Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter

by Sage Steadman

Willow's your basic potty-mouth Mormon hippie with anger issues. Despite her parents constant fighting, her life is seemingly perfect. She has lots of friends, little responsibility and a stunning collection of sequined pillows. But everything changes when she and her best friend fall for the same guy. River is sexy, mysterious, and likes peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. But there is something more behind his troubled jade eyes that draws Willow in. Relationships are tested and Willow ends up friendless and alone as she navigates the rough waters of a fiery first love. Soon, the illusions of her perfect world crumble and Willow must reexamine the beliefs that once built her rocky foundation. This quirky coming of age story follows Willow and River’s unlikely romance as they battle their own inner demons and struggle to find themselves and their place in the adult world. "Snowflake Obsidian’s" raw and honest story telling captures the reader, invoking laughter and tears in this impressive page-turner. Willow’s intelligent and humorous voice bluntly shares her story of first love and self-discovery with the perfect blend of cynical optimism and nostalgia in this ridiculously funny memoir about life, love, and learning.

Genres: Memoir, Journal

292 pages, Paperback

Published June 28, 2016

About the author

Sage Steadman was awarded a master’s degree in social work from the University of Utah. While pursuing her passion for writing, she worked as a licensed mental health therapist. She published her debut novel, "Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter," in 2010 under her pen name, The Hippie, and since, re-released the second edition under her real name. The novel has been deemed an “idyllic” read, filled with love, humor, romance and heart. She is also the co-author of the gritty and inspiring historical fiction novel, "Upon Destiny’s Song," alongside classical guitarist, Mike Ericksen. She is also the author of the YA novels, "The Waking Dream," and "Ann, Not Annie." Sage is heralded as a talented writer who tackles her novels with a witty, raw and honest approach. She currently lives near Salt Lake City, Utah with her family.

Reviews

[Keep Calm Novel On · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author via Booktasters provided a copy of the ePub in exchange for an honest review.

Sage Steadman’s young adult novel Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter is a raw glimpse into Willow’s world. Her world is far from perfect. The author allows the reader to observe Willow’s painful journey. Everything changes when she meets River. He is everything that Willow thinks she wants and needs. Not only does she fall for River but her best friend does as well. Steadman deals with many issues including but not limited to substance abuse, addiction, sexual assault, and mental health. Willow’s actions continually mask her inner pain as she has not developed the tools required to cope. This fast-paced novel is well-written. The tone and language reflect the age of the characters and their environment. Will Willow ever become her authentic self?

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. I felt like I was reading about my childhood with my friends. It was a little bit of a heavy read but I didn't mind that in the least. The book flowed very quickly and was super easy to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially young adults.

[Desiree reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

First i got the courtesy copy of the book the title might freak you out but when you get in to the book you will realize what the book is about the the snowflake is stone my mom give me and then i keep it with me all the time and it is to hep me relax.

You see my name is Willow and my parent are rich kind of and then my friends come over all the time they like that we can party here and my parent do not bother us as long is no sex and then no drugs if they are in house they have a fit,

Well i am going to tell you a story i gone to school and not started the collage yet you see when i
get up set or scared i turn and cut my arm and legs i do this when thing piss me off
when other things don't work i paint and then i do not care what my room look like my dad
does not care as long you bother the t v.

You see i went to Costa Rica and Europe after we graduated with my friends now my friends are no were i ask my dad if my bf could move in basement room and he said no sex.You see my dad said you going to college and i am paying it so i took art and other classes and i love it now i am in joying the time and we kicked river out and he need to go to rehab for drugs,

Your wondering what the stone mean is what you look in to it and then you look at your reflection in a mirror

[Mariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to the talented author Sage Steadman and also Booktasters for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.
Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter is the written experience of Willow, a normal,everyday , artistic teen who begins to struggle with life experiences.I believe this book would give an insight to sufferers, parents, and friends as to why the cutting manifests in self-harming behaviours and to some degree how they can be helped.
Initially I was drawn to this book as I was curious about the reference to “ obsidian snowflake“ plus I wanted to explore my comfort zone with a topic that some may consider as taboo.
After reading the first part of the book I had made a decision that it was an interesting and informative read but that I had no connection with the book- characters,theme etc but after continuing through the second and to the final part of the book it dawned on me how wrong I was!
I realised that yes I did have a friend like Jo who literally “boy-hopped” and yes, even the ones I liked…and yes I had been ruled by issues, although not self-harm but eating based,or rather the lack of it. It as an eye-opener for me to come face to face with my own experience and my reasons why, whilst also reading the book and understanding from the authors point of view and seeing the evolution of Willow from her despair of being rock-bottom to learning how to cope and loving herself….just beautiful!

