You. An Anthology of Essays Devoted to the Second Person

by Kim Dana Kupperman, Heather G. Simons (Editor), James M. Chesbro (Editor)

This first-of-its kind collection of short nonfiction showcases the second-person point of view. Contributors contemplate a wide range of topics, including pregnancy, death, sexuality, regret, desire, incest, birds, coming of age, dreams, planetary motion, memory, transgendered children, music, house remodels, dating and relationships, the 1980s, interrogation and torture, last wills & testaments, accidents, technology, art, parenthood, dogs, dance, food, anxiety, physics, and writing. Includes essays Marcia Aldrich, Jenny Boully, Steven Church, Joan Connor, Alice Elliott Dark, Eduardo Galeano, Margot Kahn, Kim Dana Kupperman, Nick Lantz, Amy Leach, Paul Lisicky, Sonja Livingston, Rebecca McClanahan, Brenda Miller, Penelope Schwartz Robinson, Mimi Schwartz, Dustin Beall Smith, Elizabeth Stone, and Linda Underhill

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Anthologies

206 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2013

About the author

Kim Dana Kupperman's work has appeared in Best American Essays and many literary journals. She is the founder of Welcome Table Press and works as a managing editor of the Gettysburg Review. "

Reviews

[Laryssa Wirstiuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is obsessed with the second person voice, I was so excited to find this book at the AWP Conference in Boston in 2013. I thought, "Brilliant!" Only recently did I have a chance to read the book and, for the most part, it lives up to my expectations. What I liked best about this anthology was 1) the fact that it introduced me to some new writers, whose work I'll definitely be reading further and 2) it confirmed that the second person is NOT gimmicky and can serve so many different purposes.

My favorite pieces in this anthology were the longer ones because I think the second person is difficult to sustain over a longer narrative, and I was more impressed by the authors' use of it. Favorites included: "Apprehension," "Some Really Disgusting Essays about Love," "being [t]here," "A Rock Snob to His Infant Daughter," "The Quiet One," and "The Single Girl's Guide to Remodeling." Really an exceptional collection for lovers of creative nonfiction, the second person, or good writing in general. I'll probably use some of these as examples in a creative writing class one day.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing collection of essays written in the second person point of view. Most of the works and their authors were new to me, and while I can't say I liked every piece in this anthology, I had to admire the experimentation that took place in many of the essays. The book even made me revise one of my essays, using the second person point of view (I'm not sure I like it yet, but it was fun to try!)

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I thought some were much better than others. I like second person and sometimes it was very effective. Other times, meh.
Reading during pandemic - losing focus.

[Bridgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great essays here.