A review by matthewwester
The Bad Wife Handbook by Rachel Zucker

5.0

I was excited to get this book in the mail because I really loved one of her other poetry books, Eating in the Underworld. When it arrived (just a random Amazon used purchase) I discovered it was a signed copy. Sweet! But as for my review --- Zucker is playful with language, fills her poems with these beautiful and surprising little metaphors, and the subject matter hits that nice balance of being completely autobiographical yet can-be-applied-to-all. (And by the way, you don't have to be in a struggling marriage to enjoy and relate to these poems, just saying). My favorite sections of the book were the first and last chapters because they are a bit more conversational, though I can see why others might enjoy the "Annunciation" chapter better. I wasn't surprised to get to the Notes section in the back and see the Annunciation chapter won Barrow Street prize and a big award from Lynn Emanuel (who by the way, if you enjoy poets that mess around with language, is a MUST READ). I had to smile when I saw how the book binding was shaped, too. Maybe the book is wider (and hardcover) because many of the poems contain long lines but perhaps it's also because this way the book seems like a kid's book or coffee table book. "The Bad Wife Handbook," right next to "100 Beautiful Nature Locations" or "How to do Magic," or whatever. Anyway, good read.