Title: Riot In My Senses: Where Chaos Occupies Serenity
Author: Rima Jbara
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 9781524681692
Pages: 174
Genre: Fiction/ Short Stories
Reviewed By: Lisa Brown-Gilbert
Pacific Book Review
A stunning portrayal of mental illness, that stirs the soul, Rima Jbara’s Riot In My Senses: Where Chaos Occupies Serenity willfully bares to readers a narrative which poses a deeply intriguing exploration of the complex intricacies of the psyche and soul of one woman’s downward spiral into the chaos which becomes the onset of a serious mental health condition, Schizophrenia.
Shamyana’s emotion rending journey poses the story of a life, unforgettable from its outset, in a wholly soulful way. To the world in general, albeit, beautiful, talented, and determined, focal character Shamyana, lives much of her life behind a facade which for the most part seems somewhat stable. However as her life progresses and becomes more complicated, the barrier weakens, her confidence wanes, control slips and her mind becomes a craggy place where tumult interspersed with moments of clarity rages and chaos replaces serenity. Consequently having an overall profound effect on her life, career and relationships.
Furthermore, Shamyana’s story stirs the soul as you bear witness to her moving narrative, of which author Jbara paints a literate mosaic of merged prose-like intimations filled with often times self-debasing thoughts, sullied emotions and discontent. Initially, she piques the curiosity with an invitation to explore her “house.” Her house represents her whole being, within which there are four doors which lead to four rooms. The first door leads to her soul; where she marries her school sweetheart and discovers her passion for photography. This is also when moments of tangible unhappiness begins to appear. The second door leads to her heart; where she unveils the issues that temporarily occupy her as she divorces and meets the handsome Rohan, whom she struggles to have a relationship with as the chaos in her mind becomes more active. The third door leads to her mind; where although success in her career looms, a nervous breakdown begins to take over. And finally, the fourth door leads to her senses, which thoughtfully explores the reasons behind the “riot” in her senses.
Certainly an immersive work, Riot in My Senses made for a memorable read that I found intriguing. I was captivated by the sympathetic characterization of Shamyana whose well-drawn spiral into mental disorder elucidates through weaved inserts of her “inner monologue”. I felt the gravity of her struggles with her sanity as I bore witness to the ebb and flow of her cognizance throughout the story, which worked well to keep me engaged. Definitely a book that offers food for thought, I recommend this as an edifying summer read.
