7,300 days

by Isabella Mente, Chase Walcott (Illustrations), Sarah Hesky (Illustrations)

this book holds my story, my odyssey, through twenty years of life. it shares my story through the darkness and the light. get comfy, put your favorite sweats on, boil some water, and make tea. crack open the pages and feel with me. hold my art upon your lap and let it become a part of you. because this story is not just mine, it is yours, too. all my love, me. [themes found within this text: femininity, mental health: depression/anxiety, self-love, sexual abuse, love, trauma, etc. a coming of age] xx

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Feminism

344 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2016

Reviews

[Deborah Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. it’s poetry collections like this that make me remember why i love words so much, and why it’s important that we open ourselves up enough to share our words with others. this book spoke to my entire heart and soul; i connected with and saw myself in so much of what was written in here. this collection was so raw and so filled with emotion that it’s clearly evident that the author bled herself dry onto each and every page. thank you, isabella, for being brave enough to open yourself up and share with us the words that you have been holding inside for so long.

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

this isn't just a story of isabella's journey, it's the readers too. that's one of my favourite things about poetry, that something that someone feels can resonate with you so much that you find a connection and comfort in their words. 7,300 days is filled with heartbreak, growth, love and self love. it captures what it's like to be young so well. highly recommend!

[elysianstories · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay guys I've finished this beautiful poetry book in 3 sittings and lemme tell ya: This is the Best poetry book I've ever read!!

It's about love, losing, fear, anger and about growing up. I smiled and I shed some tears and I'm just so happy that my friend got me this book because it reflexts all the feelings I have inside of me.

I just turned 20 and it felt like the end of the world for me. No teen anymore, I have to be an adult now. But no. This is not the end. This is the beginning and only because the number changed doesn’t mean I have to change. This book showed that all the weird feelings inside me are normal. That my life has just started and that it will be great!!! You're not alone. I am not alone and it feels so good to know this.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this is hands down my favourite poetry book I have read by far! I could feel all the love, heartbreak, sadness and emotion. I could relate to so much. Beautifully written!! Feeling so so inspired. I want to write my own poetry book.

[Jodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have only recently realised my pure and intense love for poetry. this beautiful book has only furthered that. not only did I get a wonderful and truthful look into isabella's life- i had a chance to come to so many personal realisations. with an inspiring section on veganism and coming to terms/loving with oneself, i realise i have a lot of personal growing to do.

i would recommend, and then recommend again to make sure you got the message. absolutely brilliant and incredibly heartwarming and also painfully truthful- but that's simply life.

[Jakia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book about 3 times now, and i've fallen more in love with it each time. Isabella manages to tell her unique story while still being relatable to the reader. I found myself getting lost in the words, reflecting on my childhood and past endeavors. I found a piece of myself in the stories she tells. I've learned a great deal from this book. I recommend this to anyone who's ever loved, been loved, been broken. There's truly something in here for everyone.

[sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

sadly, this book let me down. i liked the concept of splitting the book into different years and seeing how isabella grew, and that her poetry was unique with the way it flowed (how one line ended the sentence of the previous line whom starting a new sentence). it became kind of repetitive as it stuck to similar themes, but all in all there was nothing wrong with this book, it just didn’t wow me.

[palthu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thoughtfulness of Isabella writing this masterpiece is beyond my words to express how gravely I am moved and inspired by it. As already mentioned in my progress update, it was hard for me getting through the first 150 pages or so. For I felt very unconfortable with the feelings that have rose in my chest, for her story telling was very personal. The unfold of the story did indeed surprise. Isabella didn't end it with her growing, no. She spoke to her readers and encourages them to blossom into their own beautiful flower. Not even stopping there, she continues to speak up about what is so wrong about our todays society, she gives clear examples and easily brings the reader to visualize her written words. -this is her way of helping the world to become a better place, her way of rebellion against the rule that have been knocked into our heads by everyone. Beginning at the middle of the book until the end, I felt like hugging here. For speaking up her mind and being proud of her standing up to her own beliefs with a strong backbone. You inspired with this book by telling and sharing your thoughts and views about evolving and changing for the better. Thank you for this book, I am grateful and happy that my cousin gifted me this book and that I finally found some time to read it.
It makes me so happy that you found a purpose for yourself and expressing yourself and that you are damn good at that. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Angel ✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is more than a book of poems. this is a story. a story about isabella's life. the ups, the downs, the heartbreak, the loss, the survival. this is living in its truest form. to be able to learn so much about a person without knowing them at all is beautiful. i feel so connected to isabella in each poem i read. i found myself in so many of her words. the way she isn't afraid to write exactly what she is feeling, the way she is so open, the way she embraces her lowest lows as proudly as she does her highest highs, is inspiring. this book is why i love to write - to be able to share your life through words, to help others and to help yourself. this book is simply marvelous. thank you, isabella, for sharing your words with the world, with me.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favourite poetry books to date, this book is a collection of poetry reflecting on moments in Isabella's like up to her 20th. I can honestly say her poetry is very refreshing as being of a similar age to the author, quite a few poems resonate with me as her words are well written helps relate the reader to them; making you reflect and remember memories from the past.

