Author: Mary Johnsen
ISBN: 141166132X

The following review was contributed by:  Tami Brady: CLICK TO VIEW Tami Brady's Reviews

Ten Years Running is a compilation of poems by the author. These works have
a variety of contemporary subjects fitting into the general themes of love
and pain. Despite these aspects, I didn't feel that the pieces were whiny or
dark. Instead these works were filled with triumph, shared experience, and
the power of a person willing to explore her pain without blame. In fact,
when reading these poems, I had a sense that the author wrote to understand
herself and her experiences.

With 93 well written poems, Ten Years Running has too many pieces to
describe all of my favourite pieces. I tended to like the works in which the
author reflects on the past and time itself such as in Memories and Time.
However, I also was attracted to poems like Little Things, I Am, and
Breakdown where that strength and understanding of self seems to burst
through the author's personal pain. I also enjoyed If which reminds the
reader if you don't like something do something else you do like. I think
sometimes we all get so caught up in our pain and suffering that we don't
even bother to try to move on.