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lareinadehades's review
The narrator is wrong for this, I feel. She is dry and just goes through the motions.
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
3.0
I had a hard time getting into this novel but once I did, I loved the inside look at poets' processes and what is it about poetry that can smack us right in the solar plexus.
Carla is a fairly interesting character, a landscaper whose family feels she should be doing "something more." Anything having to do with the written word gives her trouble, but when she hears someone reciting a poem while she's doing a job, she is knocked off her feet. She is drawn into the world of Viridian, a poet in her 70's, where she is encouraged, embraced, and challenged by members of this circle.
Jean Thompson's writing is lovely, but Carla is so static and a strange character to build a book around. Everyone else crackles with energy (although many in a stereotypical Marin County manner) but Carla goes through the motions in a. deer-in-the headlights way. I would definitely pick up another book by Jean Thompson because of her style, but would hope for a more energized plot.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
Carla is a fairly interesting character, a landscaper whose family feels she should be doing "something more." Anything having to do with the written word gives her trouble, but when she hears someone reciting a poem while she's doing a job, she is knocked off her feet. She is drawn into the world of Viridian, a poet in her 70's, where she is encouraged, embraced, and challenged by members of this circle.
Jean Thompson's writing is lovely, but Carla is so static and a strange character to build a book around. Everyone else crackles with energy (although many in a stereotypical Marin County manner) but Carla goes through the motions in a. deer-in-the headlights way. I would definitely pick up another book by Jean Thompson because of her style, but would hope for a more energized plot.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for access to this title in exchange for an honest review.
so_soap's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
An interesting attempt at introducing readers to the contemporary world of poetry, but it falls short in terms of writing quality and plot development. There are many fragments and not all feel resolved or even readdressed by the finish. The poets feel rather stereotypical instead of characters with real substance.
michellekirkbride's review
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
booksaremypeople's review
4.0
Jean Thompson is a National Book Award Finalist and bestselling author of The Year We Left Home. In The Poet's House we meet twenty-year-old Carla, who has reached a point of stagnation in her life. She’s an unfulfilled landscaper and it seems as though everyone around her feels like she should be doing something else with her time, including her mother, who wishes she would get a job at a hospital. Carla forges her own path and ends up working for the older Viridian, a successful and well regarded poet who brings Jean into her inner circle of writers. Aside from being a well known poet, Viridian’s reputation also preceeds her because of an affair she had with Mathias, also a famous poet. When a collection of poems about their affair emerges, the inner circle picks sides and the once cohesive group begins to crumble. As an outsider, we see Jean grapple with this situation. I think fans of Meg Wolizter and Lily King will enjoy this novel. Illuminting, at times funny and always thoughtful, this is a book about connection, longing and friendship. Thank you to Algonquin for the advanced review copy. To learn more about this book, listen to my book recommendation podcast, Books Are My People, episode #80.
margaretpottah's review
4.0
21-year-old landscaper and lost Californian Carla is pulled into a world of poets, dinner parties, and literary conferences by a new client- Viridian, a poetry legend whose reading deeply moves Carla.
Carla has never been a reader. An unnamed learning difference has kept her from enjoying literature. But Viridian loans Carla books, reads to her, and connects her to important people in the literary world. Most importantly, Viridian pushes Carla to develop her own personhood. Who is she? What does she like? Viridian is a would-be mother figure to Carla, until glimpses of Viridian’s mythical past complicate Carla’s feelings. A son comes forward, and a past relationship with a volatile, iconic poet whose mysterious final work Viridian is rumored to have, somewhere in that house.
This book considers artists- their motivations, their communities, their gender politics, and how they age. It considers these things through the lens of a non-artist, an appreciator. It’s easy to identify with Carla. Surrounded by artists, she feels stupid, like she couldn’t possibly know anything worth saying. Her shame keeps her on the outskirts at times, running away from the possibility of being seen as provincial even when encouraged to engage.
The book is beautifully atmospheric. Viridian’s house and the poet collective that buzzes around it are warm and comforting. The lackadaisical plot makes for some drag in the middle, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to hang at the edge of the dinner party, when-glass in hand, and just listen.
Carla has never been a reader. An unnamed learning difference has kept her from enjoying literature. But Viridian loans Carla books, reads to her, and connects her to important people in the literary world. Most importantly, Viridian pushes Carla to develop her own personhood. Who is she? What does she like? Viridian is a would-be mother figure to Carla, until glimpses of Viridian’s mythical past complicate Carla’s feelings. A son comes forward, and a past relationship with a volatile, iconic poet whose mysterious final work Viridian is rumored to have, somewhere in that house.
This book considers artists- their motivations, their communities, their gender politics, and how they age. It considers these things through the lens of a non-artist, an appreciator. It’s easy to identify with Carla. Surrounded by artists, she feels stupid, like she couldn’t possibly know anything worth saying. Her shame keeps her on the outskirts at times, running away from the possibility of being seen as provincial even when encouraged to engage.
The book is beautifully atmospheric. Viridian’s house and the poet collective that buzzes around it are warm and comforting. The lackadaisical plot makes for some drag in the middle, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to hang at the edge of the dinner party, when-glass in hand, and just listen.
emzee_reads's review
3.0
A cute little coming of age story with some fun characters and a commentary on art and poetry. Didn’t necessarily enthrall me, but it was cute