Storm Cloud Haze: A memoir in poetry, prose and polaroids by Alessandra WikeMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! How do you rate this? How do you rate someone’s life, their pain, their suffering, their fear? I didn’t really want to, but I know how important it is for an author.
If this were a work of fiction, my rating would be so different, or if I were to rate it on the writing alone. I disliked the poetry. Even the prose was written poetically, and I care little for that style of writing. However, I’m going to ignore that part of my brain for this review. It’s trivial to the story being told in Storm Cloud Haze.
Storm Cloud Haze is a story of pain. It’s a story of trauma. It’s a story of acceptance. It’s Alessandra’s story. To say I found the story frightening is an understatement.
When I took Kenpo Noh Shin Do, it was to learn to defend ourselves, to end a fight quickly, and by whatever means necessary. But how? How do you win a fight when your opponent is your own body? The concept is terrifying, and Alessandra’s experiences are chilling.
I can only commend Alessandra for her bravery, for seeking hope in a situation that seemed devoid of it.
I won this book in a contest. I could tell right off that it’s not my typical read, but as a literature student, I learned not to turn down a book just because it’s not in the genre that resonates with me.
This book contains a beautiful, haunting story of survival. I highly recommend it to anyone really. It’s short and gives you something to think about.
Because of what this book is, because of what this book stands for, I can only leave it five stars. But again, how do you rate this?
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