Thursday 11 July 2019

#BlogTour Second Life by Karl Tearney


Today it's my turn on the BlogTour Second Life by Karl Tearney. It's a book full of emotionally fraught and hauntingly beautiful poems.
About the Author
As a newcomer to poetry and writing Karl has made quite an impact with his succinct and thought-provoking style. Encouraged by Emma Willis MBE after he’d sent her a thank you poem, Karl’s work has been coveted by many. His work has included appearances at festivals and readings around the country. He is hugely passionate about encouraging other sufferers of mental issues to look toward the Arts as a means of therapy.

Follow @ KarlTearney on Twitter,  Visit willowtreesociety.co.uk
Buy Second Life


About the book
Karl Tearney enlisted into the British Army at 16 and dedicated 35 years of his life as a pilot in the Army Air Corps. He was medically retired in early 2016 and found great solace in writing and especially a new-found passion for poetry. he demand for his style of writing has led to National and local Television as well as Radio. In 2018, he was a panelist at the Hay literature festival, helped with a Poetry workshop at RADA and also exhibited some of his work at the ‘Art in the Aftermath’ Exhibition in Pall Mall.

Review
If there is one thing I would say to people after reading this it would be - Tearney wears his soul on his sleeve and he wants you to know it. He wants you to envisage the pain. Feel the words as they pound into your consciousness.

Bam goes the sledgehammer - look what I've seen. Whack goes the whip - feel it with me. Shaking you to awaken you to his inner torment. Then between the lines you can hear the call, the tiniest voice crying out to be heard among the loud memories bouncing from the pages. Hear me - help me - save me.

There are quite a few poems I really heard, felt and connected with. I loved Learn from Me. It's so raw and honest. Banshee is breathtakingly sad. Yesterday today is a poignant message about society. There are just so many beautiful moments in this book, albeit painful and dark ones at times.

I commend the strength it takes to confront inner fears, nightmares, demons and guilt. Even more so when the confrontation is shared with the world, especially in the hope that someone out there will take away a moment of peace. Tearney shows his most vulnerable side in an attempt to convey a message to those open to listening, healing and a way forward.

In the end what remains is not a man, a person defined by PTSD or mental health issues. The old Tearney has left the building and the new one is ready to embrace the world as he absorbs it in this very moment. I can imagine that the difficulty is with getting loved ones, friends and others to understand exactly that, but this book goes a long way to doing it. May many follow the path and hear his sounds and read his truth.

It's a book full of emotionally fraught and hauntingly beautiful poems.

Buy/Pre-order Second Life at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer. Publisher: Fly on the wall poetry; pub date 26 July 2019. Buy/Pre-order at Amazon com. Pre-order/Buy at Fly on the Wall Press.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks so much for the blog tour support Cheryl x

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