From Madisen Kuhn, the Instagram poet and author of the exquisite Please Don’t Go Before I Get Better, comes a spellbinding poetry and prose collection that explores the meaning of “home” and the profound discovery of finding it within oneself—perfect for fans of Rupi Kaur and Courtney Peppernell.
ALMOST HOME (October 1; Gallery Books), Kuhn´s stunning third collection, eloquently analyzes many of life’s universal themes, from surmounting childhood trauma to learning how to give and receive love, all within the framework of a house. Whether it’s the garden, bedroom, or front porch, Madisen takes you into her own “home,” sharing some of the most intimate parts of her life so that you might also feel free to share some of yours.
“i could write love poems / about every cloaked stranger… but it has taken blue moons / another person saying it first / and years of weekly therapy / to figure out how to write / something beautiful / about me.”
By the age of 23, Madisen had lived in twenty-four different places. Throughout her childhood, familial warmth was rare and, when present, insufficient. Now, as Madisen tackles her early twenties and the existential uncertainties the transition to adult life brings, she aches for the stability, safety, and comfort that has long eluded her. In each affectingly vulnerable poem in ALMOST HOME, Madisen captures her feelings of isolation and rootlessness, never shying away from the darkest depths of her journey. And as she learns how to let go of the people who’ve not earned a place in her present, Madisen beautifully renders the quiet but resilient hope that she ardently maintains for her future.
Filled with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations from emerging artist Melody Hansen, this bold, preternaturally wise, and ultimately cathartic collection encourages you to consider what home means to you—whether it’s in the green-lawned suburbs or a city apartment—and, more importantly, explores how you can find it even when home feels like it’s on the far-off horizon.
Madisen Kuhn is a writer and photographer living in Charlottesville, Virginia. She likes to explore topics of identity, belonging, sexuality, and mental illness in her work. In 2015, she self-published Eighteen Years, a collection of more than two hundred poems, and in 2018, published her second collection, Please Don’t Go Before I Get Better, with Gallery Books. She was named as one of “5 LGBT Poets to Celebrate This World Poetry Day” on hiskind.com, and is currently pursuing a BFA in Studio and Digital Arts with a minor in Creative Writing.
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