Reviews

Emotive and empathetic, “Chasing Shadows” is a poetry collection that navigates the pathways of life, encapsulating what is important in life while delving into universal themes of love, heartbreak, pain, hope, and rebirth. Written by Lauren Gouin, the entries were penned during the initial days of the pandemic, as she reflected on the things that broke her. Poetry offered her the psychological relief she needed through the open expression of her emotions. Here, as the title suggests, she seeks to reinvent herself, confronting that which lay buried in her heart for years and traces a way of letting go.

The book is divided into five chapters, with each entry building upon the previous. The poems use evocative language in their short lines pulling the reader in right away. Some appear long while others are short, but both formats display the vulnerability and fragility of the speaker meticulously, even as they conclude in triumph and strength. Towards the book’s end, there is a sense of reclaiming that which was lost amid heartbreak and despair, as pain has a way of catapulting us into a path of self-realization.

This lyrical collection appears more powerful on the inside than on the outside, with most entries reverberating in the reader’s mind even when the reading is done. The over-arching factor in them is the reality check that they offer anyone who puts their hands on this book to reflect on their own lives, examine their feelings, and probe their assumptions regarding matters of the heart. The first composition sets the tone for the whole set, with the speaker reflecting on her imperfection of pleasing another that robbed her of her true self.