{"product_id":"mangrove-bill-hollands-9781942004875","title":"Mangrove","description":"Bill Hollands is a natural storyteller. His poems are performative in the best sense\u003cbr\u003eof the word-rooted in high school and community theater stages, the tennis\u003cbr\u003ecourt, and reimagining TV classics like The Love Boat, Gilligan's Island, and The\u003cbr\u003eMary Tyler Moore Show. In \u003ci\u003eMangrove\u003c\/i\u003e, even his childhood Miami home becomes\u003cbr\u003ea stage as he searches for it on Zillow. Memories about the less-than-fun parts of\u003cbr\u003echildhood like the Presidential Fitness Test and desk graffiti about himself become\u003cbr\u003ea tableau of humor and innovation. And who else can begin a love poem like this?\u003cbr\u003e\"I gave you crabs and you let us \/ pretend that it might have been \/ you who gave\u003cbr\u003ethem to me and that \/ was so lovely...\". No one! The poetry curtains open and\u003cbr\u003ethere is a spotlight-inside it, Bill Hollands. -Denise Duhamel \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn this delightful collection, Bill Hollands confirms he \"can, after all, put on a\u003cbr\u003eshow.\" With humor, a conversational rhythm, and a careful eye for detail, he\u003cbr\u003eexplores how a boy who is told \"you are not like the others\" finds his own identity.\u003cbr\u003eVia masks such as Ginger and Mary Ann, elementary musical performer, and\u003cbr\u003eyoung tennis wannabe-sometimes tortured, always determined-he keeps\u003cbr\u003ereturning to and claiming \"beauty, beauty beyond understanding.\" The Florida\u003cbr\u003eand pop culture of his 1970's childhood provide a backdrop for discovering his\u003cbr\u003eown Mangrove. While remembering mother, father, and brothers-along with\u003cbr\u003ecard tables, Aqua Velva, and The Love Boat-Hollands assures readers: \"here's the\u003cbr\u003egreat thing about poetry: you can change the ending.\" -Ellen Bass \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBill Hollands' song is one of sitcoms, family, and childhood. And most of all, \u003cbr\u003eapartness: \"the ritual humiliation.\" And loss. Hollands shows us that memory is\u003cbr\u003eunfinished, like one of his mother's jigsaw puzzles. And shows us, too, that you\u003cbr\u003ecan create your own family. -David Trinidad\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Bill Hollands\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1942004877\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781942004875\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Elj Editions\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/08\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 90\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.25lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.22d","brand":"Bill Hollands","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47580172124415,"sku":"9781942004875","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_254e2e18-1b02-4a0c-b71c-6fa9b8e14840.jpg?v=1763879245","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/mangrove-bill-hollands-9781942004875","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}