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really awesome read especially for those with depression and anxiety. There was some parts of it that I could associate with, but there is also a part in which I didn't agree with the author regarding addiction. People think that stopping doing drugs us easy like, "Okay I'm not going to do them anymore," and you're clean like magic. But anyways, this book also made me realize that mental health can affect any person no mater the race, gender, religion, or social ladder. I can see where the author's opinions on addiction lay on since she grew up in a religious household. I was like, "Yes, I know how that can feel." Then when I got to the passage where she's talking about just stopping using drugs and how easy it is to her, I was like, "Now she's lost me. Clearly she doesn't understand how addition works." Yes, it irritated me just a little bit, but I kept on reading; everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it's wrong. I'm not a cutter, but I do deal with depression and anxiety. I also know some people that do cut and this book can be a huge help to them as well as me too because I got good stuff out of it, aside from the addiction thing.

[Divya Mahajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snowflake Obsidian is a book by Sage Steadman that deals many issues that assail that today's teenagers and sometimes adults too; Lack of self appreciation most common and most devastating leading to many other mental issues and self harm. Though Willow has many friends supposedly steady home life at first look; there are many issues lurking underneath and how Willow recognises them and deal with them on her own and with help from friends family and professionals and finally accepts herself forms the crux. The fact being you should be have the courage to recognise the truth and be ready to fight the odds.
Its a good motivating book for teenagers I received this book from the author via @BookTasters

[Okungbowa Victory · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, a big thank you to Booktasters and Sage Steadman for the book! 


We shall not cease from exploration, and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
T. S Elliot

I learned a lot from this book - The need for adequate expression of oneself, not attaching your happiness or emotions to other people which Willow did a lot until she lost herself and resulted in cutting as a means of finding herself and also the importance of therapy. Therapy really helped her in accessing her emotions for what they are and dealing with them accordingly.
The above quote by T. S Elliot sums up Willow's life and her relationship with River. At the end of the exploration, she found herself in the very beginning and she had to deal with all her problems bit by bit until she found herself and true happiness again.

The excerpts below are what stood out for me in the book and gave me enough clarity in dealing with my emotions:

"You choose who you are. The people that we’re in close relationship with usually show up for us
as some form of a mirror"

"I think it’s easy to stay in it because people are happy being miserable."

"Fault just causes you to feel bad and responsibility allows you freedom of choices. Responsibility allows you to respond to the situation instead of just sitting in it and feeling bad that you created it"

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a free Kindle copy of Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter, from Sage Steadman. (In exchange for an honest review).
The title is intriguing which made me choose this book via Booktasters. I always love getting a peek into the psychology of interesting people. Sage Steadman writes a beautiful insightful memoir about passing the gateway into adulthood with all the questions and issues and angst that comes with it! One of the ways she deals with it is by cutting herself.
I got stuck on the storyline. I only read this book 62%, and decided to call it quits. My apologies if I missed something. I hate to do this, but I also hate reading the same thing over and over.
I get that this is the existential journey of the coming-of-age of a very bright mind. I do believe that young people struggling with life and even depression, would find great refuse in a book like this. It also explore relationships at it's core, family, friends and romantic. Thanks, Sage, for sharing your story with us.
I know you have a bright future as writer ahead of you!

[Lee Dube · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to know about this book via book tasters in exchange for a review. What captured me is the tittle of book which for me fits perfectly as this is a journey of a teenager by the name Willow who faces a lot during her teenage years. She invites the readers into her life sharing the challenges that she face as she grow up. She grows up in a "dysfunctional" her father being the source of most of the problems in the family and Willow describes her to one of her boyfriends Adam as" a lion on discovery channel". Her friends think he is not harmful but in Will's reality he is. Willow is caught up in boyfriends drama with her childhood friend Jo as they always seem to be after the same guys this later creates a strain in their friendship. In short l would say the book highlights very well issues like depression, friendships and anxiety amongst teenagers. Good book as it was l felt like there were too many characters making it difficult for one to follow up and understand how they link to the main character. I would highly recommend the book to teenagers and young adults.

