A Glimmer In The Dark


Poetry - General
248 Pages
Reviewed on 01/23/2023
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Author Biography

I'm a female author from Afghanistan. Writing is my escape from a reality that gets hard to face sometimes. Working on projects such as writing novels and poems has become an indispensable part of my life. It is my weapon to support the silenced.

Through writing, I found a voice I never had, the power I never felt, and the comfort I never experienced before I discovered this passion. Writing has helped me save my life and escape war or in the worst case, death, so for me, it was is, and always will be, life-changing.

While living in the saddest country in the world, enduring and overcoming had to be innate. Writing is my gentle respite, it takes me far away from all that overwhelms me. Puts me in a flow state where I can pour my heart and bleed on ivory pages until it is good again and time to withstand.

Through writing, I want to play my little part and portray how the world should act and accept its responsibilities in building a place where children are not the victims of greedy warlords, where women don’t have to fight to be seen as human beings, where peace would be a reality, not just a shooting star wish. One of my main goals will forever be to use my ability as an opportunity to do the least, but the best I can for all my fellow citizens held hostage and suffering behind closed doors.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Anelynde Smit for Readers' Favorite

A Glimmer in the Dark by Samman Akbarzada is a touching and sometimes tragic look at her life as a refugee from Afghanistan. She writes about her pain, suffering, and fleeting happiness. Her poems have no names only subgenres to describe her story in this wonderful abstract journey. In “what does it take to feel something?” you feel numb with her and “death is lurking in the house” was a powerful punch to the system. In the exceptional escapist poem where she asks “what are you running from tonight?,” you feel your spine tingle. In "pink," she talks about someone being like mist as if she has lost someone dear. In "naïve notions," she talks about how we are all connected by a string from our hearts. She also writes very inspiring poetry like "rising from the ashes" and "seeing a new day." Her work is exceptional and very abstract as are the uncertainties in her life. These poems will tear you apart and build you up again. This is a fresh take on poetry.

A Glimmer in the Dark by Samman Akbarzada was a refreshing taste of poetry. Her style matched her life and it was life imitating art. She said at the beginning of the book that in art we find weakness and what is art if not to suffer? She dedicated the book to the young women who are still struggling, whether she knows them or not. Her story is brave and her poems reflect the strength that one would need in a war-torn country where you don’t know if today is going to be your last. I would have liked to see some titles to the poems but it was great as a new-age piece. I highly recommend this book to anyone into abstract poetry or poetry in general, she crosses many fields with this book.