A review by clockworkstars
Small Ghost by Trista Mateer, Lauren Zaknoun

3.5

 "Poetry is a survival tactic 
Poetry is resistance 
Poetry is proof of existence" 
 
I received an advanced reader copy from Netgalley and Central Avenue Publishing, and I would like to thank them for that. This poetry and photography collection will be released on September 24th. 
 
Those poems are mostly about struggling with mental health, mainly with depression. It's about how it will get better, even if we don't believe in it, and how at times it looks like it will never get better, or at least not for a long time. I believe that this work is very important to read, especially for someone struggling with similar issues. As I progressed within the poems, I saw hope coming again, the "small ghost" getting better, page by page. There was hope, and that is so important. 
 
I also think that it is very pretty. One criticism that could be made could be that Mateer's poems are repetitive, however I do not really agree. Each poem was unique in its own way, with a similar structure but they were different enough and a pleasure to read. But also, I do believe that it is better to read this small part by small part, savour it in a way. I can see where that criticism comes from, but I personally have this trouble (not being able to read it in one sitting without getting "bored") with most of poetry. One more thing but the fact that the character of "Small Ghost" exists is what makes this book so lovely. 
 
I straight up started sobbing while reading some of the poems, my favourite being most probably "Small Ghost shares a few too-honest poems about her life" but also "Recovery is forever". Finally, the whole thing is sublimed by Lauren Zaknoun's gorgeous photographs, which helped make this reading a whole experience 
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