Spilling Open : The Art of Becoming Yourself

Rating:
Summary: Still Spilling
Review: Sabrina Ward Harrison's book, Spilling Open, is an inspiration to me and has helped me through numerous times of hardship. This book is chock full of emotions, experiences, doubts, and love. It reminds me that everyone has days when they feel useless and that everyone will come out of those hard times a stronger person. Thank you Sabrina, you have helped a lot of people with your expereinces shown in this absolutely amazing journal.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Sabrina's books are amazing: the art, collages, and writing are beautiful and beautifully blended together into these dreams of books. Her books are extremely intimate and personal, which is what makes them vulnearble, honest, and moving- there is a true connection in these books that is rarely found. Her books are such an exploration of herself, and because they are so poignant and deeply-delving, there is raw human truth and universality. Yes, her books are about herself- on the surface. Just as the concept of radical self acceptance may seen adolescent or simple- on the surface. But to truly live that concept is difficult and rare- these books take you through that process of moving past some cliche ("accept yourself") and into the marrow. Beneath the surface, the book goes beyond being about Sabrina, into being about every person. Sabrina's journals are truly exceptional- the brave writing, the power of each word, the watercolors, photographs, calligraphy and collages.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Sabrina's books are amazing: the art, collages, and writing are beautiful and beautifully blended together into these dreams of books. Her books are extremely intimate and personal, which is what makes them vulnearble, honest, and moving- there is a true connection in these books that is rarely found. Her books are such an exploration of herself, and because they are so poignant and deeply-delving, there is raw human truth and universality. Yes, her books are about herself- on the surface. Just as the concept of radical self acceptance may seen adolescent or simple- on the surface. But to truly live that concept is difficult and rare- these books take you through that process of moving past some cliche ("accept yourself") and into the marrow. Beneath the surface, the book goes beyond being about Sabrina, into being about every person. Sabrina's journals are truly exceptional- the brave writing, the power of each word, the watercolors, photographs, calligraphy and collages.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing... simply amazing!!
Review: There are words to describe this young lady's work, but I cannot find them. She has openned herself to the world and we are all better for it. A truly inspiring publication...

Rating:
Summary: art of journal-ism
Review: This book elicited mixed reactions from me. I did enjoy Harrison's art: collage-y, somewhat messy and imperfect, it came across as very casual, which made it seem like she was not trying too hard to get someone else's approval (publisher, reader, what have you) and had really done it for herself. The deep colors and photography are pleasant to look at (though there is a picky point: all the pictures of Harrison herself look like they're trying to be spontaneous and yet end up looking calculated, like someone who has seen a photo of herself that she really liked and ever after always tries to hit that mark whenever a camera is nearby.)

The text I found less inspiring. I know this is from her journals (or at least purports to be), so some of the text and topics were bound to be somewhat angsty, but I kept hoping she'd break beyond them. I suppose that is the point and the process of journaling, but when she kept focusing on how fat her thighs are, it lost me after a while.
Also, her spelling is really not great, which makes me twitch. Even if this is a journal, it's also a published piece of writing.
Harrison is friends with SARK, an author with a shelf of upbeat self help-y books, and if you're familiar with SARK's writing it is easy to see in Harrison's book in some places where she is basically parroting her friend's words ("What is 'it'?" etc).

It's nice to see something creative in print coming from a younger writer/artist, though Sabrina still needs to hone her skills somewhat, in my opinion.


Rating:
Summary: Flowing, flittering, innocent, and seeing....
Review: This book is a treasure of mixed media collage and uplifting quotes and observations. All throughout, there is a sense of understanding the real life situations Harrison is going through, but all of the pages are applicable to what you also go through. Having studied graphic design, the book not only expresses her new found emotional balance, but also presents itself as a well put together art piece. Sabrina writes with such a fluid honesty. Never really trying to cover up the parts of herself she dislikes. But, instead of falling apart like some Tori Amos that embraces the violent desires of depression and self pite, she accepts and love herself as the way God created her. This book will open windows to happier days on hard ones and will inspire the mind into flailing through artistic measures and heartbeats.

Rating:
Summary: incredibly, blessed SABRINA!
Review: This book is incredible!I love it and read it every day!I completely agree with everything she says-and she isn't afraid to say the truth. MUCH worth the money, this book has saved me in so many ways...THANK YOU SABRINA! YOU ARE TRULY BLESSED!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Inspirational
Review: This book is incredible. It is both beautiful, inspirational, and deep. I couldn't put it down again once I touched it. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Rating:
Summary: No words to describe
Review: This book is like a bible for me. Ive read it numerous times and it stays beside my bed.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly marvellous!
Review: This book is not really available in Australia, and too bad for all the Australians missing out. This is the most astonishing, most beautiful book I have ever come across. Having being a journal writer for as long as I can remember, this book was a wake up call on how much I have to learn on the art of creative journal writing. This book is the epitome of creative, it literally spills creativity and reflection from the first page to the last. It is colourful, astonishingly thoughtful and indescribly beautiful. I can see why Sark and Sabrina have befriended each other, it is easy to see that their souls undoubtably dance to the same tune. They are both beautiful and this shines in their glorious books. My only complaint with this book, is that we are often only given sectors of her life, and I am frequently left wondering who she is talking about and what the pictures and the significance of small things she puts in there.