The World Through Your Eyes: A Journey Of Self-Discovery Through Love

Article for Women Writers, Women’s Books

The World Through Your Eyes: A Journey Of Self-Discovery Through Love

In her debut novel, released on 1 May by Guernica Editions and set between the UK, Italy, and the Middle East, UK-based journalist, writer, and gender equality advocate Valeria Camerino aims to bridge the gap between different cultures through the universal language of love.

“We are all just humans trying to figure out life,” says Sofia, the leading character and narrator, in the novel’s opening chapter.

As obvious as it may sound, in a world that is increasingly hyperconnected, and yet more and more divided, this simple message almost feels revolutionary. It is an invitation to set aside our differences, embrace our vulnerability, and focus on our shared humanity.

By Valeria Camerino

“What inspired you to write this book?” This is the recurring question I get asked. And every time, the first answer that springs to mind is always the same: I had a story to tell, as simple as that.

But what story? And why did I have such an urge to get it out into the world?

It all started in primary school. I was no older than eight, but I already knew what I would become, a writer and a journalist, and dreamt of the day my debut book would get published. 

I did not have many friends as a child. I was quite a reserved person, and still am to a certain extent ─ the kind of person you would describe as an “introvert extrovert” ─ so I started writing poems, short stories, and songs to express my feelings. I soon realised that writing is an extremely powerful and empowering tool. When you pour out your heart on a piece of paper, you are affirming your identity. You are telling people, “I may appear quiet and reserved, but inside of me, there is a whole world eager to come out and run wild.” 

And that inner voice is very loud. 

When you write, your most authentic and unfiltered self comes to life.

This is the key difference between creative writing and journalism: as a journalist, you strive to seek the truth outside of you; as a writer, you find it in your inner world.

I continued writing through my teens, until I finished a short novel in my early twenties. In hindsight, it was not ready for publication, as the characters were just sketched. Still, I sent it out to a few publishers in my country of birth, Italy, and patiently waited for some feedback. One publisher got back to me saying they liked the book but asked me to further develop the plot.

I didn’t. I felt I had already written everything I had to say at that particular moment, which brings us back to the initial question. I think a writer should not write more than what it comes naturally. When the inner voice stops talking, that’s when it’s time to put the pen down.

The World Through Your Eyes was inspired by my own life. I met my first love at university, and we immediately fell head over heels with each other. He was an Arab Muslim at a time when prejudice towards his culture and religion was rife. I wanted to tell the entire world that not only was he just like me and you, but he was the most amazing person I had ever met in my life, that diversity should be embraced rather than feared because it enriches us as individuals, enabling us to look at the world from different perspectives.

“One day, I will write a book about us. I will call it The World Through Your Eyes,” I told him as we were about to board a train to Cardiff.

That’s how I chose the title of the book. 

Things did not go to plan, just because life never does, but I still firmly believe in that single principle, the universality of the human condition.

I was also still determined to honour that promise. The opportunity came over ten years later, as a blessing in disguise. I was coming out of a toxic relationship which prompted me to reassess my sense of self.

Once again, writing proved the best therapy. I felt compelled to share the lessons I learned from my life experiences to inspire and empower fellow women and spent the following two years working on the manuscript. 

Stylistically speaking, the story is told in first, second, and third person.

The eyes the title refers to are not only those of the narrator.

They are also the perspectives of the male characters she has fallen in love with, who, like most of the men she encountered in her life, are reluctant to express their emotions in words, even though they end up giving them away through their eyes.

By empathising with them, the narrator gives a voice to their internal unspoken dialogue which otherwise would remain unknown.

The common thread underlying the book is the pressure to conform to societal expectations.

This book is for all the rebels out there who struggle to fit in and don’t want to settle for less than what they aspire to: you don’t need people’s approval and validation to be happy. Life is now, and the present moment is all we truly own.

—

Valeria Camerino is a UK-based writer, journalist, and gender equality advocate. 

She was born in Rome but moved to the North of England when she was nineteen to attend university and has since settled there. While she has lived and worked in a number of countries, she is particularly fond of Spain and the Arabian Gulf. Valeria is currently working on a collection of short stories that explores gender inequality from a global perspective. In addition to writing, she is passionate about food, flamenco music, foreign cultures, and the bittersweet irony of the human condition. The World Through Your Eyes is her first book.

THE WORLD THROUGH YOUR EYES

After years spent living in the Middle East, Sofia, an Italian freelance journalist, moves back to England, determined to leave her past behind and build a new life for herself and her daughter in Leeds.

On a night out on the town, she meets an enigmatic Iranian man whom she is immediately drawn to, as he reminds her of her Omani ex-husband.

At first, she seems to have many things in common with him: from a difficult childhood and a rebellious personality, to a disdain for social norms and a nostalgic love for the Middle East. The two enjoy a whirlwind romance which will make her question herself and her certainties.

As she relates her story to him, she will be forced to face her painful past, and make sense of it to discover a new sense of self that will change her outlook on life forever.

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