Thunderstroke : A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story

An inspiration 5-STAR!
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025
Verified Purchase
Terence Ang is no stranger to telling his stroke story. Usually through a combination of words and drawings, Ang brings to light the emotions, limitations, and struggles in his own recovery. But this time Terence lets his words do the talking, and what powerful words shine through in this collection of poems.

As the preface explains, Thunderstroke is a moment of shifting, an irrevocable altering of course due to an intense and monumental event. Often an experience so significant survival feels uncertain. A momentous word to describe the impacts of stroke. For those that have experienced a before and after such as Terence, or a life defining moment leaving you uncertain after its strike, “Thunderstroke” is for you.

Author Terence Ang once again uniquely shows the fear, pain, darkness, and infancy that a stroke brings about. From the seesaw holding the little kid sitting ever poised to being pulled upward by the heavy stories resting on the now grown shoulders sitting opposite, to the eagles soaring, whales swimming, turtles crawling, and worms trying to survive within the mud, “Thunderstroke” is a wholly engrossing experience.

Separated by three interludes, Ang walks readers through the emotions as we emerge from the dark into his new realities. An inspiration to the stroke community, Ang continues to tell his story in enlightening ways. Becoming a beacon of recovery, his artistic escapades have made him an exceptional author, educating us all in his emotional journey.

An emotional and powerful poetry collection! 5-STAR!
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2025
What a heartfelt poetry collection!

I had previously read the author’s graphic novel, The Boy and the Man, which detailed the author’s life and struggles recovering from his stroke. I enjoyed the graphic novel so I was excited to read his poetry collection.

This poetry collection is a poetry interpretation of the same events. I found this interpretation to be even better than the graphic novel. Poetry resonates strongly with me so I was drawn to this method of storytelling.

It’s always hard to review poetry, but one thing was evident regarding this collection: it came from the heart. You can really feel the emotions behind the author’s struggles.

I also liked how the collection was organized. It was divided up into 3 sections, each representing different points of his recovery. Prior to each section is prose explaining the thoughts and feelings of that section. This made it very easy to follow his journey.

The poems themselves didn’t have titles, but I thought that worked well for this particular collection. Since they didn’t have titles, it felt like I was reading a story told in verse. It all flowed together nicely and effortlessly.

Overall, this was a powerful poetry collection! If you like poetry focused on hope, resilience, and strength, you’ll love this book.

Beautifully written and inspiring - 5-STAR!
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2025
Terence Ang has taken the life lessons learned and experienced through the challenge of surviving a stroke and created a beautiful memoir of poetry. Easy to read, inspiring, emotional, and uplifting his poems take us on his journey from despair to acceptance to thriving.

He shares his personal trauma to bring light to others that may be going through something similar and he offers hope and encouragement for their own journey. I love his spirit and desire to use what could be seen as tragic as something transformative and a unique opportunity instead.

Wonderful - 5 STAR!
Reviewed in India on February 1, 2025
Verified Purchase
Some books don’t just tell a story—they make you feel every emotion, every struggle, and every moment of hope. Thunderstroke by Terence Ang is one such book. It is a collection of poems that beautifully captures his journey after a life-changing stroke. Through simple yet powerful words, he shares his pain, frustration, and the slow process of healing. The book is divided into different phases—darkness, struggle, and finally, finding the light. As I read, I felt like I was walking alongside him, feeling his emotions deeply.

What touched me most was how real and honest this book is. Ang doesn’t try to sugarcoat anything—he talks about feeling lost, about struggling to communicate, and about how life suddenly became difficult in ways he never imagined. But at the same time, his words also carry hope. He reminds us that even in our weakest moments, we can find strength. His poem about turning “weakness into wings” really stuck with me because it’s something we all need to remember—hard times don’t have to break us; they can also make us stronger.

This book is not only for stroke survivors—it is for people who have had tests and trials in life. Whether it be a personal struggle, loss or a time when everything felt stacked against you, Thunderstroke resonates with that feeling. They are simple, heartfelt, relatable poems. As I read and thought about the article, I realized that I was also experiencing some of the same things and started to think about how important it is for all of us to get on the same page with ourselves through times that could be trying.

