Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Depression & Other Magic Tricks
    Depression & Other Magic Tricks
    Depression & Other Magic Tricks
    Ebook97 pages

    Depression & Other Magic Tricks

    By Sabrina Benaim

    3.5/5

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    2017 Goodreads Choice Awards - Best Poetry Book Runner-Up

    Depression & Other Magic Tricks is the debut book by Sabrina Benaim, one of the most-viewed performance poets of all time, whose poem "Explaining My Depression to My Mother" has become a cultural phenomenon with over 50,000,000 views. Depression & Other Magic Tricks explores themes of mental health, love, and family. It is a documentation of struggle and triumph, a celebration of daily life and of living. Andrea Gibson, author of Lord of the Butterflies writes "I read this book on a day I couldn't get out of bed and it made me feel like I had a friend in the world...Simply put, this book disappears loneliness."
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherButton Poetry
    Release dateJul 26, 2020
    ISBN9781943735266
    Depression & Other Magic Tricks

    Related to Depression & Other Magic Tricks

    Poetry For You

    View More
    View More

    Related categories

    Reviews for Depression & Other Magic Tricks

    3.5/5

    258 ratings19 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 4/5
      This slim volume contains poetry of what appears to an autobiographical, or at least semi-autobiographical nature. Living up to its title, it deals with struggles regarding depression and anxiety, as well as touching upon family, friends, romantic relationships, etc. along the way. That might suggest the book is rather dark to read, but personally it was more comforting -- in that sort of way of knowing there are others like you out there and you can relate with them. The book isn't exactly narrative, but it does seem to continue in such a way to suggest a progression. The final poem ends on a note of optimism and is quite lovely. My personal favorite poem, however, is roughly smack-dab in the middle and is entitled "how to fold a memory."
    • 5/5
      I will never read a more important book in my life.
    • 5/5
      Depression & Other Magic Tricks is versatile, beautiful and profound. Sabrina Benaim writes about difficult topics and life in an open and honest way. She describes what it's like to have mental health problems and her poetry about depression is fantastic. It's impressive, understandable and not too heavy. It felt like I was allowed to see what it's like to be in Sabrina Benaim's head, which is an incredible precious gift to offer. She also writes about love and family, two universal topics she approaches in a gorgeous genuine way.

