Book Reviews: La Vie Est Belle by Vie Portland & Sunlight Stripping Shadows Bare by Amy B. Garratt

Sometimes, in between my fantasy, scifi and horror reads, I come across books that are heartfelt and emotional and real. Here are two of them!

La Vie Est Belle by Vie Portland

La Vie Est Belle is not an easy book to read.

It is the story of how one woman, after growing up in a large family that had little love for her, hated who she was; after years of sexual and narcissistic abuse, years of neglect, she felt utterly worthless and unlovable.

And it's the story of how she turned all of that around to become who she is now.

It's not an easy story to read but it is one that is full of hope, encouragement, and love.

From awful beginnings, to more joyful times, Vie shares her story and gives gentle guidance to the reader on how to live a happier, kinder, more confident life, helping them see how wonderful they are, just as they are.

There’s a disclaimer on the book’s Amazon page that this wouldn’t be an easy read. It wasn’t. Vie didn’t hold back in sharing her life experiences, which was quite a lot, and I mean A Lot. She knew it, too, because in nearly every chapter/part there’s a little note to check on the reader, even advising at times to take a break and do some self-care. It’s very thoughtful, and something I initially didn’t think I’d need until the stories got too… well. Hard, for the lack of a better term.

Vie’s story isn’t laid out in chronological order, and that’s okay. It didn’t matter to me. There’s enough plot in her life to write a thousand fiction books, but she keeps the focus on the things that matter the most. How she was shaped by those events, which is necessary for context and to help us understand where she’s coming from and how these things we might not personally experience or be able to relate to actually affect other people. How she coped, which is super admirable because… wow. If she’s not a superwoman, I don’t know what to call her. What she learned from her experiences, including how she processed what was going on and how she went about with the next steps.

La Vie Est Belle is raw, honest, even brutal to a degree, but it’s eye-opening, uplifting, and inspirational. I actually told my best friend about this book the first few chapters in – and I couldn’t have been the only one who was moved to tell others about it. And Vie is a lovely, admirable individual. I want to meet her someday!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommended Listening: Show Me How You Burlesque by Christina Aguilera - I could pick a more somber or emotional tune, but I’m feeling this upbeat track a bit more! 💃

Sunlight Stripping Shadows Bare by Amy B.Garratt

An honest collection of modern poetry, dealing with themes of mental health. This collection shows the light and the dark with modern life, and overcoming the struggles that can come with it.

This book is the culmination of 20 years of experiences with heartache, loss and grief... alongside love, beauty and determination. For anyone who ever felt alone, and wanted to reach out.

The collection is divided into 5 parts: breaking, healing, imagining, loving and growing. I've never been much for poetry so I've not read a lot of poems and poetry books, but I didn't need to be "into it" to appreciate the emotions and honesty that have been poured into the words. The topics are very relatable too, and there's something for everyone. I also like the cover a lot; I find that it captures the simplicity and raw heart of the pieces that make up this soulful little book.

It's truly a heartfelt collection of modern poetry, showing the light through the darkness. Thank you, Amy, for baring your heart to us and for being so brave to share with the world the stories of your soul.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommended Listening: River Flows in You by Yiruma