Review of Hold Your Breath

[Fola Moni]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Hold Your Breath" by Rana Bitar.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Hold Your Breath by Rana Bitar is a diary of the pandemic virus, Covid19, from March-May 2020. It is a chronological poetry book that differs from traditional rhythmic poetry.

The author is a physician and poet, and she bases the book on her own real-life experiences. It highlights the devastating consequences of the pandemic on cancer patients. It also shines some light on the risks physicians and health workers take to care for people.

I loved reading this book. All the poems are deep and thought-provoking. Each one is a journey through the timeline of the virus and invokes sober reflection. Some struck a chord within me. For example, the second poem, "Corona and Cancer", took me down memory lane and made me remember when the world was in chaos, and people were terrified of losing their jobs. People wore masks everywhere, and we all wondered if that would be our new reality. It also made me realise that I never gave any thought to cancer patients and other sick individuals who were more vulnerable to the virus. I was more concerned about my own survival and my loved ones.

Another poem, "Warning", is even more heartbreaking. The title is so apt and is indeed a warning to any reader. It will depress you and make you wonder why life is so unfair. It will also teach you about the frailty of life and make you appreciate it more because no one is promised tomorrow.

There is nothing about the book that I disliked. It is an easy read, and the author’s writing style is smooth and seamless. It has made me appreciate health workers more because while the rest of the world was worried about surviving, they were more concerned about saving us. They put their lives and families at risk by stepping out daily to ensure everyone else is safe. Their work could not be done from home, unlike some of us. They were selfless and deserved their accolades.

I am so happy to rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. It is a beautiful book of poems devoid of profanity or erotic scenes. I only spotted one error, so it is professionally well-edited. I would not recommend the book to a sensitive audience or those who lost loved ones to the virus because some poems can be very triggering. I would recommend it to anyone who loves thought-provoking poetry.

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Hold Your Breath
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