Books like Unmentionables by Beth Ann Fennelly
Beth Ann Fennelly’s *Unmentionables* showcases her sharp wit and elegant wordplay, probing what society deems too bold to say and the limits of language itself. The book opens with concise narratives that critique everyday human foibles. It then expands into three substantial poetic sequences: “The Kudzu Chronicles” celebrates the energetic invasion of the kudzu weed; “Bertha Morisot: Retrospective” sketches the life and work of the French impressionist painter; and a collection of fifteen dream songs delivers a surreal lyrical experience.
Through these varied forms, Fennelly demonstrates a broad poetic reach and intellectual vigor, making *Unmentionables* a compelling entry in contemporary American poetry.
First publish date: April 7, 2008
Genre: Poetry/Contemporary Poetry
Authors: Beth Ann Fennelly
★
★
★
★
★
3.0 (1 community ratings)
How are these books recommended?
The books recommended for Unmentionables by Beth Ann Fennelly are shaped by reader interaction. Votes on how closely books relate, user ratings, and community comments all help refine these recommendations and highlight books readers genuinely find similar in theme, ideas, and overall reading experience.
Have you read any of these books?
Your votes, ratings, and comments help improve recommendations and make it easier
for other readers to discover books they’ll enjoy.
Books similar to Unmentionables (17 similar books)
In an elite New England college, a charismatic classics professor lures a group of eccentric students into obsessive study, leading them from intellectual curiosity to corruption, betrayal, and ultimately murder.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
After being murdered at fourteen, Susie Salmon watches from heaven as her family, friends, and killer grapple with grief and justice, revealing how love and forgiveness shape a family's future.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
In the orderly suburb of Shaker Heights, a new family’s arrival and a custody dispute ignite tension, revealing secrets, art, and the complex pull of motherhood in a tightly knit community.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Jennifer Egan’s interlocking narratives weave the lives of Bennie Salazar, a former punk rocker turned record executive, and Sasha, a restless young woman, across decades and continents, exploring music, memory and the fragile threads that bind us.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
When a mysterious psychic arrives in 1969 Lower East Side, New York, four siblings learn the day they will die, setting off a life‑long quest that tests fate, choice, family and the search for meaning.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Amy Schumer’s new memoir blends sharp humor with candid reflections on her teenage years, family, relationships, and sexuality, revealing the moments that forged her bold, stand‑up comedian persona.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Native American poet Joy Harjo's fourth volume of poetry explores the land and spirit, American culture, and the concept of feminine individuality.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A concise historical exploration of Mary Boleyn, the lesser-known sister of Anne, set within the Tudor court of 1508–1543.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Natasha Trethewey’s Poetic Reflection on Family and Race in America
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A young woman's exploration of relationships, life, and music, exploring the complexities of rock-n-roll, rock stars, and the meaning of love and loss as a contemporary woman in a rock band finds her way through the treacherous paths of relationships and self-discovery in the wake of her relationship with Mick Jagger, as depicted in her poetry and music inspired by W.B. Yeats’s ‘The Second Coming,’ 'The Lake Isle of Wight,' and ‘The Seaweb.'
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A bold exploration of pregnancy, childbirth, and artistic expression through verse, prose, and dialogue.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Robyn Schiff’s collection, "A Woman of Property," explores the fraught boundaries of possession and identity through poetic meditations on homes, history, and the unseen forces that shape our lives.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Japanese women who arrive by mail order bride and other channels to San Francisco in the early 20th century and the daily reality, hopes, and hardships they face while trying to build new lives in America.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
A witty look at 1930s New York intellectuals, where left‑wing writers grapple with ideals, love, and personal failure.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Anjail Rashida Ahmad's powerful exploration of African American women's heritage and pride in language and tradition.
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Poetic exploration of the connection between the intimate and the mysterious
Similar?
✓ Yes
0
✗ No
0
Some Other Similar Books
The Troubles by J.G. BallardThe Department of Rare Books and Special Collections by Haruki Murakami
Have a similar book in mind? Let others know!
Please login to submit books!