When the World Breaks Open

by Seema Reza

In this poignant and unabashed self-examination, Seema Reza uncovers the lessons she learned through motherhood and a dysfunctional and abusive marriage, and how she used her discoveries to make a meaningful difference in the world. This lyrical, non-linear narrative memoir traces Reza’s journey from repressed suburban housewife to coordinator of a unique creative-expression military hospital program. Through observing her own experiences from the darkest moments of her life and investigating societal attitudes towards loss, love, motherhood, and community, Reza exposes her triumphs, weaknesses, fears and regrets, and undermines the idea that strength requires silence.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2016

About the author

Seema Reza is a poet and essayist and the author of "When the World Breaks Open" (Red Hen Press, 2016). Based outside of Washington DC she coordinates and facilitates a unique hospital arts program that encourages the use of the arts as a tool for narration, self-care and socialization among a military population struggling with emotional and physical injuries. An alumnus of Goddard College and VONA, her work has appeared on-line and in print in Bellevue Literary Review, The Beltway Quarterly, HerKind, Duende, and Entropy among others.

Reviews

[Sonya Huber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short poetic prose pieces narrating the disintegration of a marriage and other loss; so honest and fierce. Reza offers days like slides under a microscope, including love and longing, messy real life as a single parent, as the child of immigrants from Bangladesh, as the former wife of a man with anger issues. A beautiful keeper of a book.

[Liren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this book aloud for a class and didn’t go into it expecting much. I absolutely loved this book! It felt completely honest and emotionally charged in a way that was easy for me to understand and connect to. Fantastic!!

[Kelly DuMar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seema's voice in poetry and prose stirs my soul. Seema pairs startling honesty with remarkable, soulful writing. There is a deep emotional resonance here - about parenting, loving, being a daughter, a professional woman torn between roles - a dauntingly creative woman baring her soul. She goes deep, she crafts provocative writing about her journey, she makes us weep with gratitude for her willingness to express what she finds. Lots of courage. And she has a wicked sense of humor and irony. AND, she is doing powerful, necessary, gutsy, generous work in the world. That says a lot about who she is as a writer and a human being. You'll want to read it slowly - take your time.

[Grace Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seema Reza, in When the World Breaks Open, reflects on her divorce, raising her two sons, and working with hospitalized veterans. Through full chapters, poems, brief fragments, and various styles of writing, Reza tells of her experience as a single mother navigating her new social responsibilities. Reza explores the balance as a newly single woman as well as her roles as a mother. Grief, loss, love, and passion reappear time and again as reoccurring themes throughout Reza’s memoir.
This memoir came at a great time for me honestly. I was easily able to see myself in Seema Reza’s narrative after coming out of a relationship. The reminder that being independent is always appreciated in life, and no better to take that advice than from Reza. The style throughout When the World Breaks Open varies often and shows Reza’s immense abilities as a writer. The entire narrative was thought-provoking and emotional; there’s not much more that I could ask for.
While the subject matter of this memoir can be quite dark, no one should ever shy away from it. There are just enough glimmers of hope throughout that keep you going. When the World Breaks Open is entirely raw and natural, and there is beauty to be found within that.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Reza's writing has a fluid poetic element. She allows the reader to follow her on her journey through marriage, children, divorce, and life after divorce. Her relationship struggles with parents, religion, husband, children, and friends are personal and universal. I don't know anyone that hasn't struggled with some or all of these. She guides the reader through the messiness of life and brings you out changed, possibly reflecting on elements of your own life, and intact.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as a reading assignment in a creative writing class. What a brave story with some strange healing powers. I feel like I know Seema from reading the incredibly detailed experiences that some would keep secret, but where is the truth or beauty in too many secrets? One really must fly their own flag. Thanks for sharing your innermost reflections about pain, existentialism, and love with us, Seema.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the World Breaks Open transcends traditional narrative memoir structures to offer a profound exploration of human relationships, resilience, and truth. Reza's narrative fragments and visual poetry compel readers to confront their experiences and perceptions, fostering empathy, understanding, and introspection. There were moments when I found myself in tears because I could feel the emotions coming through Reza's sentences, and I truly enjoyed reading the book.

[Ashna Chowdhury · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was so visceral and raw... and somehow still read like easeful flowing poetry. Seema Reza's exquisite writing swallows the reader whole to experience what it means to be fully alive, with an open heart... no matter what life throws at you. I'm in awe of the grace, honesty and courage in your words.
Oh, also I inhaled this book in 3 hours. Couldn't put it down :)

[Shams Alkamil · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good. Thinking of asking this writer to write a forward in my book. I'm always a sucker for biographical accounts because they are so impersonally sentimental and the author's story somehow is mine. I love how she organized the chapters in themes of nature and looks at the upheaval of chaos in her life through the lens of equilibrium and motion theories.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was stunning but hit too close to home. Dysfunctional families, death, abusive relationships. So many of us have been in her shoes and it hurts watching someone else go through what you know to be so painful.

[Eva-Stina]

here is a life of dappled light that cannot be paved over or repainted to conceal the inevitable seasons of harshness. in this place, of more dark than light, of uncertainty and chaos, you must learn to be.

[Rachel Laverdiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a gorgeous collection that speaks to the soul.

[Makani Speier-Brito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant and raw. Revealing testimony of a woman struggling with divorce and her ability to find healing through leaving her abusive marriage. Told in short poetic vignettes.

[Carlos Sámano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite poetry books. Anytime I feel that I can't write, I just open it. And to read one or two lines of that beautiful honesty of Seema makes me recover my faith.

[Christiane Williams-Vigil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a heartbreaking but beautifully written book. She really expresses grief in a way that it takes the reader along for the ride

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful and brave story telling and writing.