A review by helenareadsbooks
Streams that Lead Somewhere by Fareh Malik

emotional hopeful inspiring

5.0

Fareh Malik’s debut poetry collection Streams that Lead Somewhere explores depression, racism, grief and love with a tenderheartedness that captivated me. These poems, tied together by Malik’s earnestness and hope, normalize depression, celebrate love, and search for a sense of belonging. 

 

Many poems are about being a child of diaspora and it was interesting to read a different perspective on many things I’m familiar with, like microagressions and being othered for having brown skin. Malik reflects on how his experiences have impacted him and provides sharp commentary on bigotry, racism and Islamophobia. Something that stood out to me is the way he writes about brownness with honesty and softness, showing readers the beauty of brown skin. 

 

These poems also explore mental illness without sensationalizing it. Malik describes depression with sincerity and his poems contemplate many questions, such as how do you move forward while experiencing mental illness? How do you carry on when confronted by bigotry? What is worth holding on to? We find the answers in Malik’s poems about love and family. These poems are hopeful and are a bright juxtaposition to the rest of the book. 

 

By laying bare his struggles, Fareh Malik makes the reader feel less alone. This book is an invitation to be vulnerable; to lay your worries down and accept the parts of yourself that you might not like. It’s also an invitation to stay, to take a chance, and to hold on to and follow your dreams. This book is a balm for the weary, a beacon of hope, and an ode to being alive.