This week, our First Impressions readers review The Poet's House by Jean Thompson, a novel about a restless young woman seeking a path for herself whose world opens up when she meets a famous poet and her friends.
Our Editor's Choice review covers the memoir Corrections in Ink by Keri Blakinger, a former competitive figure skater who developed self-destructive habits in response to the stringent standards of the sport, culminating in a stint in prison, and later, redemption.
We also have information about our deep bench of book club discussion guides--more than 1,700 to date, which are browsable by genre and theme; and a brand new issue of The BookBrowse Review for members.
With best wishes,
Davina Morgan-Witts
BookBrowse Publisher
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Each month we give away books to BookBrowse members who live in the U.S. to read and review. Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every 3-4 months. Here are their opinions on one recently released title. |
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The Poet's House
by Jean Thompson
"The Poet's House by Jean Thompson is a charming coming-of age-story about Carla, who in her 20s, has not found a comfortable nor assured fit with her life. In the space of one summer, Carla is embraced by a famous poet, Viridian, and her poet friends, and a new world of experience opens. Like poetry, this book has many layers and unfolds in poignant and beautiful ways. Like prose, there is a plot and even mysteries that keep you turning the page. The Poet's House is a perfect blend of these two genres. As a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area, I found the setting spot on. I connected with and loved every character and found the writing excellent. I highly recommend this book. I hope to read more of Jean Thompson." - Maureen R. (Alamo, CA)
"This book was unexpectedly funny, sad, artful and poetic. The warm-hearted telling of Carla's introduction to the business and art of poetry through Viridian's seasoned literary experience and wise philosophy of life was not only entertaining but also funny, and a look at the less-than-perfect aspects of being vulnerable in uncertain times. This novel was much more than I expected and it was a very satisfying reading experience." - Melanie B. (Desoto, TX)
"What a delight it was to read this book! It has it all. Jean Thompson's characters provide an understanding of poets, poetry and the lives of artists in general. One gets a front-row seat and view of the lifestyles, emotions, competitiveness and quirks of this unique group of individuals. This book will motivate some readers to pursue a greater exposure to, or understanding of, poetry in general. It is all enmeshed in a tale of complex relationships and laugh-out-loud humor. This is a read that I have truly appreciated and will recommend to as many groups and people as possible. It prompted me to read more of Jean Thompson's novels." - Lorraine D. (Lacey, WA)
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For Members: The BookBrowse Review |
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The just-published issue of The BookBrowse Review is packed with 16 reviews and articles; plus author interviews, recommendations for book clubs and previews of notable books publishing soon.
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In addition to individual memberships, we also offer library subscriptions, so all patrons have full and free access to BookBrowse's premium content from anywhere at any time, simply by entering their library card number.
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Corrections in Ink
by Keri Blakinger
Review and article by Valerie Morales
Keri Blakinger wanted to be proud of herself. In the ninth grade, after years of persistence and practice, she mastered the triple salchow and the triple toe loop. But she catastrophized, not believing she deserved figure skating success. Sure, she had executed the jumps, but she didn't feel them instinctively and knew the skill was fleeting, not wired in her muscle memory. She focused on training harder.
Two years later, she competed at the United States Figure Skating Championships, known as "Nationals." Keri was encouraged by a fifth place showing, but her partner, Mark Ladwig, was dissatisfied and abruptly quit their pairing.
Her consolation prize, from her parents, was Harvard Summer School. But away from home, she fell into a sickly depression as she relived Ladwig's rejection over and over. Snorting lines of Adderall, smoking pot and sucking down ecstasy until it numbed her failure became her norm. Keri erased who she had been, trashed every goal she once had. "Instead of getting myself together," she writes, "I fell further apart, propelled by more self-hatred than I knew I had." ... continued
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Beyond the Book: Eating Disorders in Figure Skating
Athletes like Keri, a competitive figure skater, begin training when they are very young. Keri started at seven years old (some skaters start as young as four). She was malleable and competitive, and the message she received was that smaller was faster, quicker, stronger. As sports psychologist Riley Nickols, director of the athlete treatment program at a St. Louis eating disorder clinic, explains, "People who struggle with eating disorders have a heightened attunement to their body, bodily sensations, and comparisons to others — all things already part of the athlete's psyche."
Figure skating has a particular problem with eating disorders because of the perception that thinner skaters are better skaters. "We see girls who are really young and thin and who do really well in our sport. Maybe that's why they're so skinny — because they're still children," says Josefin Taljegård, a Swedish skater who competed in the Beijing Winter Olympics, differentiating between what a child's body looks like and what an adult body has developed into.
Visit BookBrowse for full review, excerpt, Beyond the Book article and more.
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Book Club: Current Discussions |
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BookBrowse's forums-based discussions are open to all, so please join us!
We currently have three open discussions, so stop by if you've read Carolina Moonset by Matt Goldman, Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout or Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell.
We are busy preparing for an exciting fall season. Click below to see past, present and future discussions as they are added.
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Reading Guides for Recommended Books |
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BookBrowse provides reading guides for 1700+ recommended books to help lay the groundwork for interesting and invigorating discussions with your book club.
Members can browse guides by theme, setting and time period, but anyone can search by author, title and genre or check out our featured guides of the week.
Take a look to find your next book club pick today!
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