Title: Words of a Journey: My Thoughts on Life and Living
Author: Kaitlyn Kashman
Publisher: Modern History Press
ISBN: 9781615990528
Pages: 129, Paperback
Genre: Poetry/Young Adult/Self-Improvement
Reviewed by: Gary Sorkin, Pacific Book Review
Book Review
In Words of a Journey: My Thoughts on Life and Living, Kaitlyn Kashman astonished me by having in her very lead sentence a “thank you to my enemies” as one of the groups of people that helped shape her into who she is today. I thought to myself, “How true” it is that even those for whom you have distain and animosity are so important to provide, at times, clarity of morals, motivations and guidance of what “not to do.” Commonly people associate enemies with needing a form of forgiveness, but she actually goes further to provide “thanks.” Wow, I was blown away as that certainly disarms any hostility on both sides of any conflict. All this from a teenager!Beyond the introduction of the book I noticed each right hand side page, or odd number page, is blank. On the left side of the galley she has either a poem or her thoughts written, but on the opposite side there are simply lines to encourage the reader to write his or her own thoughts. “How modest,” I thought to myself as Kaitlyn beckons her reader to write their own thoughts – not to just read only hers, but to participate in a book with words of their own journey. In my opinion, this had Kaitlyn Kashman step out of her book and into the room with the reader. Although I didn’t fulfill the task of writing my own prose, I did have a unique sensation of companionship with Kaitlyn being present, not hidden behind the pages of her book.
Kaitlyn Kashman writes beautifully, as her poems have feeling, emotion, sensitivity, love and honesty. I must admit, at times I felt as if she was being a bit coy not naming some of her friends by name, knowing the book will be read by many of her peers capable of identifying the origin of her comments. That privacy certainly is her privilege. I perceived her complexity of being shy and introverted; definitely more mature than most her age, and a mental sponge to wisdom.
There are two types of people on this planet – those which haven’t written a book, and authors. To Kaitlyn, I congratulate you on your accomplishment. I certainly believe she will aspire towards literary grandeur in other genres, as well as continuing her introspective poetry. This book is a wonderful gift item; one that teenagers in particular will find contemporary to their own emotional challenges. As her portrait on the cover reveals half of her face, she allows half of her book to be filled in by the reader; needing only a pen to complete their experience.
