Elegy for the Floater

In "Elegy for the Floater," Teresa Carson has a created a haunting yet utterly real portrait of her long, struggle-filled life. Speaking with a holds-no-barred frankness, Carson succeeds in capturing unique portraits of her sometimes abusive family, her troubled friends and her well-meaning lovers, while providing raw, clear-eyed snapshots of her own journey trying to find a healthy place in the world. But what makes this collection stand out, however, is the masterful way that she uses poetry to show every facet of a survivor's life. Every time I thought I knew where this book was going, a poem would surprise me, take me in totally different direction, show me an aspect of the story I'd never thought she'd share. I highly recommend this startlingly sure and human book which isn't afraid of the darkness, but doesn't keep its eyes off the light either.

"Elegy for the Floater" explores the human elements of love, death, and life, with a primary focus on healing from psychological damage inflicted by the sudden suicide of a loved one. Deftly crafted with beautiful imagery throughout, "Elegy for the Floater" is highly recommended to any who have lost a loved one to this terrible occurrence. "Webs": my mother drew spider webs/on any paper with her reacher// my mother on the telephone/drew webs across names in our address book//my mother in her rocker/drew webs on bills and Christmas cards//my mother in my bedroom drew/webs deep in diaries//everywhere in that house I found/ink pencil crayon.

This is a stunning debut from the author. Sad, funny, poignant, in your face, depressing, alarming, all of it. You read the poems and prose in one sitting and you can't put it down until you are finished and at the Coda. Then, you come up for air and realize you are alive and that it feels so good to breathe.Teresa Carson has something to say here and it is moving and eloquent. If you have been affected by suicide or trauma in your life, this collection of poems and prose will spin your head but also help you heal. Highly recommended and worthy of a National Book Award. She is one of a group of new authors that is to be watched in the years ahead as a tour-de-force in the world of published authors.