Book Review for Ten Hypnotic Texts by J. Saburra
I received this book for free. This does not impact my review in any shape or form.
Ten Hypnotic Texts, by J. Saburra, is a collection of poetry that details the poet’s struggle to understand her relationship with the world around her. This can include her writing, her interaction with others, and her navigating society’s complexities. Poems such as I know You Do and Pretty Much showcase Saburra’s inner dialogue as she attempts to advocate for herself and her interests while making sure she doesn’t screw herself over in the process.
Like all of Saburra’s other poetry collections, it was brief but humorous. I especially liked the poem Is that Alright with You? because at one point my colleagues and I had this discussion. Hell, a mutual friend of my husband and I used to say that if photography and film don’t work out for her, she could always go stripping. We’d point out her lack of upper body strength, and then we’d laugh/cry before wondering if anyone would buy our feet pictures. Some of my clients who are going to college are voicing the same concerns. Maybe it’s a part of some weird phase all young adults go through when they’re on the cusp of adulthood. Either way, it was entertaining.
I also liked how Saburra took the time to evaluate her relationship with herself and others in each poem. She’s very aware of when someone’s mistreating her, but in the same vein, I wonder how she’d feel if someone was showing her affection. Some of the poems carry a weight within them as if she allows the anxieties to build in her head until she’s nothing more than a cesspool of paranoia. It’s a sobering truth, but an important one nonetheless. Perhaps this is what she meant when she described the collection as “Hypnotic”; having your body and mind relive whatever trauma you’ve undergone can be very hypnotic, even if forced.
The collection is a lot more sobering than other self-help books nowadays. Then again, we need a little sarcasm with all this somewhat toxic positivity. As such, I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
