Book Review & Giveaway - 'Breathing in Spring' by Nadia R. Khansa

By Amy Lee

“I fight, but too often I find myself in a world that doesn’t fight for me.
Like a poem, I’ve gotten lost in translation.”​

Content Warning: This poetry collection contains references to sexual violence, suicide, mental illness and war. Please be advised if those are potential triggers for you as you read this book and book review.

Nadia R. Khansa’s stunning anthology debut, Breathing in Spring, is a testament of life’s tragedies, triumphs and fragility. Her poetry is so beautiful yet haunting that there can be both so much trauma and therapy in these 141 pages. Each word and drawing have been painstakingly embedded with intention and meaning that the reader is transcended into her war torn world and twilight zone for survival and recovery.  Her book chronicles her family’s escape from the war in Lebanon, resettling in America, confronting the traumas of sexual abuse and rebuilding her new life.

Part I, ‘Dying’, introduces us to the shocking truths of war as seen  and felt by a child. The language, tone and rhythm starts off lyrical and dreamy, when reminiscing her innocence and familiarity with her favourite things and beloved ones. Cedar Trees and Rose Gardens in Lebanon are picturesque, poignant and sweet.  The language becomes heavy and intense as it moves from the rumours of a war towards the physical and mental damages of war itself that one feels the allegro spiral-down effect when reading it. 

My favourite piece was, Beginning, a nostalgic tribute to her homeland, Lebanon. It is written with tantalising sensory and fond descriptions of her favourite things, “…I find myself yearning for the familiarity of Lebanese food…it tastes like home, it tastes like my childhood…”. The beat and flow of her words brings out the melancholic longings for a far away memory. 

Part II, ‘Haunting’, unravels the devastations of self-harm and sexual abuse with powerful language and adagio motions. The emotional impact upon the victim and her attempts to withdraw, then self-heal are deeply explored and charged with such raw power. There are glimpses of anger and pain in her requiems of loss.  Wilted Roses and Magnolia Flower are particularly profound, using flowery imageries to convey the feelings of grief and mournfulness. The Earth is Angry is a powerful anthem to taking back the power and to self-heal. 

Part III, ‘Resurrecting’, is a poised and reflective journey to  reconcile self-hate and self-heal. It is encouraging to read and to feel the full-circle of hope, redemption and self-love from this one brave anthology.  A particularly beautiful line is written in I Came to You, “You took me to a canvas, and I made it a mosaic”. 

Part IV, ‘Breathing’ is the author's riveting recovery, with uplifting emotions such as, "...But I don't carry the pain anymore, I just visit it from time to time".  The allegory of nature to describe the bliss of life and hope is therapeutic and peaceful, especially in Cherry Blossoms in the City:

 "...when they bloom, they bring hope, excitement, rebirth, and a reminder that even the longest winters end".

Khansa is an exciting new voice of Middle Eastern diaspora and Muslim femme. The themes of loneliness, yearnings for love and self-healing are palpably universal.

She has set her mark along the likes of Rupi Kaui (Milk and Honey) and Fariha Róisín (How to Cure a Ghost) by boldly voicing her journey towards womanhood, spirituality and completeness.

About:
Nadia R. Khansa is the author of Breathing in Spring and is a poet, artist, and trauma mental health therapist. In 2016 she gave the Tedx Talk “It’s Time to Talk about Trauma” youtu.be/dPkGJk5z_Nw
and has continued to emphasize the importance of art and self expression as necessary parts of healing in her work and personal life. Nadia has  been published in Herstry Blog, Muftah Magazine, and is a member of the Radius of Arab American Writers.

Enter Book Competition:
Like and follow Nadia to be in the draw to win a copy of Breathing in Spring. 
www.facebook.com/Nadia.Rasha.Khansa
Must be over 18 and U.S. resident to be in the draw to win a copy of Breathing in Spring.

​Winner will be notified by Nadia one month from this review. 

Tag Nadia and Quail Bell Magazine with a picture of you and your winner’s copy.