Review of Recognizing Beauty

[Shillah Andeso]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Recognizing Beauty" by Cyndi Burrough.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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What seems like a perfect family leaves Cyndi with a hole that can never be filled. At a young age, she had already undergone physical, mental, psychological, and sexual abuse. Recognizing Beauty is Cyndi's childhood diary. She narrates the events she can remember in a unique language. As she navigates the world as a child, the adults in her life don't make it easy. Her parents are not an exception. She is compared to her older sister, Cecilia. Cecilia didn't get into trouble as frequently as she did. As she struggles to juggle between school and all the weight on her shoulders, suicidal thoughts start to set in. In Recognizing Beauty, Cyndi Burrough narrates her thrilling and sad childhood story.

It's interesting how using a child's language helps pass the author's message. It felt like having a young child tell me the story. I could see how she struggled with writing, pronunciation, and spelling for a long time. I could also see how naïve and happy she was. She could express what she felt about different people in her life. The pain she went through made me sad. The characters in the book are well-developed. She explains her parents' origin in great detail. She explains how her parents met. The scenes are vividly described. I realized how extremely observant Cyndi was. She explained even the minute details many don't explain in their books. The story came alive with all the activities she explained.

Cyndi Burrough expressed her thoughts about things that were not clear to her. This includes trying to figure out what made her mom treat her differently. The songs she sang or heard as a child are all written in the book, each with its specific references. I love how I was able to read about every phase of her life. I could notice development in language and behavior. I love how the book is organized. She narrates her story before giving a summary of the book. The theme expressed strongly in this book is mental health. I like how she uses the word "the walking wounded" for those suffering from mental issues. She highlights the struggles that she goes through and how she tries to overcome them.

The steps she noted in her healing process helped me create my individualized plan. I love the aspects of astrology that Cyndi incorporated into the book. I did not notice any grammatical errors or typos in this book. I'm proud to say that this book was exceptionally well-edited. Because of all the aspects I've stated, I rate Recognizing Beauty by Cyndi Burrough 5 out of 5 stars. The author's story is a sad one. She has crafted it beautifully to give hope to those who might be passing through what she experienced. There is no aspect that I disliked in this book.

I recommend this book to all the walking wounded, as Cyndi Burrough describes them. Anyone trying to heal from abuse will find solace in this book. This also includes those who are going through abuse. Because of the scenes described in this book, I recommend it to readers above 16 years. This is a good book that should be read by all who care about mental health.

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Recognizing Beauty
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[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

I'm glad that the author wrote about the title of the book Recognizing Beauty even if it was a sad story of childhood. I am glad Cyndi surpass all of the vicissitudes of life. Wonderful review!

[Edit_or]

I’m glad she healed and has successfully put that experience in a written piece to encourage others.
Thanks for the review.

[Mhiz Vyi Vyan]

Issues like this are on the increase every day and it's heartbreaking. Thanks for this review.

[Shillah Andeso]

I'm glad that the author wrote about the title of the book Recognizing Beauty even if it was a sad story of childhood. I am glad Cyndi surpass all of the vicissitudes of life. Wonderful review!

I agree. Her story is inspiring and the name of the book, well chosen. We rarely see a person standing strong after going through such events.

[Shillah Andeso]

I’m glad she healed and has successfully put that experience in a written piece to encourage others.
Thanks for the review.

True. This book will change and impact many people. This applies to many who are going through what they find too embarrassing to tell.

[Shillah Andeso]

Issues like this are on the increase every day and it's heartbreaking. Thanks for this review.

That's true. We need many people like Cyndi to address this issues so the victims may feel included and considered.

[Ajibola Gabriel]

I admire how the author shared the story like a child was sharing it, it is quite unique and lovely. I feel like if kids are giving the opportunity to say what’s on their mind, I think we adults will be moved to tears and feel like we are failing them.

[Shillah Andeso]

I admire how the author shared the story like a child was sharing it, it is quite unique and lovely. I feel like if kids are giving the opportunity to say what’s on their mind, I think we adults will be moved to tears and feel like we are failing them.

Thats so true. Kids talk about things some adults are afraid to say. Kids are also honest about their feelings and most of the time, they reveal secrets none of us even know.

[Ogechi Okonkwo]

This is an interesting and a fascinating review. I loved how you captured every aspect of the book. I did enjoy reading your review. This is an interesting one.