Teesta Review: A Journal of Poetry, Volume 1, Number 2. November 2018. ISSN: 2581-7094
Patterns of Being
by Heather
Sladdin, BookPOD, 2015, ISBN: 978-0-9874175-2-7, Pp.:182.
Patterns of
Being by Heather Sladdin is a story of innocence in a
world where humanity's maliciousness is not discriminated. Heather Sladdin with
a PhD in creative writing from University of Adelaide was briefly into teaching
before turning into a mentor for writers, editing ,and a poet. Her other
published works comprise of two collections of poetry, Rooms of Discovery and The
Grammar of Grapes.
Patterns
of Being is first
and foremost a story of a girl who is forced see the world in all its sorry
glory amidst the backdrop of the beauty South Australia has to offer. It is
also a story of loss and how one deals with grief through mediums available to
them. It addresses social issues in a unique way by not lingering on the
problem, but instead focuses on those impacted and the effect of it on the
characters. It magnifies the little glimpses of magic that we miss as we mature
when we forget to look around and see the beauty and mystery all around us
through the eyes of a child. It is written in open verse and tells of the
adventures of Annie, her Aunt Lilly and Aril, a spectator in Annie’s world
dealing with the murder of Dawn, Annie’s cousin and Aunty Lilly’s daughter, at
the hands of a drunk and the grief that follows as the family comes to terms
with it. The story becomes one when these three voices, through Annie’s
imagination, merge to provide many perspectives to understanding a tale of adventure,
loss, overcoming grief and growing up that Heather Sladdin does effortlessly
through a narrative style that depends heavily on descriptive narrative and a
succinct presentation of information.
Sladdin reminds us of what nature
has to offer through her use of it as a narrative tool woven seamlessly into a
format that prides itself of complexity within its simplicity. It is a risk to
present a verse narrative as there is the danger of presenting too little for
the reader to truly grasp the story and the message behind it. However, Sladdin
manages to provide enough for the reader's imagination by creating images such
as ‘water lilies (that) explode like yellow stars on the tops of the ponds’ and
‘wild flowers (that) make a rainbow across the ground’. The juxtaposition of nature’s
beauty and the plights of humanity helps to put into perspective the conflicts
faced by the characters. Sladdin’s verse, ‘I dream I am a butterfly sitting on
a daffodil’ and ‘I think of the kangaroo with its stomach peeled’ paint
different pictures but both fit the context she creates, leading the reader
into a new scene that signals for a change in tone and atmosphere. The
descriptions are almost cinematic as we see the images she describes, which
makes delving into the psyches of the characters easier. This allows the reader
to identify with the character or at least understand their motivations thus
augmenting the emotional journey the reader undertakes.
The imagery of conflicting ideas
and the use of the environment as a fulcrum to drive the story is ultimately
effective: there isn’t information dumping, nor is there a disjoint in the way
the descriptive style of writing combines with the main plot. Sladdin’s
descriptive style of writing stimulates the reader’s senses by evoking vivid
images and helps in setting the atmosphere. The form used to tell the story
also lets the reader’s imagination take flight as it presents information
without opinion and helps the reader to delve into the many landscapes Sladdin
describes, through their own lens, making each interpretation a unique one. An
example of this is her description of nature complementing the state of mind of
the character as though
cabbage
moths flutter
in the afternoon sun
sit
to open and shut their wings
The intertwining tales are tied together by the
world Sladdin builds and develops through her unadorned and concise
storytelling but it is the focus on atmosphere that adds depth to the story
that explores the emotional, psychological and biological maturity of three
characters and the development of their character through their interaction
with others.
Sladdin also explores the
existentialist thought of freedom and choice, of how freedom comes with
consequences and how it is through choice that one is able to take charge of
one’s life. She looks at individuals from different walks of life, whether it
is a difference in upbringing, which is seen in the comparison between Annie
and Aril, the latter of which was brought up by kangaroos, or the generational
gap like the one that exists between Aunt Lilly and Annie. Sladdin’s characters
are given the same freedom and liberties enjoyed by individuals today and that
is what draws the readers in. We are invested in the well-being of characters
that are like us and we live vicariously through the choices these characters
make. Sladdin creates well-rounded characters whose flaws are emphasized as
much as their virtues by allowing the characters to approach their problems
based on their maturity, personality and understanding of the world.
“Existence precedes essence” Jean-Paul Sartre had
said. Sladdin explores this thought by showing us that we are not defined by
what we are but by what we choose to be. Her emphasis on overcoming conflict
instead of lingering on the problem shows us that we can choose to be victims
or can choose to be survivors. The individual ways of overcoming grief and
conflict that Sladdin presents are representative of the many ways individuals
deal with grief today and by includes ways of coping with it. It shows
Sladdin’s focus on choice where the process of overcoming grief is a series of
choices.
Sladdin’s Patterns of Being is an ode to survival and perseverance. It is a
story told through verse, grounded in nature, that addresses loss, grief and survival while
raising questions of existentialism, identity and justice. Sladdin effectively
uses this medium and creates a narrative rich in description and depth while
sharing the rich heritage Australia has to offer. As a whole, Sladdin showcases
the potential of the verse novel as an art form in narrative fiction through
this text and captures the reader’s attention from the first verse, maintaining
the same quality throughout. It is a heartfelt read with a thought-provoking
resolution and a rewarding conclusion, especially for those who have dealt with
loss and are looking for respite.