I Wish to Say Lovely Things

by Adam Gnade

Like a child born of the bell hooks classic All About Love and Maggie Nelson’s Bluets, Adam Gnade’s latest autobiographical novel takes a good, hard look at love in many forms—romantic, platonic, love of place, of chosen family, of destiny and purpose. Structured in large part as a book of lists, I Wish to Say Lovely Things is a big-hearted look at what it is to stay loving and gentle in a violent age—a graceful, philosophical, clear-eyed beacon with which to light your path through this painful, exhausting, and tremendously magnificent life.

240 pages, Paperback

Published February 14, 2024

About the author

Adam Gnade’s (guh nah dee) work is released as a series of books and "talking songs" that share characters and themes; the fiction writing continuing plot-lines left open by the self-described “talking songs” in an attempt to compile a vast, detailed, interconnected, personal history of contemporary American life. His books and "talking records" are released by Bread & Roses Press and Three One G.

Reviews

[Bart Schaneman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read everything Adam has written, and he’s written a lot, and this book is a new high point for him. Beautiful and sad and true. Full of rich, funny dialogue and vivid, detailed descriptions. With every book, Adam give us everything he can, and each one truly is a gift.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Adam Gnade has a million fans, I am one of them.
If Adam Gnade has five fans, I am one of them.
If Adam Gnade has one fan, that one is me.
If Adam Gnade had no fans, I have perished.
If the world is against Adam Gnade I am against the world.

This book is wonderful. My favorite I’ve read of Gnade so far. Everyone loves ‘After Tonight…” and that is correct because it is an amazing book and the burrito looks delicious but I think I love this one more. It is every town and every person and every thought and every thing you wished you said that one time when you couldn’t and it makes you also wish to say lovely things and repeat them over and over and over again.

To be here is worth the pain.

[Lora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam writes with the tenacity of someone who is trying to make their life, and the people they’ve loved, live on. He names this book as one about love, but there is a lot that gets tied into how we love one another. How we work through the difficult times, how we wrestle with pain, how we grieve, how we are changed by each other, and ultimately, how we remember one another.

Adam is a friend of mine, but his tone is intimate and direct— like he is speaking to a friend, no matter who is reading. One can imagine riding through the U.S. prairie lands with him, walking through Portland in the rain together, or riding the bus in the summer heat.

Life feels visceral in his books and you can tell that these are stories pulled from the daily details of life. Characters are written with their best qualities magnified and their flaws still presented. They are observed and their small idiosyncrasies are seen—as people are when they are loved.

[Lily Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never met Adam, but reading his books, this one in particular, feels like we are friends who go back years. Life in this book feels like a vivid dream. I deeply admire the way he portrays his feelings in his relationships, and how they change and grow and at times, grieve. I can tell Adam greatly values his close ones and does what he can to commemorate their existence, so they can live on beyond just his writing. They live on in the reader too. I feel like I also became friends with Frankie, Allison, Byron, Joey, and others. Something else about this book I admire, is the writing. At times, a list, or an essay, a joke, a few short sentences describing a scene. His writing is a collage of Headlines, events, feelings, and little nuggets of wisdom about moving gracefully through hardship, or appreciating the little moments of peace. Thank you Adam for writing. Thank you for sharing your perspective with the world, for I know this book is probably based upon real events and how you really think and move through the world. Reading your writing gives me hope, compassion and fills me with peace and love. Reading your books makes me think, “oh, someone else has felt this pain? And has seen it through? And still believes in love? I can too.” Thank you.

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caught between the twin flamed poles of love and death we follow our hero through taco shops, punk houses, used bookstores, etc as he strives the find the beauty in a world that is at once ugly and unforgiving.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love being in Adam's world with his lens of life drive & love

[Piper Essington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great! I feel a connection with all the Kansas farm prose. At times I felt a little lost in the angst, but I think it was intentional. Emotional and full of heart. loved it.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gnade's I Wish to Say Lovely Things is a compact swiss army knife of a book. Within this book lives friendship, loss, hardship, grief, growth, and immense love. You learn to connect with Gnade's way of life and community. I appreciate the author's willingness to be candid even when it's the most uncomfortable. I feel like this is an essential read at any point of your life, but especially as a young adult. You gain perspective and learn how to find joy in the worst days. Gnade will keep it one hundred percent realistic with you and have you craving more of his stories. I adore this book.