Rating: 4 stars
Headline: Penned with cutting raw emotion, Peryer’s collection explores themes of lust and loss with maximum impact
Review:
Penned by York psychology graduate, now Norfolk-based writer, Lianna Peryer, 2 Am: Thoughts in the Quiet After is a poetry and prose collection with a heavy focus on themes of lust, loss and learning. Over this collection’s 55 pages, Peryer explores the emotional fallout in the wake of traumatic events, utilising different poetic forms and sections of prose to try and make sense of the world around her. It is a collection that delves into some difficult and, at times, troubling content, and feels very true to brand for an author who simultaneously enjoys the darkness of true crime alongside the fun and joy of baking.
While this collection contains a trigger warning at the end of the book, it is worth noting that 2 Am: Thoughts in the Quiet After explores themes including that of depression, anxiety and eating disorders to name but three of the seven self-identified by the author. This list may have been better placed at the start of the book, before the first poem commences, however at least the author has the self-awareness to note them for her readers.
Personal highlights of Peryer’s work within this collection include “Shattered Art”, “The Sparrow” and “The Quiet Truth of Death in the ICU”. Personal highlights may the wrong term, given the bitter sweet and dark nature often contained in Peryer’s work, but these three struck a cord for their observational commentary on life, living and death.
Regardless of personal preference, the writing quality across every poem and section o prose is of a high standard and succeeds in its ability to draw the reader in to the worldbuilding and storytelling of Peryer’s lived experiences. It marries perfectly with the simple line drawn cover design, an image that lures readers in with a sense of security, maybe even seduction, to deliver a sucker-punch of raw emotion. A bit more light in a predominantly dark collection would have been a welcome addition, however sometimes that is easier said than done and maybe something that will be reflection in any subsequent publications Peryer turns to.
Turning to the pen to regain control of one’s mental health and make sense of traumatic events is not something many would dare approach, yet Peryer has more than succeeded in the publication of this collection. Cover to cover, 2 Am: Thoughts in the Quiet After oozes in raw and unashamedly gritty emotion, a unique skillset that is so rarely mastered by writers, let alone poets. As a British reader, reviewing a British-penned collection, it is a privilege to have been given a glimpse into Peryer’s life and growth.
AEB Reviews
Links:
Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – 2 AM: Thoughts in the Quiet After by Lianna Peryer
Purchase Link: 2 AM: Thoughts in the Quiet After by Lianna Peryer (Amazon)
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