Today dear readers I am on the blog tour for The Colour Of Hope (Published 28th January 2021) By Jen Feroze. A big thank you to Troubador Publishing for sending a copy to read and review, always appreciated. Also to the lovely Isabelle from Kenyon Author Services for the invite to take part, thank you, always a pleasure to work with.
The Colour Of Hope
The Colour Of Hope is a poetry collection with happiness at its heart. The 45 poems inside were created during the first lockdown in the UK, at a time when finding beauty and comfort in the everyday seemed at once fraught with difficulty and vitally important. Each was written for a specific recipient, based on three things they guaranteed would make them feel happy. I received a wonderful range of briefs. From the beautifully universal – a longing for nature and freedom, time spent with family, summers spent in other lands – to the gloriously specific – snaffling a Toffee Crisp from the fridge late at night, Fleetwood Mac songs, making the perfect scrambled eggs, and Ceilidh dancing. The result is a collection of poems that serves both as a record of this intense and intensely strange year, and as an uplifting reading experience that will connect and resonate with a much wider audience than the individuals they were initially written for.
2020 will be one for the history books, a year that has created emergencies on many fronts, not least the emotional. 60% of adults, and 68% of young people in the UK reported a decline in their mental health during lockdown. As such, 20% from the sale of this book will be donated to Mind, to help provide a bit of light in these uncertain times.
About The Author
Jen has been in love with language for as long as she can remember. A former Foyle Young Poet of the Year, her poetry has appeared in national and international journals and anthologies. The Colour of Hope is her debut collection. Jen is a bookworm with a love of baking, conversation that makes your brain fizz and really good cheese. She lives by the sea in Essex with her husband and two young children.
My Review
This beautiful, absorbing collection of 45 poems was created during the first lockdown of 2020 in the UK. A time of panic, fear and worry that will always be remembered in the history books. This collection started out for Feroze as a way to cheer up a friend during the pandemic. Each poem has been written by Feroze for an individual recipient based on three things that are guaranteed to make them feel happy with each poem titled after the person it was written for. Feroze has chosen not to share the specific briefs that inspired each of the poems as she allows the reader to draw their own conclusions, to discover their own piece of happiness within each one. I loved this idea as each poem is bringing the reader more positivity and hope. Something we all need more of during these scary unknown times.
Mental Health has taken a mega hit during this difficult time and is on the decline more than ever. 20% from the sale of this book will be donated to Mind. We all need to look after ourselves, each other and keep safe while we start to rebuild what’s been lost. We are all in this together.
There are strong themes of nature and seeing the beauty in the little things, our favourite songs, cheeky late night snacks and the comforts of home. It is a powerful reading experience that reminds you to see the positives, the things that matter most in our life such as being able to hug loved ones or have a coffee date with a friend. There is so much we take for granted that we only realise when it is taken away from us how much we relied upon it, how it became our way of life and part of the norm. Now more than ever we are learning to find new ways to bring back the things that brought us joy and to fully appreciate them for all their worth.
I found these poems absorbing and highly relatable. I could smell, taste and reach out and touch all that was happening in each one. Feroze creates an immersive experience that radiates happiness, sunshine and positivity to keep you going and never give up.
Our lives have changed drastically within the past year and Feroze reflects on this in these poems. Technology has helped keep us connected and brought communities together to feel not so alone. The radio has become a frequent guest in our house reminding us of the songs we love and encouraging us to dance along. Children are getting out more than ever on their daily walks and discovering delicious treats baking in the kitchen. There is no pressure to go out every night, we have everything we need right here. We can indulge our appetite with comfort food, snuggle up with our loved ones in our private cinema on the sofa. It is enough and so are we. Feroze reminds the reader that they are loved, they are not alone and we need to keep safe. Things are tough and we still have a long way to go but we will get there, one day at a time, together. We will have dark days but if we remember all the little things that make us happy, bring us joy we can get through it. This too shall pass.
We’re here
We’re together
We’re alright
I give The Colour of Hope: Poems of Happiness in Uncertain Times By Jen Feroze a Four out of Five paw rating.
Absolutely breathtaking, everyone needs to read this powerful collection. We can all highly relate and relish in the things that make us happy. There is happiness to be found even in the most uncertain of times. Look a little closer and there you will find it. It’s all around, never give up hope.
These poems are needed now more than ever in a world that is still suffering from the pain and tragic effect from Covid-19. They are just a snippet of our personal experience during a pandemic. We still have so much more to learn but this is a pretty good start. Feroze brings you hope, hope that one day we will get there. Together.
Don’t forget to follow the rest of the blog tour, dates below, enjoy!
Links
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@jenlareine
@matadorbooks
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