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not typically a memoir type of reader, but wow! I was sold at MOGENTINE! I not only appreciated the way it was written but that there was genuine growth and a journey that made it easy to come on in without knocking and stay a while. I can understand why people may have disliked some of the friends/characters represented within, but I think it goes to show how important it is to evaluate our relationships and see if they are healthy.

Recognizing codependency sometimes never happens, and the fact that you, Sage, were able to identify it and work with it just impressed me ever more. Having known friends who have cut in their past, I never understood — now I think it’s a little more clear. Honestly, I’m glad I had the opportunity to take this journey and see the bumps along the road and cheer every time you got back up.

I’d definitely read anything else written by the angry hippy. ♥️

[Lia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Book tasters, that I've the honor to read that amazing book.

The book has a quite interesting story line and deep characters. I liked the development of them & how it is described. Sometimes the chapters & topics were changing to fast for me, that made it harder for me to read and follow the story, but especially because English is not my mother language.

I liked the main character the most because she is authentic & the way she's dealing with her problems reminds me of myself.

It was very interesting to me to take a sneak peak into a mormoms life and their ethic circumstances of life. In my opinion the book is good for young adults, they'll recognize a lot from their lives in there.

I didn't like that the story turns a lot and very fast, that was confusing at some points. But at least the story is well written and I really love the creative parts of the main characters mind & how well they're descripted. She's gorgeous and real and really like that.

[Okwudili Emechebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing journey experiencing the quite innocently confused life of Willow, we have all been there...testing the limits and going with your gut instincts, having regrets,expressing pain and anger in unique ways. Her journey through dating and her experience of love and the pain of rejection...an amazing open minded read that pushed the perspective of friendship, relationship, family issues, masculinity..a book i would recommend for the goofy, the laid back, the curious...
In my country the idea of a guy getting his nails painted is frowned upon, and so also is cross dressing but it was interesting to experience all that within the delightfully written pages of this book.
After reading this i am tempted to take up painting as a channel to express my innermost feelings...hahaha..

[Kathleen Quirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book instantly took me back to the end of high school and beginnings of college. While I was not a cutter, I vividly remember belonging to a very similar “friend group” and going through all the awkward and painful phases of young adulthood. Willow’s honest and raw account of this period in her life comes to life through her writing. She covers it all including the fragility of family relationships, first true love, the multiple layers of complicated friendships that include love, loyalty, betrayal and forgiveness. She bears witness to addiction and it’s consequences. All the while fighting her own destructive demons expressed through cutting.
Her story is also one of resilience, hope and moving forward by allowing one’s self to feel emotion yet not let the emotion control your life.
The format, written in diary style lends itself to being able to be put down and picked up with ease. It is a memoir that evokes a range of emotions for the reader that tackles life’s lessons with raw honesty and humor combined. Definitely a great read!

[Jona Muku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter is the written experience of Willow, a normal, everyday, artistic teen who begins to struggle with life experiences. I believe this book would give an insight to sufferers, parents, and friends as to why the cutting manifests in self-harming behaviours and to some degree how they can be helped.
Also, further in reading, I got to understand the author’s point of view and seeing the evolution of Willow from her despair of being rock-bottom to learning how to cope with life and loving herself….just beautiful!

[Ndidiamaka]

The memoir of a cutter is a roller coaster of emotions. It's an eye opener to the realities of life- pain, healing, individual struggle, support and every other thing. While it's easy to idolize our parents and see them as super heroes, they are actually like us. They have struggles and insecurities like we do. Being older doesn't make them immune to pain.

I like that the author is vulnerable with us and tells us about her mental illness struggle without holding back. Bringing her friends into the picture without making them seem like perfect people is nice.

[Andrea Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for the courtesy copy and for sharing your story. I myself have experienced a fiery love. There were some interesting observations on co dependency . I don't think Jo was a good friend to Willow, It seemed she was trying to compete with her. I felt sympathy for Willow's pain and the triggers that led to her cutting. She is a pretty insightful person for a girl of her age. She writes well and this is a solid read.

