I received this book for free. This does not impact my reviews in any shape or form.
Apprenticed to the Night, by LindaAnn LoSchiavo is a poetry collection about coming to grips with the comforts, as well as the dangers, that the night brings, alongside the nostalgic cacophony the day produces. The collection delves into various experiences LoSchiavo has observed throughout her life, whether it be grief, lost love, broken friendships, or remembrances of childhood innocence. LoSchiavo offers a gentle yet honest portrayal of the reality she’s come to terms with, and weaves lines into her rich narrative.
Within the collection, LoSchiavo discusses how the culture inside is slowly but surely fading, especially within the melting pot known as America, where immigrants are given false promises of immortality and the “American dream”, only to find that they, in the end, are only human. She examines how, despite intoxicating sensation of love and infatuation the day presents, there are times when darkness inevitably comes for that infatuation, not because it wants to shatter the emotion, but moreover because it needs to end. She illustrates her own childlike innocence, and how, despite everything she’s experienced and the lengths she goes to protect it, she still winds up facing the dark.
Moreover, I love how LoSchiavo details the pain she goes through when she loses her beloved family members, first with her grandparents, then with her aunt and uncle, and finally with her sister and husband. It’s grief at its most palpable. I like the way she incorporates the supernatural into her grief, comparing her aunt’s search for her uncle to her own search for her mother. It provides a haunting atmosphere to the poetry that appears almost seamless. And while this may sound bad, I do like the painted realism as to how hard she tries to preserve her mother’s legacy, even though, one day, she may fade with her. That doesn’t mean LoSchiavo will be alone when she dies; after all she still has her beloved family members to hold on to, even if they are just memories. I especially loved the richness that LoSchiavo’s relationships are; although losing her husband was incredibly painful, there were still other losses that she counted as just as heartrending, if not breaking. I was touched by how close she and her sister were, and how open she was with her mental health because of it. If anything, the poem shows how vulnerable we all can be when our social supports are gone. After all, there’s a reason why, in every crisis plan, mental health professionals ask if a person has someone close they can talk to, someone who isn’t another healthcare professional.
As such, because of the quality of the poetry, as well as the stark portrayal of LoSchiavo’s experiences, I would give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.
Hollies, Happiness, and Healing 