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A review by maddys_needful_reads
Lady Of The House by Grace R. Reynolds
5.0
Lady of the House is a narrative poetry collection about a 1940s woman trapped in the role of housewife, struggling with her marriage. We see her descent as her frustration and anger fester within the confines post-WWII society and her feelings of isolation.
Normally I read poetry collections slowly - one or two poems a day, let them stew, read another the next day - but I could not put this collection down. The narrative made me want to keep reading to find out what happens to the Lady and her husband, and I read it in a day. My favorite poems are "Nickel Finish," "Nightmare," and "Cadaver."
The poems themselves are modern, but their structures still have elements of traditional form. Each poem matches the Lady's mental state at the time, so some are frustrated and rambling, some are stilted and angry, some are elegant and feminine. They are all raw, and even the rambling poems are methodical rather than chaotic. I also love that some poems are accompanied by recipes.
The narrative element makes this a great collection for someone new to poetry, but I recommend it to anyone who loves dark poetry, horror, or a deep dive into mental illness. You may also appreciate this collection if you are interested in the life of the post-WWII housewife, but be prepared for a different experience than that of June Cleaver.
Normally I read poetry collections slowly - one or two poems a day, let them stew, read another the next day - but I could not put this collection down. The narrative made me want to keep reading to find out what happens to the Lady and her husband, and I read it in a day. My favorite poems are "Nickel Finish," "Nightmare," and "Cadaver."
The poems themselves are modern, but their structures still have elements of traditional form. Each poem matches the Lady's mental state at the time, so some are frustrated and rambling, some are stilted and angry, some are elegant and feminine. They are all raw, and even the rambling poems are methodical rather than chaotic. I also love that some poems are accompanied by recipes.
The narrative element makes this a great collection for someone new to poetry, but I recommend it to anyone who loves dark poetry, horror, or a deep dive into mental illness. You may also appreciate this collection if you are interested in the life of the post-WWII housewife, but be prepared for a different experience than that of June Cleaver.