[Ilaria Rossetto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me cry and made me laugh. I read it after my own River broke up with me so Willow became like a best friend to me. I shared tears and happiness with this book. I encourage anyone who is going through a tough time to read it and to find hope in it.
I'm so grateful that I read this book because it gave me confort and strenght. Willow inspired me to fight for peace and clarity. This book found me when I most needed it, and I hope you will like it as much as I did.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. Humorous yet serious look at codependency and far better than “Codependent No More”, a book I threw across the room so many times that the spine is irreparably broken. While I chose a different mode of self harm, the story could have been my own - it rings true and makes sense of the senseless. Choose lemon bars over peanuts.

[Hilario · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, when I picked up this book, the first impression I got was how the author uses an unconventional writing style in a conventional way. Different, I kept on reading, as you most likely will too; you will not probably 'catch my drift,' unless you pick it up and see for yourself, I would say worth a read.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

thanks for the opportunity to let me read one of your books for free, Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter. It was kinda deep, as someone who relates to some of the issues in the book this really hit home, the writing style was amazing and I didn't get off the book for hours at a stretch when I started it, its like a journey from self loathing to loving oneself . <3

[Shalom Ayo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book draws you in right from the start . There's a lot of emotion;humor,depression. Willow's life is all caught up in these and she becomes withdrawn. Willow is an overly emotional teenager who struggles,in ways--fascinating, with her relationships and evolution into adulthood. I find this book interesting.

[Soul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully written, very poetic and creative, and kept me interested. A bit unrealistic in my opinion, but maybe better in an elderly lady's perspective?

[Nicole Becktel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very poetically written, some great descriptions. However, some parts felt a bit slow. I enjoyed the descriptions and the dialouge between characters. I would have liked to know more about the mental illness aspect of the story early on.

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started this book, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I was “approached” by @BookTasters on Twitter, asking me if I was willing to give an honest review in exchange for a chance to read this for free.

Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever related more to a book in my life. Sometimes I read books to escape because I want to pretend that the love of my life is someone I’m going to run into on a plane and the rest is history. But it’s not realistic. This book, from page one, is real. The experiences that Willow goes through, are things that I’ve gone through in my life. Heartache, love, depression, self harm, being an empath! These are real things that real people deal with and to know that I still felt good about everything when it ended gives me hope for life.

10/10 would recommend!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I was provided this book buy the author in exchange for an honest review.

The book Snowflake Obsidian: Memoir of a Cutter is an autobiography. I had some trepidation when I began reading this book as other novels I’ve read when the protagonist has dealt with mental illness have made it difficult to “cheer” for them. Despite a book revolving around depression, cutting, drugs use and the loneliness that can happen with a group of friend’s path diverge; I found this book quite readable. I wanted Willow to recognize she is amazing! In addition to enjoying this book, I also found it informative and picked up a couple of tools I can (try) incorporate into my life
When we are introduced to Willow, she is a teenager who is comfortable in her own skin; a self-described hippie because she eschews wearing shoes, loves dancing in the rain but sans the drugs and casual sex, she’s Mormon after all. :) Seriously at this point on the surface, she sounds like someone I’d like my sons to date. As we read, we discover that Willow has many friends of both genders, is able to express herself through art and yet there seems to be a deep seeded anger which she initially buries. ( this is where I recant the offer the date my sons) Like most people, Willow is seeking guidance and support through her friends and as the group’s path diverge, Willow finds herself co- dependant in an unhealthy relationship and alone with her anger. She eventually discovers cutting as an expression of this anger and helplessness after something terrible happens to one of her friends.
We travel along with Willow as she shares a series of events, some personal, some through her eyes and feel for her as her circle gets smaller and smaller. What stood out to me and made the book engaging was the lack of self-pity and the sense of humor Willow maintains or tries to maintain as she shares these events. When recounting her past, the author did not focus on doom and gloom for dramatic effect but rather provide some insight into a day with depression can look like. I was pleased to see openness to help and not just medicating. Willow works with a therapist to guide her and provide tools to help Willow. Pay attention because these are darn good tools that anyone of use could use for day today living. There is a wonderful parable about letting go utilizing a monkey, coconut and peanuts.
We know our girl makes it, after all this is an autobiography, but, there are definitely more than a few bumps along the way. A Good read and lesson to be learned.
Be kind to each other

