One part self-help, one part self-reflection, and one part affirmation, Stafford’s raw, engaging debut collection of poetry delves deep into the mind, heart, and soul. In direct, even simple language, Stafford challenges readers to dig into their emotions and take a hard look at what they’re truly feeling, writing “Being guided by the fear that the hurt will not go away is how we practice avoidance today.” The collection touches on themes of fear, trust, acceptance, and hope in a style that pushes the reader, through inquiry and encouragement, to face themselves. Stafford makes clear that such self investigation need not be harrowing, advising readers to “Examine yourself with compassion.”

Stafford offers guidance on how to cope, how to center, and how to focus on healing through embracing emotions head on. At times, as Stafford reinforces these ideas, the language and advice become repetitious, but readers will still take away sound tips and memorable quotations to apply in moments of self-doubt or when feeling overwhelmed. This collection would pair well with readers who like to journal, as the questions woven throughout (“Can you acknowledge the source of your discomfort?”) could serve as inspiring prompts.

The collection opens with a quotation from Thich Nhat Hanh, the monk and poet, that sums up what Stafford offers in the pages to come: "People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar." Featuring prose passages about self talk and visualization, this collection strikes an inspiring and uplifting tone throughout. Though it lacks much of the metaphor, imagery, and rich language of most poetry collections, The Restructuring will resonate with fans of the increasingly popular style of micropoetry favored by Instagram poets due to the length of the pieces, the concision of the ideas, and the freeness of form.

Takeaway: This encouraging collection of poetry urges readers toward self-discovery and doing the homework -- on themselves.

Great for fans of: Amanda Lovelace, R.H. Sin.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B