Title: The Mask Behind the Mask
Author: Shana W. Gourdine
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-7960-1764-9
Genre: Poetry
Pages: 48
Reviewed by: Beth Adams

Read Book Review

Upon my initial reading of The Mask Behind the Mask by author and poet Shana W. Gourdine, I was taken back in my thoughts to the culture-changing song by Helen Reddy written in 1971 titled I Am Woman. With the lyrics including, “Strong, Invincible, I am Woman” embedded within this genre of empowering women, Gourdine boldly declares her own strength and fortitude. Yet with her emotional sensitivity of being empathetic, loving beyond the Earthly realm of reality, and her eternal life-changing clarity and energy, each poem is masterfully done.

Written in a poetic-beat format, each poem has a powerful message of self-help, ego enhancing and articulating complimentary appreciation of the inherent strength God gave women. Yes, these are well-honed sentences of brutally-honest guiding emotional statements. My suggestion would be to have readers say the words aloud upon reading it; as affirmations of their own visionary-projection to better gain power which may have been lessened or lost due to life’s complications. Just as a Tony Robbins encounter will change and focus the inner strength of people, readers of Shana W. Gourdine will be forever changed; that is if her poetry is taken to heart.

In her poem titled, “I Am,” is this sentence: “With strength, hope, and courage, you can become all these things. Master of life, gives us difficult tasks to overcome to counter the situation or even be warriors through it.” The concept of being a warrior is a theme throughout the collection of poems. As becoming a “master,” Gourdine reiterates many times to her readers to take charge of their circumstances as to not allow negative situations overcome their internal strength. Setbacks or failures make one stronger once they get back up and move forward.

The take-away readers will get is having a powerful colleague, the author, supporting the human frailties which are common to all. The Mask Behind the Mask is predominantly written with the female reader audience in mind, however applies to everyone at a wide-variety of ages from young adult to mature. Interleaved with original artwork pertaining to the theme of the poem, the book pages in a cohesive manner drilling in the pride all women need to aspire to.

A healing book, a comforting book for those suffering a loss, and a powerful book to those wishing to add “fuel to their own fire,” this collection will not disappoint in its originality. A book to be read multiple times, or given to a loved one for helping them overcome a problem, The Mask Behind the Mask is a small book with a big message.