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Face: A Poetry and Art Collection
An original poetry and art collection
Overflowing with vulnerability and raw honesty, Face is a declaration of self worth and owning your space after breaking, rebuilding and rising again.
“May the hurting turn to healing.”-Randina Sheldon
TW: This book contains some references of abuse and trauma
Overflowing with vulnerability and raw honesty, Face is a declaration of self worth and owning your space after breaking, rebuilding and rising again.
“May the hurting turn to healing.”-Randina Sheldon
TW: This book contains some references of abuse and trauma
- GenresPoetry
323 pages, Paperback
Published August 3, 2021
1 person is currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Randina Sheldon
2 books7 followersRandina Sheldon is a trauma and abuse survivor who shares her story and healing through art and writing. She advocates for the breakdown of societal norms that enable and contribute to CSA and SA, especially within familial and romantic relationships.
Her first book, face: a poetry and art collection, serves as a battle cry for survivors everywhere.
Her second book, until it doesn’t hurt was released January 11th, 2023.
Her first book, face: a poetry and art collection, serves as a battle cry for survivors everywhere.
Her second book, until it doesn’t hurt was released January 11th, 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 21, 2021
This poetry collection is divided into 4 parts:
1. Heart (breaking)
2. Mind (racing)
3. Body (healing)
4. Soul (rising)
5. Face (me)
The poems were about varying topics but the recurring ones were the one about love. She wrote about the sting of love and its pain, about the kind of unconditional love she wants, and being hurt in love, and being in a relationship with the wrong person and yet being unable to leave.
This collection was a combination of short and long poems. There are many illustrations here that garnish this poetry collection.
This book was fairly long with many poems and I liked few poems much more than some. I felt a connection to few poems and some were okay. Some parts were just magnificent, like:
“Being with her
was like seeing how long
I could hold my hand over a hot stove
before I had to pull it away
I saw it as a test of my strength
I thought I had to measure myself
against her tough love
That maybe if I endured the tough
I’d finally get the love”
The poet also writes about other things than love. She writes about seeking for peace, how social media affects us. One of my favorite one is where she compares herself with a flower and her beauty to its petals and leaves, and how everyone selfishly uses the flower’s beauty for their own purpose.
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this poetry collection. The poems were raw and earnest, rich in emotion and deeply personal. This book takes a longer amount of time to read but it’s completely worth it. I have reviewed many poetry collections in the last two years, but this was definitely one of the finest one I have read. Highly recommend!
1. Heart (breaking)
2. Mind (racing)
3. Body (healing)
4. Soul (rising)
5. Face (me)
The poems were about varying topics but the recurring ones were the one about love. She wrote about the sting of love and its pain, about the kind of unconditional love she wants, and being hurt in love, and being in a relationship with the wrong person and yet being unable to leave.
This collection was a combination of short and long poems. There are many illustrations here that garnish this poetry collection.
This book was fairly long with many poems and I liked few poems much more than some. I felt a connection to few poems and some were okay. Some parts were just magnificent, like:
“Being with her
was like seeing how long
I could hold my hand over a hot stove
before I had to pull it away
I saw it as a test of my strength
I thought I had to measure myself
against her tough love
That maybe if I endured the tough
I’d finally get the love”
The poet also writes about other things than love. She writes about seeking for peace, how social media affects us. One of my favorite one is where she compares herself with a flower and her beauty to its petals and leaves, and how everyone selfishly uses the flower’s beauty for their own purpose.
Overall, I enjoyed my time reading this poetry collection. The poems were raw and earnest, rich in emotion and deeply personal. This book takes a longer amount of time to read but it’s completely worth it. I have reviewed many poetry collections in the last two years, but this was definitely one of the finest one I have read. Highly recommend!
July 28, 2021
I was given an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review and all options are my own.
I will be honest in saying that I skipped over some of these poems, not due to the fact that they weren’t good, but that the content was hard for me on a personal level.
This poetry collection is like a lyrical memoir where the author is claiming her power back after abuse, loss, and heartbreak. It’s real and it’s raw. Miss Sheldon definitely has talent, and I can only imagine how freeing writing this collection was. I appreciate her vulnerability in telling her truth, and sharing it so that others may also feel empowered.
CW: abuse, broken relationships, sexual trauma/assault
I will be honest in saying that I skipped over some of these poems, not due to the fact that they weren’t good, but that the content was hard for me on a personal level.
This poetry collection is like a lyrical memoir where the author is claiming her power back after abuse, loss, and heartbreak. It’s real and it’s raw. Miss Sheldon definitely has talent, and I can only imagine how freeing writing this collection was. I appreciate her vulnerability in telling her truth, and sharing it so that others may also feel empowered.
CW: abuse, broken relationships, sexual trauma/assault
August 8, 2021
Thank you Randina for sending me this advanced copy. Your words have inspired me through my own healing journey 🤍
I’ve never read a poetry book so beautiful! From the illustrations to the words, I could feel the emotions and the confidence
pouring out of the pages. The messages filled me with so much comfort I would even find myself in meditation 🧘🏻♀️
✨These are a few of my favorite quotes from the book
. . .
