Black Rainbow: How Words Healed Me, My Journey Through Depression

Black Rainbow: How Words Healed Me, My Journey Through Depression cover
Good Books rating 4.25
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Technical
  • ID: 2422
  • Added: 2025-10-13
  • Updated: 2025-10-13
  • ISBN: 9781444789980
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2014-04-24
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Black Rainbow is a deeply personal account of Rachel Kelly's struggle with severe depression and her path to recovery through the healing power of poetry. As a working mother and journalist, Rachel's life took a dramatic turn when she experienced a sudden and debilitating bout of depression. Despite medical intervention and family support, her anxiety persisted, leading to a second, even more severe, breakdown years later. Through her love for poetry, Rachel found solace and strength, using verses as a means to cope and eventually heal. The book not only shares her story but also includes a selection of poems that played a crucial role in her recovery, offering hope and inspiration to others facing similar challenges. At a time when mental health awareness is growing, Black Rainbow provides a raw and honest look at depression and the transformative power of poetry. Rachel's journey highlights the importance of finding alternative therapies and the potential of literature to heal. This book is a beacon of hope for anyone seeking understanding and new ways to manage mental health issues, proving that sometimes, words can be as powerful as medicine.

Reviews
BJPsych Bulletin · RJ Lawrence · 2015-01-01
beautiful 4.50

The reviewer, who has also experienced depression, finds the book beautiful and moving. They are unconvinced that poetry can cure depression but appreciate the author's journey.

RJ Lawrence, who has personally experienced depression, finds this book to be a beautiful and moving account of the author's journey. They are particularly drawn to the honesty and vulnerability shared throughout the narrative. While Lawrence remains unconvinced that poetry can cure depression, they deeply appreciate the author's exploration of how words provided solace and comfort during her darkest times. The reviewer values the book as a testament to the power of personal resilience and the healing potential of creative expression.


Quick quotes

    More personally, having also experienced depression, I found this a beautiful book.

    I remain unconvinced that poetry can cure depression

    Kelly's exploration of how words provided solace and comfort during her darkest times.

The Spectator · 2014-05-17
harrowing 4.00

The memoir is harrowing, depicting depression as a powerful force, but it also offers hope through the author's journey of recovery. The inclusion of poetry adds a unique layer to the narrative.

This review paints a vivid picture of the author's struggle with depression, describing it as an agony more powerful than love. The reviewer is struck by the raw and honest portrayal of the author's experiences. They appreciate how the memoir intertwines personal narrative with poetry, creating a unique and healing journey. The reviewer finds the book both harrowing and hopeful, highlighting the author's resilience and the transformative power of words.


Quick quotes

    A harrowing memoir of how a sea of monsters

    Wrapped around the words of her healers is her own harrowing but hopeful memoir of resistance and recovery.

    The book is a testament to the power of words to heal.

The Times · 2014-04-26
hopeful 4.25

The reviewer is moved by the author's harrowing yet hopeful memoir of resistance and recovery. The inclusion of poetry adds depth to the narrative.

This review highlights the author's harrowing journey through depression, emphasizing the raw and honest portrayal of her experiences. The reviewer is particularly moved by the author's resilience and the hopeful tone that permeates the memoir. They appreciate how the inclusion of poetry adds a unique and profound layer to the narrative, making it a powerful testament to the healing power of words. The reviewer finds the book to be both emotionally gripping and inspiring, offering a beacon of hope for those struggling with similar challenges.


Quick quotes

    Wrapped around the words of her healers is her own harrowing but hopeful memoir of resistance and recovery.

    The book is a powerful testament to the healing power of words.

    The inclusion of poetry adds a unique and profound layer to the narrative.