Review of My Family Was Like a Russian Novel

The poems in My Family Was Like a Russian Novel by Carla Sarett are about loss and grief - loss of a loved brother and loss of a long ago time. "The Nest," a childhood memory poem, recalls family nights at the drive-in movie when "there were bright stars and ocean, / but all I saw were rows of station / wagons and dads carrying popcorn."  An imagined heaven of "Tiny Grandmothers," "Their pocketbooks filled with silver / wrapped Hershey's kisses, rolls of cherry / red Lifesavers, they never forget" is whimsical and lovely. "Beautiful Meeting" is a deeply moving tribute to the author's brother. All the poems in this chapbook are imagistic and imbued with gentle courage. An award-winning essayist and novelist, Sarett's writing is beautifully crafted and elegant. This chapbook is no exception.

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