This collection, edited by Jane Kenyon and her husband Donald Hall shortly before her death, includes twenty new poems and selections from her previous books: *From Room to Room*, *The Boat of Quiet Hours*, *Let Evening Come*, and *Constance*. The poems are characterized by their rare and somber grace, often exploring themes of life, love, and work at her rural New Hampshire home. Kenyon's work emphasizes the effort to confront and find redemption in suffering, discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary[4][5].
This book is a collection of 15 essays that take readers through Sloane Crosley's hilarious and heartfelt experiences. The essays cover a wide range of topics, including her childhood in the suburbs, her job as a publicist, and various quirky incidents from her adult life in New York City. The book is praised for its witty and entertaining style, often compared to the works of David Sedaris and Sarah Vowell. It was a New York Times best seller and a finalist for the Thurber Prize for American Humor.
In this collection of essays, Sloane Crosley continues her humorous and insightful writing style, as seen in her debut 'I Was Told There'd Be Cake'. The book includes essays on her travels, such as a trip to Alaska and Lisbon, and her experiences with relationships and everyday life. Crosley's writing is praised for its balance of humor and depth, making the book both entertaining and emotionally resonant.
All My Puny Sorrows is a deeply personal and introspective novel by Miriam Toews, delving into themes of suicide, longing, and existential questions. The story revolves around the intricate and often fraught relationship between two sisters, Elf and Yoli, who are bound together by their childhood experiences and their divergent paths in adulthood. Elf, a talented pianist, suffers from depression and repeatedly requests her sister's help in ending her life, while Yoli, a writer of young-adult novels, struggles to cope with her own failures and the weight of her sister's despair. The novel is characterized by its crisp narrative, humor, and moments of consolation, reflecting Toews' own experiences with family tragedy and mental health issues[1][3][4].
In 'Grief Is for People,' Sloane Crosley navigates the complex and emotional journey of losing her closest friend to suicide, just a month after her apartment was burglarized. The book combines these two events, with Crosley conducting her own investigation into the theft as a way to cope with her denial and grief. As she delves deeper into the loss, she grapples with guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, and the myriad questions that arise from such a profound loss. The memoir is a unique blend of humor, empathy, and introspection, challenging traditional notions of grief and mourning during difficult times.
In 'Cult Classic', Sloane Crosley crafts a narrative that follows Lola, a recently engaged woman in New York City, who runs into multiple ex-boyfriends during a single night. This series of encounters forces her to confront her past relationships and the viability of her current engagement. The story takes an eerie turn with the involvement of a cult-like element led by her former boss, a magazine editor turned mystical guru. The book is a blend of genres, including magical realism, drama, thriller, and rom-com, and it explores themes of love, memory, morality, and mind control. With its unique blend of humor and emotional depth, the novel delves into the complexities of romance and relationships in the modern age[2][4][5].
In this collection of essays, Sloane Crosley continues her trademark style of humor and wit while tackling more serious themes such as middle age, living in densely populated Manhattan, and personal reflections on life. The essays range from her experiences scaling active volcanoes and befriending swingers to more introspective pieces on aging and motherhood. Crosley's writing is characterized by its sharp observations, relatable misadventures, and a blend of humor and emotional depth.
In 'The Clasp', Sloane Crosley crafts a light-hearted yet sincere narrative about three friends who reunite for a friend's wedding and later embark on a road trip in France. The story is a treasure hunt inspired by Guy de Maupassant's 'The Necklace', where the characters seek a priceless necklace but also grapple with deeper issues of personal authenticity, existential disenchantment, and genuine connections. The novel is marked by Crosley's signature humor, witty observations, and a profound exploration of life's truths and the bonds between friends.
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A famed author and humorist takes a deep dive into grief (with Dr. Bianca Harris as co-host).
Sloane Crosley is the author of The New York Times bestselling books Grief Is for People, How Did You Get This Number, and I Was Told There’d Be Cake. She is also the author of Look Alive Out There, Cult Classic and The Clasp, both of which have been optioned for film. She served as editor of The Best American Travel Writing series and is featured in The Library of America's 50 Funniest American Writers, The Best American Nonrequired Reading, Phillip Lopate’s The Contemporary American Essay and others. She was the inaugural columnist for The New York Times Op-Ed "Townies" series, a contributing editor at Interview Magazine, and a columnist for The Village Voice, Vanity Fair, The Independent, Black Book, Departures and The New York Observer. She is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. She has taught at Columbia University and The Yale Writers’ Workshop.
In this episode we talk about:
- A series of consecutive losses that Sloane endured
- The concept of cumulative grief
- Sloane’s version of the five stages of grief
- Her beef with acceptance
- Bibliotherapy as a source of healing
- And much more
Related Episodes:
The Science Of Grief: What Helps, What Doesn’t, And Why We Don’t Talk About It Enough | Cody Delistraty
How To Talk To Yourself When Things Suck | Sam Sanders
#450. The Science of Loss and Recovery | Mary-Frances O’Connor
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