard about this incident mentioned in one of the Crime podcasts I follow.
Secondly, this will be my first lyrical book. The words are very different from the way a regular book would be written, and the almost musical way it reads touches the emotions more so.
Q: Where can I get the book?
The book is available in both paperback and e-book formats on Amazon.
The book is to be read in the following schedule... So I'll be updating this blog as and how I complete the portion.. With my impression about the day's read.
Day 1 - it starts with life, and goes on to show where it has reached. In the short few years from the first line, life is shut behind bars. Its emotional and you can feel the catharsis the story brings to Amal who is narrating it. He is being charged, and cannot understand why no one sees such a different side of him.
Day 2 - coming to terms with the charge handed down... The in progress wall of hope crashing down... And coming to terms with what just happened. And why?
Quoting:
'because where I come from jail or death were the two options she handed to us because where he comes from the American Dream was the one option she handed to them So here we are, blind Lady Justice I see you, too'
'So I turn around to see the freedom I’m leaving behind to see the home I’m leaving behind I want so bad to paint this picture to crop out all the noise and zoom in on the people who love me'
The journey from hoping for freedom to hoping that he will survive, is one heavy with reflection and almost an 'outside_looking_in'.
the comparison to Senegal's 'Door of No Return' is very disconcerting. The comparison Amal makes to his arrival at the facility that houses the inmates to slaves journey from Africa to America, is prominent in this part.
Quoting -
'There was no in-between time to say goodbye I went from kid to criminal to felon to prisoner to inmate'
Day 3 - The contemplation while he arrives at the facility, of the choices he made, the names he got called. The chapter of 'God, The Artist' is the highlight!
Day 4 - the constant comparison of how Amal envisioned his school life, what he wanted to do in stark contrast to what he is doing. (The 'schooling' he is given an option to pursue). The verses sift between the two, like grains of sand in a sand clock. The last chapter for the Day was the best!
Quoting: (as printed in the book)
I
have a
crayon and paper
I didn't know that
I could hold this little
bit of freedom in my hands
Day 5 - Amal's meeting with his mom only accentuate the pain and turn him more into a recluse. How many a free spirit can be crushed, under a circumstance like that. The arrival of Zenobia's letter just highlights that Amal, is just a very young heart, deep down.
Day 6 - Quoting "I will always remember you remembering me"
Facing the possibility that he may not get out of this 'alive'. Alive in the sense of his whole being, Amal lapses into silence. He cant report and get into further trouble. Today's read also gave a small insight of the road up to what happened... How he came to be where he was that fateful day.
'Color Bleeds' - This phrase in today's portion has so many meanings and levels.
Day 7 - Amal finds himself a part of a crew, 'Homies' boxing him in, so he doesn't get attacked again. Homies to keep him in line. He finally gets a chance at the poetry class, only to walk out. MISTAKES and MISGIVINGS, she asked them to write. Mistakes.... Misgivings.... the one thing Amal didn't want to think about. Because he knows all the ways this could have gone. the 'If only' always triggers a spiral, one we cannot break. the knowing now is worse than the not knowing back when... and it doesn't let us forgive ourselves. Doesn't let us forget!
Day 8 - This began PART 3 of the book - Amal putting his thoughts together, his time together. It's a journey. and what a roller coaster it is! For one thing is sure, without the support from his family, the letters from Zenobia and the 'Corners' safeguarding him on the inside, he would have folded in. One thing hit home for sure... Belief in yourself is a pillar that can crumble, unless you have re-enforced steel of a support system around you.
Day 9 - The break out of emotions, during Dr. Bennu's program and after leads to the artist making an appearance, a voice being heard... 'I threw the first punch, but not the last' is a reverberation in Amal's mind. It's amazing how the human mind works. It knows the hard edges of the truth. It understands it!, but will mask it with the circumstance, to shield the heart from the tearing pain or consequences.
Day 10 - The reading for this phase is a bulk of the book, but a totally different perspective of what we know Amal till now as. We see him emerging like a butterfly, caged yet.. but not for long. he is shaping his intellect, finding himself and strengthening his creative voice... words.. and lines, one page, one book at a time.
Amal speaks of the butterfly effect .. along the way, and at this point in the book, his conviction in it seems to become stronger with every passing event. he sees it in small changes to life altering events happening around him.
The truth.. within him, the truth around him, to set him free. (left to the perceptions of the reader).
My- Impressions about 'Lyrical book'
Being my first Lyrical book, I found it an amazing read, cutting out the fluff of filler words and baring the emotions behind the words, in a way a visual would!
Q: Would I read more lyrical books?
Most Definitely!!!!!
Q: Would I recommend this book?
To those interested in the Genre - For sure.
To those who's want to try a new Genre or just the style of writing - Definitely go for it!
Leave a comment - if you too have read this book/ or have a opinion about my review. I'd love to hear your views.
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