Review of The Invisible Backpack
Posted: 19 Jun 2024, 07:17
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Invisible Backpack" by William L Hartwick.]
William L. Hartwick, author of The Invisible Backpack, introduced me to a new literary term, rhythmical writing. His technique uses short, rhymed pieces to chronicle his experiences. Subtitled A Life of Courage, this memoir guides anyone struggling to overcome and survive any difficulty.
Hartwick, now a teacher, wasn't diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome until he was an adult, and he suffered years of bullying and abuse as a child because of his condition. Learning to forgive and forget became his goal. The title of his book refers to the experience of carrying around the burden of past grievances. He explains through his poems how to replace those burdens with lighter parcels of hope and happiness,
The honest, simple tone of the writing gets the point across without complicated sentence structures and pretentious vocabulary. Most of the short, one-page poems consist of couplets. There are a few longer poems that cover two or three pages. This format is ideal for a daily inspirational reading allowing time to meditate on each anecdote and its message.
My favorite poem is "Teacher." As a teacher myself, I can relate to this particular poem. Hartwick is talking to himself and recalling what helped him on his healing journey.
At times, the meter is off and the syllable count creates an annoying jolt in the cadence. Also, some of the poems contain forced and near rhymes. These negatives, however, are easy to overlook because of the emotions expressed.
What can't be overlooked are the errors caused by a lack of careful editing. Even though I allowed for poetic license, there were enough errors in the edition I read to deduct a star, resulting in a score of four out of five.
I recommend this book to anyone trying to gain enough self-confidence to quit worrying about what others think. This quote from Hartwick's poem "Expressions" summarizes his goal:
If people don't like it
I guess that's too bad
I have to live for myself
And what makes me glad.
******
The Invisible Backpack
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
William L. Hartwick, author of The Invisible Backpack, introduced me to a new literary term, rhythmical writing. His technique uses short, rhymed pieces to chronicle his experiences. Subtitled A Life of Courage, this memoir guides anyone struggling to overcome and survive any difficulty.
Hartwick, now a teacher, wasn't diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome until he was an adult, and he suffered years of bullying and abuse as a child because of his condition. Learning to forgive and forget became his goal. The title of his book refers to the experience of carrying around the burden of past grievances. He explains through his poems how to replace those burdens with lighter parcels of hope and happiness,
The honest, simple tone of the writing gets the point across without complicated sentence structures and pretentious vocabulary. Most of the short, one-page poems consist of couplets. There are a few longer poems that cover two or three pages. This format is ideal for a daily inspirational reading allowing time to meditate on each anecdote and its message.
My favorite poem is "Teacher." As a teacher myself, I can relate to this particular poem. Hartwick is talking to himself and recalling what helped him on his healing journey.
At times, the meter is off and the syllable count creates an annoying jolt in the cadence. Also, some of the poems contain forced and near rhymes. These negatives, however, are easy to overlook because of the emotions expressed.
What can't be overlooked are the errors caused by a lack of careful editing. Even though I allowed for poetic license, there were enough errors in the edition I read to deduct a star, resulting in a score of four out of five.
I recommend this book to anyone trying to gain enough self-confidence to quit worrying about what others think. This quote from Hartwick's poem "Expressions" summarizes his goal:
If people don't like it
I guess that's too bad
I have to live for myself
And what makes me glad.
******
The Invisible Backpack
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