      The poems in Depression & Other Magic Tricks are all different in structure, composition and rhythm, which is something I loved. The poems are moving, compelling and inspiring. Sabrina Benaim has a brilliant way with words. I love how she plays with them and she managed to keep surprising me over and over again. Her sentences are stunning and they often took my breath away. Depression & Other Magic Tricks is a fascinating and extraordinary collection of poems and I highly recommend it.
    • 5/5
      Loved it! I like she had different forms of poetry. I also loved how she had it structured. It was inspiring and beautiful.
    • 4/5
      This was so pretty I’m absolutely in love with these poems
    • 2/5
      Mostly I don’t understand the meaning of these poetry, sadly. Only four poetries that took me thinking how depression is hard to explain to other. And lastly, I like her poetry about trying to love ourselves.
    • 3/5
      I kept on feeling like she was speaking about something very heart felt to her, but that I had to be there to truly appreciate it. I felt left out reading most of the poetry. There was 1 poem however that REALLY touched me and felt like she was talking directly to me. All-in-all it was a good read. The author is very descriptive in an imaginative way. It reminds me a lot of a Tori Amos song. Enjoy!
    • 3/5
      The title says it all--this book was pretty depressing. I could relate to some of the poems--particularly the one where she is trying to explain depression to her mom but her mom has no clue. Some of the poems, however, were completely off the wall which I guess is to be expected from someone who is depressed. My absolute favorite poem was "seven small ways in which i loved myself this week". That poem was just genius.I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      I will never read a more important book in my life.
    • 3/5
      To be frank, I was expecting a collection of poetry focusing on mental health and that is not what this collection is. I think there is one poem that directly talks about depression, the others kinda whisper about it in the background, but mental health was not the forefront topic of most of the poems. The poems are interesting and worth reading though, and the one about mental health was great.
    • 3/5
      It was beautiful but too scatered to get that one feeling. Too much mix emotions to keep track on things she talking to.
    • 5/5
      To be honest - I saw a portion of one of the poems on IG - repeated the portion to myself all day. I went to dinner and when I got home begun looking for the book and the title where the passage was taken from. I was thrilled to find the title on Scribd, needless to say I finished it in one seating and felt all the raw emotions. I cried and I smiled all at once because the book was so real and open. I love it. I felt every word as I went page by page until the very end, I too enjoy my coffee black because I like the way it makes my body feel. Thank you for an amazing title Sabrina!
    • 4/5
      I had my doubts. Not because I thought her poetry would be bad, but because I think it sounds better from her mouth, in her voice. But reading this was just what I needed. I'm almost tempted to read it again. Like right now.
    • 5/5
      This is the best book I have read this year so far. Looked like she took the words trapped in my lungs and let them find a home. Thank you Sabrina.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      This was a 2 star read for me really, but Explaining My Depression to My Mother alone adds one star to my review. It's the highlight of this collection, and I you haven't seen Sabrina Benaim performing it, watch it on Youtube. It gives me chills whenever I watch it. There were some other poems in this collection that I liked, but in general I was a bit disappointed.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      To be frank, I was expecting a collection of poetry focusing on mental health and that is not what this collection is. I think there is one poem that directly talks about depression, the others kinda whisper about it in the background, but mental health was not the forefront topic of most of the poems. The poems are interesting and worth reading though, and the one about mental health was great.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      I borrowed this book from the library because I love her poem First Date. The others I enjoyed as well, but they didn't jump out at me quite the same.
    • 3/5
      I kept on feeling like she was speaking about something very heart felt to her, but that I had to be there to truly appreciate it. I felt left out reading most of the poetry. There was 1 poem however that REALLY touched me and felt like she was talking directly to me. All-in-all it was a good read. The author is very descriptive in an imaginative way. It reminds me a lot of a Tori Amos song. Enjoy!
    • 5/5
      Waited for this book to be available on scribd and I am more than happy I did!

    Book preview

    Depression & Other Magic Tricks - Sabrina Benaim

    Jean

    hurdles / dreams

    new earrings / new ring formation / new kiss goodnight / most weekends / still falling asleep / in the middle of the bed / sometimes / i am / little lady / who wishes herself a flower / that wishes itself a balloon / how i always want to grow / high / get above it / i am / not here / to look at the dirt / beneath anyone’s fingernails / oh / the tricks we use / to distract ourselves / how they don’t always work / i still dream of you / sometimes / i wake up / with a basketball inflated / in my chest / sitting atop my rack of ribs / waiting / for an invitation / to dribble / on your court / of course / at your court/ it’s patio weather / like / all the time / right / imagine me / sticky as a popsicle stick / with feelings / all / parched hands & clammy tongue / hungry for a kiss / then / there is the dream / that reoccurs / the wicked game / where you pretend / you are a ghost / & i talk to myself / in rooms full of strangers / or / the impossible dream / where your hand / slips / & your fingers / weave / easily into mine / or / the one i am inside of the whale’s mouth / i yell out / for you to come join me / i’m sorry it’s so dark in here / i tell you / but i am not sorry / for the darkness / only that it makes you so afraid / or / worst of all / the dream i cannot seem to wake from / i am jumping days like hurdles / for months & months & months / to get over you / why do i think it’s possible / to write the bricks out of a wall / why am i banging my head / against a brick wall / begging / please please please / for a different memory / one where the lilac wind did not lick my eyelashes / that way / where i look at you / & in my head Joanna Newsom does not sing / ‘you are starry starry starry’ / i know / none of it makes sense / i know / trust me / there is no sleep for this lonely / no birds / this morning / only the sound of my upstairs neighbors / making breakfast / at least / they aren’t using the blender / at least / their baby girl isn’t crying / & neither am i /

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1