Through the Void: My Journey From Single to Soulmate by Tamra
Merlos is the author's personal memoir with the aim of helping
others through the power of inspiration to also find their way to a
better path. Merlos uses the first half of her book to detail the time
in her life when she experienced the most difficulty, both great and
small, in something of a nomadic lifestyle due to her profession.
She meets a handsome stranger while on a work trip in Reno and
flies back to her home in Las Vegas, then shortly after asks for and
receives a transfer to Reno. As she settles in, it becomes clear that
the man is not all that he seems and Merlos feels utterly dejected,
afraid to trust again. Finally, with a shift in focus, she realigns with
her hopes for the future and finds the emotional gold at the end of
her rainbow.
Through the Void is written in almost a poetic narrative. Tamra
Merlos shares her story with short, punchy sentences in a linear
timeline that stays on course to deliver maximum impact with
minimal fluff. Throughout she is able to weave morsels of quotable
phrases and provoke thought with honest admissions of her own
failings and the hard work required to turn it around. The second
half of the book is where Merlos reaches out to the reader, asking
questions in an interactive format that allows us to write down what
is holding us back and forces honesty in acknowledging them. The
part that stood out most to me is titled 'Release what you do not
want' where she writes, "Make a list of all the places and people
that bring your faith down and then release them." This advice
transcends beyond simply finding romantic love and creating space
for it. It is a call to spend the short time we have on this planet with
people and in places that bring us joy, making Merlos's book a
worthy read for anyone who is looking to change the trajectory of
life no matter which stage of it they are in.