“You picked me for my beauty but couldn’t handle my fragrance”
“That’s the thing about being brave. It doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear and being strong doesn’t mean you don’t sometimes feel weak. We are these things because we push through anyway.”
⚠️TW: abuse, trauma
4.5 ⭐️
I’ve never read a poetry book so beautiful! From the illustrations to the words, I could feel the emotions and the confidence
pouring out of the pages. The messages filled me with so much comfort I would even find myself in meditation 🧘🏻♀️
✨These are a few of my favorite quotes from the book
. . .
“You picked me for my beauty but couldn’t handle my fragrance”
“That’s the thing about being brave. It doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear and being strong doesn’t mean you don’t sometimes feel weak. We are these things because we push through anyway.”
⚠️TW: abuse, trauma
4.5 ⭐️
August 12, 2021
This book is emotional, relatable, powerful, amazing. Randina takes the reader through her journey of mental, emotional and sexual abuse and becoming stronger and overcoming it. Definitely not a light read but a book that cannot be put down as each poem draws you in more. Even as a man I can see how this book will relate to so many abuse survivors. It is emotional but Randina's vulnerability and rawness is unmatched in this area. The art throughout adds depth to an already deep collection of poems and creates a stunning piece of art all around. Randina Sheldon is definitely an underrated author and this is a phenomenal debut poetry collection. I would strongly recommend this book to not only poetry lovers, but those who have dealt with abuse and trauma.
September 27, 2021
Randina's debut poetry collection is incredible. It will move you, grip and shake you, make you think about universal truths and question deeply rooted societal bias. Her words are heartfelt and moving, and her prose drips with emotion. There is a mixture of both long, medium and short poems that I found resonated with me in different ways, especially the one's about heartbreak and hope. I was left feeling understood and heard by the end of her poetry collection. You can feel how much effort, love and care Randina has poured into every page. Couldn't recommend this book enough! A heads up that Randina delves into quite nitty, gritty topics and doesn't shy away from heavy themes, so if you're gentle with this sort of thing, you may need to skip some pages. If you can handle that kind of content, however, it's definitely worth reading these pages as well!
June 21, 2021
**I was sent an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Wow. Wow wow wow. This poetry & art collection is seriously one of, if not the, best I have ever experienced. Randina has such an impactful way with her writing. Reading through her experiences & poems, I feel like I met someone so thoroughly I could now call them a friend. This book delves into child abuse, sexual assault, depression, anxiety, and so much more. You get such a raw and vulnerable glimpse into our poet’s life. I can’t wait until this publishes and the whole world has the opportunity to experience this incredible collection.
Wow. Wow wow wow. This poetry & art collection is seriously one of, if not the, best I have ever experienced. Randina has such an impactful way with her writing. Reading through her experiences & poems, I feel like I met someone so thoroughly I could now call them a friend. This book delves into child abuse, sexual assault, depression, anxiety, and so much more. You get such a raw and vulnerable glimpse into our poet’s life. I can’t wait until this publishes and the whole world has the opportunity to experience this incredible collection.
August 9, 2021
Face is not your ordinary poetry book. It is crafted with passion and art, more likely written with a mindful heart and a brighter soul. Every pages of the book reminds me of my first heartbreak, first cry, and also my first love. Face is an absolute must read poetry book and an eye-opener to every people to not settle for less, always think of more specially if it is for yourself.⠀
⠀
Thank you so much @randinawrites for sending me a copy!⠀
⠀
Full review can be found on my blog.
(abryjwlreads.wordpress.com)
⠀
Thank you so much @randinawrites for sending me a copy!⠀
⠀
Full review can be found on my blog.
(abryjwlreads.wordpress.com)
December 27, 2021
I love Randina’s writing! You can feel the poetry ebb through the writer’s different ages as she takes you on her personal journey of abuse and healing.
November 28, 2021
raw, heart-wrenching, and yet hopeful at the same time. loved this collection. it took me some time to read to digest all of the emotions, which may be triggering for some, but overall it’s a rewarding read. thank you randina for sharing your truth with the world.
TW: sexual abuse, broken relationships
TW: sexual abuse, broken relationships
June 5, 2025
4.5 stars. loved this so much. I haven't experienced the same traumas as the author, but her words spoke powerfully to other wounds I have from my past, including the sudden loss of my little sister. I love the way this is laid out, with the images spread throughout. The entire book is truly a piece of art, and while I'm not typically a poetry reader, I was deeply moved by *many* of these poems. I got this from my library on a whim because she's a local author, but this is one I need to own so I can go back to it from time to time (and I'm not one to purchase books unless I love them.) I so appreciate the vulnerabily and authenticity of this book.. it made me feel seen.
Randina- if you see this.. thank you for writing this.. and I look forward to reading more from you.
Randina- if you see this.. thank you for writing this.. and I look forward to reading more from you.
March 11, 2025
written poetry of a girl who got assaulted and abused. it was powerful and full of light and darkness, giving hope to readers that have witnessed similar trauma. amazing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews