Chasing Shadows

by Lauren Gouin

This book spans five chapters, walking through the cloudy and uncertain terrain of various forms of heartache and repair. When the ground beneath you cracks, it can crumble even harder; when the next step feels like a mountain, your path can seem never ending. And that is just it is and it isn't. Keep going.

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 22, 2024

Reviews

[Reader Views · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotive and empathetic, “Chasing Shadows” is a poetry collection that navigates the pathways of life, encapsulating what is important in life while delving into universal themes of love, heartbreak, pain, hope, and rebirth. Written by Lauren Gouin, the entries were penned during the initial days of the pandemic, as she reflected on the things that broke her. Poetry offered her the psychological relief she needed through the open expression of her emotions. Here, as the title suggests, she seeks to reinvent herself, confronting that which lay buried in her heart for years and traces a way of letting go.

The book is divided into five chapters, with each entry building upon the previous. The poems use evocative language in their short lines pulling the reader in right away. Some appear long while others are short, but both formats display the vulnerability and fragility of the speaker meticulously, even as they conclude in triumph and strength. Towards the book’s end, there is a sense of reclaiming that which was lost amid heartbreak and despair, as pain has a way of catapulting us into a path of self-realization.

This lyrical collection appears more powerful on the inside than on the outside, with most entries reverberating in the reader’s mind even when the reading is done. The over-arching factor in them is the reality check that they offer anyone who puts their hands on this book to reflect on their own lives, examine their feelings, and probe their assumptions regarding matters of the heart. The first composition sets the tone for the whole set, with the speaker reflecting on her imperfection of pleasing another that robbed her of her true self.

In another entry, Lauren offers wise counsel to her audience with the words:

There is pain
in the stagnancy
of apathy
and there is pain
in the risks
of growth
pain will undoubtedly
occur
but the choice
of which to endure
is entirely
in
your hands

Elsewhere, thoughts such as:

how is it
that we applaud
some
for the same behavior
that we demonize
in
others

prompt us to interrogate our actions towards others, evoking in us a strong message of equality. Together, the poems balance between laying bare what lies beneath in the shadows and the newfound triumph in laying the hidden tears and secret wishes.

Across this work, the poems are marked with inflection of voice, allowing us to feel every fragment of the writer’s emotion in each line. Lauren’s behind-the-curtain exploration of the connection between relationships and emotions achieves much. In conclusion, Lauren Gouin’s “Chasing Shadows” is undoubtedly a moving poetry anthology that will capture the heart of everyone who enjoys reading about the complexities of the human heart.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it :-)

[April Glowicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written book of poetry that I have already reread many times. Lauren gracefully crafts nuances that both resonate and touch the reader. Would highly recommend!