I would highly recommend Thunderstroke to anyone looking for a book that is emotional yet uplifting. It’s a reminder that no matter how dark things get, there is always a way forward. This book isn’t just about surviving—it’s about finding meaning in the struggle and learning to shine even after the storm.

A must- read - 5 STAR!
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2025
Terence Ang's *Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story* is a deeply moving exploration of the human experience through poetry. This memoir stands out with its heartfelt narrative and evocative imagery, making it a must-read for anyone grappling with the complexities of loss, grief, and transformation.

Ang masterfully captures those pivotal moments in life when everything shifts, plunging readers into the tumultuous waters of emotional upheaval. The poems are raw and unfiltered, pulling the reader into the intimate process of confronting life's fragility. Each piece serves as a testament to the personal experience of navigating through a storm, reflecting on how disruptions can redefine our existence.

What sets *Thunderstroke* apart is its focus not just on survival but on the transformative power of resilience. Ang invites readers to see their vulnerabilities not as weaknesses but as sources of strength. He offers solace and guidance, beautifully illustrating the journey from despair to renewal. His words are a reminder that while life may fracture us, it also provides the means to rebuild and emerge stronger.

The collection reads as both a personal narrative and a universal guide, resonating with anyone who has faced significant change. Ang eloquently crafts a map for readers navigating their own labyrinths, ensuring that they feel less alone in their struggles.

In conclusion, *Thunderstroke* is not merely a collection of poetry; it is a profound reflection on the human spirit’s capacity for healing and growth. Terrance Ang’s work is a beacon of hope, shedding light on the quiet miracles that emerge amidst chaos. Highly recommended for those seeking both solace in their struggles and inspiration for their journeys of transformation.

🌟5/5
The author Terence Ang delves into the raw emotions and life-altering changes that come with loss, grief, and transformation, in his latest poetry book. The poems capture the powerful moments when everything shifts, and life as we know it is no longer the same. Through his evocative words, we are invited to walk alongside someone navigating the painful yet hopeful journey of healing and renewal.

Reading this book, I felt like I was holding a mirror to my own struggles and triumphs. The author’s way of weaving vulnerability with strength is deeply moving. There is a beautiful balance between the weight of grief and the quiet resilience that emerges from it. The poems don't just speak of surviving through pain, but they also reflect on how we rebuild ourselves after it, finding strength in the most unexpected places.

What stood out to me most was how accessible and comforting the poetry felt. The vulnerability in these pages isn’t just for the sake of sharing personal pain. It's a guide for anyone experiencing their own transformation. I found myself returning to certain poems, reflecting on their meaning in different moments.

It's my second read from the author, and he's always telling his story in a unique way, with hope instilled in his work. This isn’t just poetry, it’s a quiet but powerful reminder that, while the storm may change us, we are always capable of finding our way back to hope.

🌟5/5

Recommended and rated this book - 🌟5/5
Thunderstroke is a strong and powerful story written as poems. It is a deep expression of how Terence Ang is living with the aftermath of his stroke. Unlike the graphic artwork of Ang’s previous books. The pages display words without pictures. Poetry is a work of art and this book is artfully written in a way that is brilliant. It reveals the feelings and emotions of how dealing with a stroke left Terence.

Most of the poems are written metaphorically to describe the hardships, challenges, and disabilities of living with a stroke. Which allows the reader to reflect on the impact yet giving a positive mindset for overcoming and transformation. Although the poems are short and simple, the poet paints meaningful pictures with his words.

Thunderstroke isn’t only about the struggles of dealing with a stroke. It gives encouragement to overcome challenges and obstacles pertaining to it. Giving hope to those who have suffered or a loved one who is experiencing the aftermath of a stroke. Most of all.. Poetry is a beautiful expression of emotions and can be healing to the soul. I Love this Book!

Recommended and rated this book - 🌟5/5
A riveting, soulful collection of poetry that leaves you panting for more

"My numbed hope, my faded strength failed to lift me, abadoned in a morgue, the light eclipsed, no one heard the silent screams of my living corpse." An excerpt section.

