Review of Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery through Poetry
Posted: 03 Jan 2025, 11:25
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery through Poetry" by Lisa McCarthy.]
“Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Poetry” by Lisa McCarthy is a modern book of 88 poems and the author’s second work. Each of the poems is meant to uplift readers, with subjects that have to do with creating a positive sense of self. Some give a view into the author’s own spiritual journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed several aspects of this book. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I really like that the book is a refreshing guide for the soul. All of the poems are inspiring, uplifting, or stir the imagination. It is easy to imagine readers finding a poem that will be exactly what they need to enliven their spirits. Each poem in the book gets its own page, which is another positive trait. Each page has its own singular spiritual focus, so nothing about the work is overwhelming. Some of the poems in McCarthy’s book, like “Aging,” and “Living, Not Just Existing,” really get to the heart of issues within modern-day society as a whole.
Later on in “Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Poetry, the poems are within a story called “A Tale of Perseverance.” Readers are alongside the author on a peaceful hike through the woods. The poems give a glimpse into McCarthy’s spiritual saga. The poem “My Freedom Day” will strike a chord especially with women.
There are a couple of reasons why I give the book one less star than five. Quite a few of the writings are prose, not poetry. For the sake of accuracy, I think the title should somehow mention prose. Another reason for the rating has to do with the content of certain poems. A couple of the poems that reference God come across as preaching, such as “Finding Self-Worth in God” and “Ten Maidens.” All of the poems that mention God, with the exception of these, are uplifting and can even inspire hope. These two stir the imagination but don’t really follow the tone of the book, because they come across as directives or with an air of judgment instead of a gentle push to readers.
McCarthy’s book will appeal to readers who like spiritual self-help books. Although it is probably best suited for Christian readers due to certain of its poems, a lot of the poems have universal themes that will be appealing regardless of a reader’s religion.
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Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery through Poetry
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Poetry” by Lisa McCarthy is a modern book of 88 poems and the author’s second work. Each of the poems is meant to uplift readers, with subjects that have to do with creating a positive sense of self. Some give a view into the author’s own spiritual journey.
I thoroughly enjoyed several aspects of this book. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I really like that the book is a refreshing guide for the soul. All of the poems are inspiring, uplifting, or stir the imagination. It is easy to imagine readers finding a poem that will be exactly what they need to enliven their spirits. Each poem in the book gets its own page, which is another positive trait. Each page has its own singular spiritual focus, so nothing about the work is overwhelming. Some of the poems in McCarthy’s book, like “Aging,” and “Living, Not Just Existing,” really get to the heart of issues within modern-day society as a whole.
Later on in “Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Poetry, the poems are within a story called “A Tale of Perseverance.” Readers are alongside the author on a peaceful hike through the woods. The poems give a glimpse into McCarthy’s spiritual saga. The poem “My Freedom Day” will strike a chord especially with women.
There are a couple of reasons why I give the book one less star than five. Quite a few of the writings are prose, not poetry. For the sake of accuracy, I think the title should somehow mention prose. Another reason for the rating has to do with the content of certain poems. A couple of the poems that reference God come across as preaching, such as “Finding Self-Worth in God” and “Ten Maidens.” All of the poems that mention God, with the exception of these, are uplifting and can even inspire hope. These two stir the imagination but don’t really follow the tone of the book, because they come across as directives or with an air of judgment instead of a gentle push to readers.
McCarthy’s book will appeal to readers who like spiritual self-help books. Although it is probably best suited for Christian readers due to certain of its poems, a lot of the poems have universal themes that will be appealing regardless of a reader’s religion.
******
Unleashing the Power Within: A Journey of Self-Discovery through Poetry
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon