- Publisher : Central Avenue Publishing (8 February 2022)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 160 pages
Pangaea by Hinnah Mian is a soulful collection of prose and poetry that fills us with rage as we read about the effects of trauma inflicted on a human body. This trauma, which could be coming from a country, person or within, breaks an individual. However, there is always a way to be whole again. That’s what this collection teaches you – how to mend yourself beautifully.
The book starts with poems that have a person afraid of all the bomb attacks. Each piece clearly depicts the pain of an immigrant in America that bears grief, shame, and humiliation. The poems also have a person hurt and broken in love. And Hinnah’s words attempt to show brokenness is not final. Through the cracks, light enters to make us feel alive again.
I have ready poetry after a long time and I am glad that Pangaea was a rich collection for me to satiate my craving for lyrical words. The poems are absolutely raw and ooze the truest emotions of pain, hurt, and craving to be whole again. Hinnah’s honesty with this collection reflects the fact that she doesn’t shy away one bit from expressing herself completely.
How trauma shapes an individual could be seen in Hinnah’s words, how a nation and its inhabitants can impact the lives of immigrants is visible. How love that seems beautiful and wholesome but eventually shatters feels like. In between poems, the inclusion of prose gives us a better flavour of the author’s thoughts.
The writing is easy and breezy. As for a poetry collection, the writing is indeed lucid and certainly easy to grasp by anyone.
Since there is mention of terror bombing and shifting of cultural dynamics, you might consider your mental space before venturing into this book. It is every bit hauntingly beautiful.
Bookish Fame 