Jesse Lee Kercheval Knihy

In Jesse Lee Kercheval’s sixth collection, I Want to Tell You, her searching, incantatory poems speak directly and forcefully to the reader in a voice that is by turns angry, elegiac, wry, or witty but always sharply alive. She also writes movingly about the complications of family life and love, the messy puzzle of life itself.

Exploring themes of emigration and identity, the poetry collection delves into the complexities of citizenship and belonging through the lens of the poet's experiences in France, Florida, and Uruguay. Kercheval's work combines vivid imagery and reflections on motherhood, family, and freedom, mirroring the poet's own journey between cultures. The poems question the essence of home and the emotional weight of leaving and returning, capturing the nuanced connections between diverse places while contemplating the pain and joy of transience.

Exploring the enduring themes of time, mortality, and love, this poetry collection draws inspiration from the evocative power of silent film. It highlights the captivating stories of madness, adventure, drama, and romance that risk fading into obscurity. Through its verses, the work honors these flickering narratives, inviting readers to reflect on the ephemeral nature of life and art.

Exploring diverse narratives, this collection features a newlywed reflecting on the Titanic's wreckage, a young woman's journey under a Parisian hotelier, and an old woman's encounter with an angel in a ghost town. Jesse Lee Kercheval's "Underground Women" showcases her multifaceted storytelling, weaving together themes of love, loss, and the supernatural across various settings and characters. Each story invites readers to delve into unique experiences, blending the ordinary with the extraordinary.

Set in Cocoa, Florida, in 1966, the narrative explores the complexities of family dynamics through the eyes of a young girl. As her mother succumbs to Valium-induced apathy and her father immerses himself in work, the burden falls on her older sister. This poignant recollection delves into themes of neglect, emotional struggle, and the impact of mental health on familial relationships.

Set in France between the world wars, the story follows Ginny Gillespie as she navigates grief after her husband's death. In Paris, she finds love with Roland Keppi, a visionary man lacking a homeland. Their passionate relationship is abruptly interrupted by Roland's deportation to a German camp. Through a tapestry of dreams and coincidences, their paths intertwine again, exploring themes of fate, family, identity, and the pursuit of happiness amidst the chaos of their lives.

Jesse Lee Kercheval is a prolific author with 12 books to her name, showcasing her versatility across genres. Her notable works include "Brazil," which earned the Ruthanne Wiley Memorial Novella Award, and "Cinema Muto," a poetry collection that won the Crab Orchard Open Selection Award. Additionally, "The Alice Stories" received the Prairie Schooner Fiction Book Prize. Kercheval contributes to the literary community as a creative writing instructor at the University of Wisconsin, further enriching her expertise and influence in the field.