[Laurene Brannick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sage Steadman's book, Snowflake Obsidian: Memoirs of a Cutter, opens in suburban Utah, where she and her friends have just graduated from high school and are dealing with the inevitable changes that come with adulthood. Sage is a depressed semi-hermit who's most comfortable alone in her room, painting. Her friends are used to dragging her out to have "fun", only she's not having fun, and no one understands the state she's in, least of all herself. These were kids to whom ditching class was a walk on the wild side, so Sage is completely blindsided when her friends drift into drugs with the new boy, and try to keep it secret from her. When she finally realizes she's in love with the new kid despite his drugs and issues, her self-hatred hits a new high, and she starts cutting herself. When she starts therapy and begins to learn why she cuts, she's able to set herself free to be herself, and love herself for herself. We're left with an unresolved story (though her forward and afterwards help), and a hope her life will be brighter...
The author has a beautifully descriptive way of writing when she lingers on a scene. She's also quite good at describing emotions and motivations, which is all important to the main theme of the book. This book had a hard time finding it's pace as the first half is spent building background. In striving to give us the background to help us understand her angst, she puts in too many extraneous details and anecdotes which clutters the story. Whole days that were "We went here and did this, then we did that..." could hit the editor's floor without doing violence to the story- leaving more room to explore the relationship with River & her journey of growth and awakening... because when she reaches the part of the story where she's focused on her relationship with River, the story blossoms and her writing flows deft and sure. I especially loved her internal dialogue where she allows us to see the actual process she used to gain understanding and control over the urge to cut.
I felt this book suffered from a lack of focus and an overabundance of minutiae, especially at the beginning. She began to hit her stride about halfway through and while I think the book could have been a bit longer for the story-line, it actually works well enough for her intent- which is to share ways to cope with feelings of self-harm. In that sense, this book is an unqualified success.

[June Chenger · Rating 4 out of 5]

When i first read the title of the book,Snowflake Obsidian, i was really intrigued and i wanted to understand why the author had chosen it for a title.In one of the prompts i read that the snowflake obsidian rock, which has a spiritual significance in that it helps one to see the light in the darkness and bring a balance between the mind and the body. That is where my interest in the book was piqued and i really wanted to read about this hippie with anger issues finally seeing light in the darkness and i wasn't disappointed at all. While at it, i got into the mind of Willow,a teenage hippie Mormon and it was a pretty intense place i must say. With the awesome first narration the author uses and the many conversations Willow has,i was in oneness with her and got to understand almost every emotion she went through.
The writer sheds light on mental health, depression to be precise and drug abuse,issues that plague our day to day lives. By reading through how depression affects Willow's quality of life,how she'd shut away her friends, cry almost all the time and the cutting tendancies,i gained better understanding about the menace depression really is. Going through her therapy journey and how she learns to think though her emotions,analyse them and express them rather than suffocating them, made me really happy for the strides she was making. I was especially happy when she learns to stand up to her Dad,open up to River and talk about their relationship and all and generally confront stuff she goes through.
I have drawn lots of lessons from Willow's journey to learning to accept and express her emotions, her quest for loving herself,about living in the moment and enjoying the simple beauty of everything around us and how worrying too much about the future robs us the chance to truely enjoy the present. I also love how she holds on to her snowflake obsidian through those profound moments of her life that we get to experience with her and it somehow makes things better and i am really tempted to find that rock for myself.
This is an amazing book!!I really enjoyed reading it and i'd recommend it to young adults and people battling depression and cutting tendancies because in it they'll know that someone has been there and conquered.
I am really grateful for the chance to get to lost in this one courtesy of Booktasters and Sage. Thank you!!

[Sona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowflake Obsidian is a very honest book, 'beautiful and sincere', as the main protagonists are. It is the story of Willow, her seemingly picture perfect life with her relationship and identity issues forming a backdrop. My 'word' for this book is 'Redemption' which is what I felt when I closed the book, having read it in a few breathtaking swoops.

