Yrsa-Daily ward’s book is simply stunning and captivating. It speaks to the young adult who struggles with their identity – a memoir of discovery, growth, and experimentation. Yrsa’s lack of a relationship with her father feeds into an emotional story aching with passion and longing. Immediately, the reader is drawn into a vivid picture of her life with her little brother Roo in Manchester through the use of magical realism allowing readers to escape with the characters into another world.
There is an ongoing switch between prose and poetry offering readers a chance to break away from the story every so often to catch a glimpse of Yrsa’s heart and mind and the conflicts she faces in carving her own path in life and discovering her purpose. The book also offers a bold look at sexuality – with Yrsa’s fearless and candid expressions of her experiences with men. And for this aspect deserves applause for its daring approach to this slightly taboo topic; especially considering Yrsa’s upbringing as a Seventh-day Adventist. Alongside the backdrop of a very strict upbringing, Yrsa breaks free of tradition and piety to bring us a raw story.
The book also explores escapism through the vices of drugs/alcohol which seems to offer Yrsa an outlet for her ever bubbling emotions – and the reader is also carried by the hand through these experiences in a vivid way. Her talent as a writer becomes evident when the reader begins to feel apart her world – which permeates this short story so potently.
This book is a must-read for anyone who likes poetry and prose, and themes on the struggles that come with finding one’s identity. The raw truths written by Yrsa challenges readers to uncover their own “Terrible,” in a way, challenging them to befriend it.
Yrsa Daley-Ward is a writer and poet of mixed West Indian and West African heritage. Born to a Jamaican mother and a Nigerian father, Yrsa was raised by her devout Seventh Day Adventist grandparents in the small town of Chorley in the North of England. She splits her time between London and New York. “Terrible” is the story of a girl trying to navigate her way through life alone. She speaks with the honest pain of an emotionally struggling young woman looking for a happiness that always eludes her. Speaking through poetry and prose you always know exactly what is on her mind, it.
Please check for more information on the book – @penguinukbooks @yrsadaleyward
Which you can purchase on Amazon or Penguin
The cool book trailer below was created by @watykang, who lives at this website 🙂
4/5 Stars
The Terrible a personification of you. All the things awful or nice, you could literally be anything.
Yrsa has created a lingerer but a lingerer in the absolute best way, it stays with you and just lurks in your mind until you have no other choice but to give in and think about it. It’s probably the rawest, deep memoirs I’ve ever read, and speaks deeply about telling your own truth, and telling your story.
A true soul searching.
We follow Yrsa’s life as she battles her own inner demons and searches for who she is in this world and how she fits in. Telling not only her story but the story of the people around her and the affect they have had on her upbringing, and where her story goes. A true ode and love story to her brother ‘Little Roo’ who is her constant. Within the book I felt that there were a few unanswered questions that where maybe mentioned once but then never truly expanded on, such as ‘I think I must be a lesbian’. Never mentioned again within the book, answered, or explained. I’m all for none labelling but I would have liked to have seen this part of her life even more explored.
Is she just reliant on men for the company or to pay the bills?
The Terrible Yrsa Daley-ward
The Terrible Yrsa Daley Ward Review
After reading the book I watched a video of Yrsa Daley-Ward reading extracts from the book as well as some of her poetry in America. I think for me watching the video brought me back down to earth that this book isn’t fiction this was her life and made me fall in love with the book even more.