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Collateral Intentions: A Memoir of Poetry, Short Stories, Journal Entires, and Letters
Collateral Intentions is a contemplative memoir expressed through 11 years of Constantine Dhonau’s journal entries, poems, short stories, and letters from ages 17 to 28. It explores the power of our decisions and the dangers of black & white thinking. It spans the gamut of self-reflection, opening the door to our own dark and private worlds and inspiring us to own the power of what makes us human: our ability to grow and adapt.
At what point does practicing vulnerability fortify ourselves such that we become…invulnerable? This is the vessel on which Constantine Dhonau invites us to explore our most sacred treasure: our inner world. Our voyage is furnished by his journey back across 11 years, from a 17-year-old boy faced with becoming a 28-year-old man, offering a glimpse into his inner dialogue of self-criticism and self-affirmation. We follow his development as a writer and a person as he walks the line between light and dark, love and lust, choice and powerlessness, seeking to free himself from the dichotomous pitfalls of black and white thinking.
Throughout this 11-year exploration, he reflects on who he has been, who he is, and whom he wants to become on his way to uncovering a higher calling. He encourages us to embrace the unknown as he bares naked the “collateral intentions” of his choices; those heartfelt efforts which turned against us and those mistakes which became our greatest blessings, in time.
At what point does practicing vulnerability fortify ourselves such that we become…invulnerable? This is the vessel on which Constantine Dhonau invites us to explore our most sacred treasure: our inner world. Our voyage is furnished by his journey back across 11 years, from a 17-year-old boy faced with becoming a 28-year-old man, offering a glimpse into his inner dialogue of self-criticism and self-affirmation. We follow his development as a writer and a person as he walks the line between light and dark, love and lust, choice and powerlessness, seeking to free himself from the dichotomous pitfalls of black and white thinking.
Throughout this 11-year exploration, he reflects on who he has been, who he is, and whom he wants to become on his way to uncovering a higher calling. He encourages us to embrace the unknown as he bares naked the “collateral intentions” of his choices; those heartfelt efforts which turned against us and those mistakes which became our greatest blessings, in time.
217 pages, Paperback
Published June 5, 2020
6 people are currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Constantine Dhonau
1 book5 followersConstantine was born in St. Petersburg, Florida and raised by his mother and his aunt, with the help of several formative programs: Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venture Crew, and Sea Scouts. He spent 3 years as the front man for a Tampa ska/punk band: H1N1. After overcoming blind rebellion against “the system,” he attended St. Petersburg College for his Associate of Arts, followed by New College of Florida for his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
He made his initial escape to Colorado in 2015— degrees in-hand—in search of his independence, dedicating a year of service to City Year Denver of AmeriCorps. There, he discovered a new passion and direction in life: wilderness therapy. He pursued his first and only dream and vision in life with ferocity to become a field guide with Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, completing nearly 550 days in the field.
He enjoys writing, tea, cooking, brooding, dancing, yoga, astronomy, reprehensibly long walks, movies, being outdoors, etc. & suchforth.
He made his initial escape to Colorado in 2015— degrees in-hand—in search of his independence, dedicating a year of service to City Year Denver of AmeriCorps. There, he discovered a new passion and direction in life: wilderness therapy. He pursued his first and only dream and vision in life with ferocity to become a field guide with Open Sky Wilderness Therapy, completing nearly 550 days in the field.
He enjoys writing, tea, cooking, brooding, dancing, yoga, astronomy, reprehensibly long walks, movies, being outdoors, etc. & suchforth.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 27, 2021
I met author and poet Constantine Dhonau at a local writers meeting in Durango, Colorado, in July 2021, shortly after he self-published his first book of poetry and memoir material in June 2021.
"Collateral Intentions: A Memoir of Poetry, Short Stories, Journal Entries, and Letters" is quite an interesting read. It details the highlights and lowlights of Dhonau's coming-of-age in modern America. It's especially difficult to find your own sense of manhood without a father around, and since Dhonau's father was almost entirely absent from his childhood and young adulthood, the strain that put on Dhonau is definitely present in this book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a realistic portrait of the challenges of masculinity in modern America. I would certainly read another book of poems and memoir material from this author.
Five stars. Just be warned, this book is like the anti-Rupi Kaur, the opposite of "Milk and Honey." Dhonau's overall message is uplifting, one of hope for his future, but reading this book is basically the male side of Kaur's work, and his poems tend to be a lot darker than Kaur's.
"Collateral Intentions: A Memoir of Poetry, Short Stories, Journal Entries, and Letters" is quite an interesting read. It details the highlights and lowlights of Dhonau's coming-of-age in modern America. It's especially difficult to find your own sense of manhood without a father around, and since Dhonau's father was almost entirely absent from his childhood and young adulthood, the strain that put on Dhonau is definitely present in this book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a realistic portrait of the challenges of masculinity in modern America. I would certainly read another book of poems and memoir material from this author.
Five stars. Just be warned, this book is like the anti-Rupi Kaur, the opposite of "Milk and Honey." Dhonau's overall message is uplifting, one of hope for his future, but reading this book is basically the male side of Kaur's work, and his poems tend to be a lot darker than Kaur's.
October 25, 2023
"Collateral Intentions" was a pretty interesting read for me. This coming-of-age mosaic taps into our fears and aspirations, making each page a window into our own memories and emotions. Dhonau's writing, unrestrained and evocative, opens to the demons we often avoid and calls out to our higher selves.
The book's unsent love letters, gnashing stanzas, and riptide journal entries create a tapestry of emotions, and the punchy chapter synopses add depth to the reflective narrative. Reading this book is like embarking on an introspective adventure, one that may challenge your understanding of both yourself and the world. "Collateral Intentions" is worth reading as it encourages you to explore the uncharted territory of your own heart and mind.
The book's unsent love letters, gnashing stanzas, and riptide journal entries create a tapestry of emotions, and the punchy chapter synopses add depth to the reflective narrative. Reading this book is like embarking on an introspective adventure, one that may challenge your understanding of both yourself and the world. "Collateral Intentions" is worth reading as it encourages you to explore the uncharted territory of your own heart and mind.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews