Title: My Diary
Author: Annan Jazz Von
Publisher: XlibrisUS
ISBN: 978-1-4990-9920-1
Pages: 220
Genre: Poetry/ Inspirational
Reviewed by: Suzanne Gattis
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Pacific Book Review
Full of inspiration and hope, My Diary by Annan Jazz Von is a journey through life told by the author through poetic prose. In short chapters, and poems, the author bares the story of her life on the pages for us all to read and, in turn, feel deeply and learn from. I found the entries to be beautifully written and I love that they told a complete story by the time you get to the end of the book. The theme was well laid out through the use of repetition, not only through the topics but the repeated use of certain phrases. With phrases like “music is magic,” “Shine bright in the darkness,” and my favorite “Shalalala,” there is a hopeful and almost magical feeling to her writing. It is almost a call to arms for all of us who want to find meaning in our lives.
Though no character is specifically mentioned in the book, there is great character development as you realize these thoughts all belong to the author. I feel as though the reader gains insight into the author, which makes the book more raw and more poignant, as they continue reading. There is a feeling that she has been through ups and downs, in which we can relate to in our own lives.
I have very few critiques for this book. I did struggle some with the way the words were formulated. I found some of the drawn out words as a distraction; at times, they seemed to interrupt my flow as I was reading and I wanted more convenience as I navigated thorough the story. I suppose I was looking to find a more obvious rhythm or beat to the prose; however, that was lacking in my personal experience with the book. Additionally, at times, with the repetition of subjects and poems that emulated each other, I found that further editing could have kept the book from feeling a little redundant.
Overall, I very much enjoyed My Diary. I found it gave me a sense of lightness and optimism, which is so often missing in the world today. I would be interested to see other thoughts by this author memorialized in print.
