Title: Waiting in the Void: For a Moment of Epiphany
Author: Rima Jbara
Publisher: AuthorHouseUK
ISBN: 9798823084451
Pages: 58
Genre: Short Stories & Anthologies
Reviewed by: Alyssa Avina

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What does it mean to live? This question has bogged down the minds of everyone at one point or another in our world. The question of what life is all about has often come down to thoughts of purpose, family, love, or for some, even faith. Finding the path can be often difficult, and the journey is often as eventful and impactful as the destination itself.

That is what the heart of author Rina Jbara’s Waiting in the Void: For a Moment of Epiphany is all about. Through a series of letters, prose and poetry, the author dives into a journey of self-discovery, heartbreak, and hope. From painful experiences early on in life to the memories and experiences we work so hard to hide from ourselves, this book is a deconstruction of the author’s emotions and the evolution of the author’s life overall.

The author’s writing style throughout this book was remarkable to see unfold. The way the author put this book together felt like the perfect meshing of a series of diary entries with powerful prose and emotional poetry – all in one short entry. The imagery of the author’s writing style really honed in on the beauty and struggle life has to offer, and helped elevate the overall narrative as the author brought to life the void we all have in our own lives. The void is unavoidable at one point or another, and yet it is when we decide to face the hardships and struggles head on we find ourselves not only overcoming the void, but discovering who we are in the process.

The book is so artful and insightful, and the book will wholeheartedly resonate with those who enjoy creative spins on non-fiction reads, especially those which include poetry and prose. The subject matter and connection the reader makes with it speaks to the truth seeker within us all. The moments of struggle, of loss, of grief and of hardship can feel overwhelming and insurmountable, but it is when we go through the journey, through the void, that we find within ourselves the means of survival and hope.