It's a book I've read through and gone back to again and again, always discovering something new within her words and within myself, with the help of simple illustrations. I recommend this to anyone who takes an interest in Rupi Kaur's poetry book. This book is full of beautiful and honest poems, which has personally inspired me during a project at Uni too.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I followed and even met Isabella once at a meet up and she is such an amazing spirit with an incredible passion for writing however, you can kind of tell that this was her first published book. Though I loved some of the poems in here there was a similar syntax to many of them which I wish was broken up more with varied styles. I love that the book went through into different stages/ages of her life. The way the poems are laid out along with the drawings are similar to Rupi Kaur, so if you enjoy their work you most likely will enjoy this book. There are some incredible pieces in here that I adore, I definitely enjoyed the book and look forward to seeing more work from her.

[Callie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this one on the beach and so glad I got to finally read it! Isabella's words are so incredibly beautiful, and so many feelings were happening in me during the road trip I read most of the book on. So many of these poems seemed to come to me at just the right time, it was like magic 💛 I think I can confidently say that this is my favorite poetry book (and you might be able to tell if you could see all the underlined and hi-lighted pages!) I'm so glad Isabella decided to share this bundle of light and love and wisdom with the world.

[Sylwia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the way this poetry book is written. The author was very clever about the way she divided the book - instead of using chapters or sections, she used her age which was told to us by the number of days.

Though I enjoyed the book, I can’t help but feel like this book just wasn’t what I was expecting. And while this was a beautiful way of Isabella Mente sharing her life story, it just didn’t speak to me, which I guess is the real purpose of poetry.

Non the less, I do recommend this book! Just because I didn’t manage to connect with it, doesn’t mean no one else will!

[natàlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I enjoyed most of the poetry, because it felt too “simple” and “easy” at times. I am a bit disappointed, because I have read more of Isabella Mente’s writing and I really loved it, and the problem is I probably was expecting something more from this book. Anyway, I’m giving this 3 stars because I did connect with some parts of the book (mental health issues, family issues) and because I like the soothing, calm, hopeful feeling I was left with when I finished the book.

[Ashlee Raymond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love poetry that is concise, modern, and yet still holds that sort of elegance and vulnerability that makes it so universal. Isabella did such a wonderful job of highlighting issues in youth that seem so personal and unique to oneself but that resonates with a very large crowd. I found myself reflecting on certain events in my own life that followed suit, and as an aspiring poet myself, it’s nice to see I’m not alone.
Thank you Isabella for your beautiful words!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rollercoaster. As soon as I said I began to enjoy the words being written, I read some that I didn't like. For me, the unenjoyable words were more frequent than the enjoyable ones. I definitely loved some of her words and I was left feeling inspired but the rest was boring and difficult to get through which is why it took me a whole month to read :/

[Renee Felsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible.
This book was a journey.
At first I was unsure of the writing style, but if you read it and appreciate it as a collection of work that flows on from one another, it is truely beautiful.
It cured my writers block and sent me straight to my journal to express my own sentiments of my years.
Will probably read anything Mente writes from now on... a legend!!

[Briony · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars to be exact (where are the half stars at good reads). Good book, lots of personal emotion and thought. I liked the way Isabella decided to display her life through this book however it was lacking my empathy... I didn’t feel the poems as much as i’d have liked to. Full review on my thoughts coming tomorrow ✨

[Madisyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

i liked the line about veganism "my body is not a graveyard" and a few other poems about her depression and being a teenager. some passages were a too on the nose for me or repetitive and I wanted her to dig a little deeper with the subject being discussed. other than that, great writing and i want to see what she comes out with next.

[Katie MacAlister · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did NO ONE edit this book before it got printed? I so appreciate her sharing some very hard and real truths and taking the reader along on her health and healing journey but come on, so many spelling and grammar errors (no, not the intentional “poetic” ones) make it tough to take a writer seriously, which isn’t fair to the author or the reader.

[Abby Schooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is truly one of a kind. isabella has a way with words that is so metaphoric but also simplistic. this book has heavily inspired me to continue my journey with writing. the topics in this book are far from basic, like in many modern day poetry collections. i absolutely loved it.

[Lily Chetwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

insightful
what can i say?
well, the poems can be related to by any age.
the stories of growing up, and sometimes down.
when i read this book today i was inspired to forget everything going on in my life and focus on present day me.

[nara ᵔ◡ᵔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is one long, beautiful journey. i absolutely adore isabella and am absolutely in love with this book. definitely worth the read, even if only a flick through a few pages.

[Justyna Burek · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Ely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoughts soon.

[Tianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inciteful. Very very honest. Beautiful!

[~bookisham · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Elizabeth Garzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites.

[Molly Kayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relatable and heart touching. Lovely.

[Maria Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book it shows the author took her time writing it to share her life and inspire others with her wisdom. If you love milk and honey book you will love this book.