Author Michèle Saint-Michel has released a new book entitled "Saint Agatha Mother Redeemer".
At 256 pages, the book is small and thick, but it packs a powerful punch. Saint-Michel intentionally designed the book to be a physical struggle for readers, with the goal of making them "physically press the pages open, worrying about breaking the spine, about inflicting damage." In other words, the book is meant to be a challenging read both figuratively and literally.
Despite its physical challenge, the words and images inside "Saint Agatha Mother Redeemer" are meant to be held gently in readers' hearts and minds. The cover features a close-up of a Minni di sant'Agata pastry, a traditional Sicilian cake made during the Festival of Saint Agatha, alongside a period/full stop. The juxtaposition of the two images sets the tone for the content inside: a fully-illustrated book of erasure poetry that explores the multi-temporalities of healing after trauma.
Saint-Michel uses layered imagery, concrete poetry, and illustrated self-portraiture to take readers on a journey through the unsteady waters of healing after trauma and living with PTSD. The result is a book that is both challenging and cathartic, as readers are forced to confront their own struggles with trauma and find hope in the healing process.
Published by Bad Saturn, "Saint Agatha Mother Redeemer" is a beautifully realized art book that is over 250 pages long and filled with full-color illustrations peppered with concrete poems. Readers looking to support local bookshops can purchase the book through Bookshop.org, or they can purchase it on Amazon.
In a world where trauma is all too common, "Saint Agatha Mother Redeemer" offers a unique and powerful way to explore the healing process. Through the physical challenge of reading the book and the emotional journey of its content, readers are sure to come away with a deeper understanding of the power of healing after trauma.