The first thing that came to mind when I started reading this book was indescribable. It was a swift mixture of awe, confusion, surprise, and empathy, all wrapped in a shocking scene to have discovered a collection this prolific. Its been a long while since I last read poetry this evocative, beautifully written, literati, pacely moving, metaphorical, abundant in words, heavy, pathos, soulful, and many more, that words will fail me to describe.

Having read most of Terence's works in the past, I was taken aback discovering his poetry collections, and curious as to how he found a new feet in this genre, especially as someone who has written memoirs in the past. To be sincere, I never knew Terence could be this prolific with poetry. His wording, phrase, figurative expression, idioms, choice of words, use of metaphors, lines, and stanzas cause me to adjust my chair in utmost interest. I was rendered captive like a deer caught in a headlight. He's earned my respect as a talented poet through this book, shockingly enough knowing that this is his first try with poetry. I can't imagine how many more poetry wonders he is yet to unveil, one that I'm eagerly looking forward to.

Every poem in this book mattered, I took lots of notes until I got tired because, as I found lines that are overly powerful, and flipped through the pages, I keep finding new evocative ones and on and on it keeps going like an endless marathon race. It's a commendable style, one worthy of praise, how he could keep an evocative theme consistently in his writing. How one poem isn't lagging behind to the taste and emotiveness of another. When you think you've found your favorite excerpt, another line stares at you as you flipped through, leaving you in the battle of which to choose. At some point, I stopped and asked myself, "Has he been writing poetry before now? How did he come about these words?" I mused at the heaviness of each line, I contemplated the weight of each poem. If there should be a recommendable poetry award for my reading this year, this will surely stand out.

From the titular poem to the following ones. From Interlude One: The Silent Storm to Interlude Two: The Dawn of Resilence, there is something here for every reader's taste. There are lots of excerpts that I can't convey in this review. Many of which are subtly picky, quietly resonant, beautifully poetic, and impressively metaphorical in nature. The imagery they evoke are emotionally lucrative. As a lover of words, I was intrigued with phrases like, "...I was invited to accompany the angel of death in a scary ambulance." Terence words catch directly to chase, they reminds me of his experience and the loads of emotions engulfed in his previous memoir publications. This, I believe, is the driving force to the heaviness of this poetry collection. Judging from this book, I will advise him to write more poetry as I could sense there is much more depth of knowledge from where this one came from.

Some poems in this collection feels like the frustrative words of a depressive poet, one who seeks awareness of his type of misery, as evidence in lines like, "abadoned in a morgue, the light eclipsed, no one heard the silent screams of my living corpse." There is also "repetition" used as a poetry device, which, according to critics in poetry, helps to lay more emphasis on a certain subject matter that the poet perhaps wants to let last long in the heart of his readers, this I think might be Terence intentions. The collection doesn't fail at moving, lines like, "I was buried alive by my own body, my soul felt every seconds of being in the coffin, I knocked the door to find someone or something to help me get back to my normal life, but I knew desperately, it wasn't going to happen." - how evocatively depressive.

Terence style of writing feels to me like one worth studying in a literature class as it stylishly blends traditional style together with the modern style of poetry. Every portion of the book feels heavy. It is not one to be rushed. It's the one you have to read, pause, think, reflect, digest, before carrying on. It's movingly deep, thought-provoking, inviting us to the open wound in the poet's heart, one that is bleeding, wrapped with bandages, about to heal, or in its healing stage. Terence words, especially the ones in italics, are powerfully crafted. The way he place them side by side are commendable. The first section of the collection feels heavily poetic, as it blends both ancient and modern styles of poetry together, while the other sections feel more narrative in style. I can go on and on but would restrict in my attempt to keep this review a spoiler free. There is more to say about this poetry collection. It's powerfully emotional, darkly humorous, stunning, and lyrical. If you like works that leave you thinking long after you've read it, then I solely recommend you to pick up Thunderstroke, poetry memoir by Terence Ang.