Review of Stephanie Bryant Anderson's The Paper House

I came across Stephanie Bryant Anderson while seeking writers to read at my music and lit series, Stained Glass Confessional. Even though she isn't a New York City native (she lives in Tennessee), I had to invite her because I absolutely love her poetry. Her writing is raw, emotional, practiced, and beautiful. Every piece is a glimpse into her life and she writes in such an accessible and clear manner that you can't help but respect her ability to be that honest and that insightful. Depression, heartbreak, failed love affairs - Stephanie Bryant Anderson is the sort of young, post-Riot Grrl female poet that I aspire to be. In short, I absolutely loved this collection and recommend it to anyone who appreciates my favorite kind of confessional and emotional writing. You know who you are. With the Ani, Tori, Liz, Fiona, Alanis, PJ, Sarah, and Courtney on your ipod and perhaps a dogeared copy of Prozac Nation fading on your bookshelf. This woman knows that is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all - but also that in the moment when love leaves all bet's are off.

The poets that I love the best have lines that grab me and I find myself circling them madly with a pen wishing I had written them first! These are samples in The Paper House that I highlighted that really struck a cord with me (perhaps its just the romantic, melancholy, sullen girl inside me but I like them a lot):

I take the stones, tuck them like a child into earth's bed,
because I need to lie, as in a quiet tomb.
Everything here is quiet, all except my mind.

-I Dream of A Human World

I no longer let him know the secrets
sliding in and out of my expressions
because every time he takes more
than my body with him when he leaves.

And as I walk from his front door,
I land on good soil -
because the earth knows what it is to love
the body and the soul.

Never again will I take my body
where my soul can not go.

-More Than My Body

I have placed him underneath a paperweight
for so long, to keep him here beside me.
But now I fold his arms like an airplane,
fly him from my window
and into the night air.

-Leaving the Paper House

These past years sent me this moment,
this quiet, beautiful moment,
where I am alone at last.

- The Ghosts I Have Been

I thought you had come to knock on my door,
to ask of my forgiveness,
to give me love, I thought you had come.

I startled from my bed, ran to find you
on my doorstep -
even though I would not take you back
even though
I would refuse to love you, I thought you had come.

The porch was empty.
The thunder knocked louder against the atmosphere.

I thought you had come back

- The Approaching Storm

I could go on and on sharing bits here and there but I want to save some fun her other readers. Brutal and beautiful, Anderson's poetry is full of many "a-ha!" moments that I really related to and like any good piece of literature, I felt I walked away with some insight about my own life. I highly recommend The Paper-House.

More information on Stephanie Bryant Anderson and her online journal can be found at www.upthestaircase.org.