The Poet's House (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781643751566)

"A closely observed, droll, coming-of-age story . . . An absolute keeper." --Maureen Corrigan, Fresh Air

"A page-turning narrative with laugh-out-loud scenes, and ultimately a hopeful, affirming book about how words can stir the mystery in us." --Julia Alvarez, author of Afterlife

A warm and witty story of a young woman who gets swept up in the rivalries and love affairs of a dramatic group of writers.

Carla is stuck. In her twenties and working for a landscaper, she's been told she's on the wrong path by everyone--from her mom, who wants her to work at the hospital, to her boyfriend, who is dropping not-so-subtle hints that she should be doing something that matters.

­Then she is hired for a job at the home of Viridian, a lauded and lovely aging poet who introduces Carla to an eccentric circle of writers. At first she is perplexed by their predilection for reciting lines in conversation, the stories of their many liaisons, their endless wine-soaked nights. Soon, though, she becomes enamored with this entire world: with Viridian, whose reputation has been defined by her infamous affair with a male poet, Mathias; with Viridian's circle; and especially with the power of words, the "ache and hunger that can both be awakened and soothed by a poem," a hunger that Carla feels sharply. When a fight emerges over a vital cache of poems that Mathias wrote about Viridian, Carla gets drawn in. But how much will she sacrifice for a group that may or may not see her as one of their own?

A delightfully funny look at the art world--sometimes petty, sometimes transactional, sometimes transformative-- ­The Poet's House is also a refreshingly candid story of finding one's way, with words as our lantern in the dark.


Author: Jean Thompson
ISBN-10: 1643751565
ISBN-13: 9781643751566
Publisher: Algonquin Books
Language: English
Published: 07/12/2022
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.70w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 05/01/2022
Publishers Weekly 05/30/2022
Booklist 06/01/2022 pg. 32
Shelf Awareness 07/15/2022