Writings that probe the human capacity to imagine perfection and to cope with imperfection
Sarah Gorham is a poet, essayist, and president and editor in chief at Sarabande Books, an independent literary press publishing poetry, short fiction, and essays.
Study in Perfect is a well-curated essay collection that examines
the breadth and depth of the ideal of perfection. . . . Every
detail has been attended to, from the project level to the sentence
level. The cover is serene and appealing; it echoes perfectly the
calm, reflective tone of the book.-- "ForeWord Reviews"
Gorham explores [a complex, disorderly reality] with exceptional
grace. In most of [the] essays she mines her own life, deeply and
bravely, with touches of humor and unsparing self-analysis. . . .
There's a relentless quality to Gorham's objectivity in a lot of
these essays. She seems determined to let no one--least of all
herself--go unquestioned. . . . Study in Perfect is a highly
literary collection--it digresses and ruminates and assumes a
certain level of sophistication in its reader. There's nothing
inaccessible or opaque about these essays, however. They make use
of some conceptual drapery, but they're really concerned with the
messy love and pain of living amid the desire, common to us all,
for a life more nearly perfect.--Maria Browning "Chapter 16"
Gorham's voice is often philosophical, asking unanswerable
questions and proposing theories about how the world works. . . .
To support her elegant conclusions, Gorham draws examples from
history, linguistics, pop culture, science, and literature, as in
her fascinating exploration of the species of poisonous mushroom,
Amanita fulva, featured in the legend of two doomed lovers. But
rather than remaining in the distant hypothetical or the realm of
history or legend, most of Gorham's examples of perfection and
imperfection are solidly embodied in a particular life: its
physical environments, human attachments, and trials and tragedies.
Things do fall apart. And when they do, we have the opportunity to
see how our idea of perfect may need revision.--Claire Eder
"BREVITY"
This superb collection from Gorham, author of poetry collections
(Bad Daughter) and Sarabande Books's editor-in-chief, exemplifies
the best in creative nonfiction. . . . The prose is simple--the
very opposite of acrobatic--yet also surprising, fresh, and
rhythmic. . . . No collection is perfect . . . but this book comes
gloriously close.-- "Publisher's Weekly (starred review)"
Study in Perfect is a book that wholeheartedly delves into 'the
many faceted idea of perfection.' Drawing from the realms of
science, philosophy, linguistics, social history, and personal
reminiscence, the writer uses the abundance of knowledge and
intuition at her disposal to define these facets. In doing so, she
probes the human capacity to imagine perfection and to seek its
illusive promise despite the odds against finding it. In many ways,
this is a book about yearning and imperfection as much as it is
about the ideals we strive for, and the author's humanizing touch
makes Study in Perfect not only informative but emotionally
rewarding as well. It's not often that I encounter a writer whose
prose is this precise and lyrical and whose imaginative leaps are
as articulate, unpredictable, and entertaining.--Bernard Cooper
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