Willow describes herself as a Mormon Hippie who has a wonderful life. She has a good social circle, with a loyal gang of friends who seem to be hanging out with each other forever. Heck, they even have regular sleepovers, drifting in and out of each other's houses without much hesitation. Parents or any kind of adults are strangely absent through these interactions. Even when these teenagers/adults face aggravated conditions like sexual assault, drug use or mental health issues the adults are in the background, sympathetic but not really playing an active role in their children's lives.

The protagonists are on their own mostly, with their doubts, insecurities and identity issues, looking for guidance and support through their friends. And yet, this is the chronicling of a different kind of struggle where the protagonist, Willow, reaches the end, not just 'whole' but positively glowing.

Snowflake Obsidian touches on the difficult topics of drug use, depression and self harming behaviour like cutting oneself and dies do with a great amount of sensituvity. I had expected to feel repulsed by the cutting but I felt a lot of sympathy towards the main characters. Therapy is mentioned in some detail and the entire process of healing through thinking, understanding, analysing and getting there takes some time and false starts but they get there, the protagonists do.

In the middle of all the teenage angst, multiple relationships and manipulative people, is a light of rare sensitivity and beauty, through art, through genuine expression and the voicing of deep felt emotions.

Snowflake Obsidian is a real book with real issues and it shows the way to light and peace.

[Bianca Sy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the author herself in exchange for an honest review.

I never knew which emotion I could really trust.
Was it my passion or my gut? — page 31

The story is about how Willow deals with her friends and herself. Sounds simple? No. It was completely chaotic.

I did like the introduction as the author described her creative mind when she was younger. She talks about the caterpillar and how it changes into something beautiful she would chase as it flies.

The part one, I did not like it that much. I was wondering where the story is going, and I was exclusively bothered with the titles of each chapter. It gave me clues to what will happen next, and so my excitement was never constant.

When I reached the second part, that was when I realized that perhaps the part one was only an explanation for the reader to catch up to what happened to Willow. The part caught my whole attention, but still, the titles bother me. I hope it wouldn't be that revealing, and I hope the flow isn't like a roller coaster that gets boring and then suddenly gets extreme.

What I liked about:
The story compressed the lessons with clear explanations. It shares about what you can learn in your family, friends, and yourself around the turbulent events that are happening around you.

Let me share you the quote I certainly liked.

Fault just causes you to feel bad and responsibility allows you freedom of choices. Responsibility allows you to respond to the situation instead of just sitting in it and feeling bad that you created it. — 218

What I did not like:
As I said, the title of each chapter. It did bother me.

To whom would I recommend this?
For 18 years old and above only, please. Or if you think you can handle quite extreme behaviors, then go ahead. I won't make any statement to stop you from trying a great adventure.

[Shrabastee Chakraborty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snowflake Obsidian by Sage Steadman narrates the story of a young adult girl named Willow and her complicated issues in an otherwise normal life. Being empathetic in nature, she imbibes the feelings of people close to her, and each of them affects her in little but inevitable ways. Her feelings are often expressed through her paintings, but things take a downhill turn when she starts feeling the urge to self-harm to ease other pains. To overcome this, she must learn to come to terms with herself.
The book is divided into three major parts that shows Willow’s gradual maturity. The first part is ‘Caterpillar’, where she absorbs everything around her. The second part is ‘Chrysalis’, where she puts a shell around her to detach her broken self from others. In ‘Butterfly’, the final part, she breaks out of her shell and rises against all odds. The beautiful imagery and heart-touching analogies used in this book were mesmerizing. With easy language and flowing details, this is a comfortable read. However, in spite of the light-hearted narration, the contents were deep and emotional. I am glad that I came across Snowflake Obsidian, because reading the book moved me greatly.
The author’s accounts felt very intimate and honest. While reading, I realized that I myself have often felt what she was feeling, except that I could never express all those complex emotions so vividly in words. At times, I simply stopped reading for a while and pondered over Willow’s life. Not only that, I reflected on my own unresolved issues and felt that I probably needed to take care of them too. That is the beauty of Snowflake Obsidian that it makes us go through self-realization without ever seeming too preachy. I would suggest this to anyone who loves a deep, meaningful, and thought-provoking read.