Eugene Nadelman: A Tale of the 1980s in Verse

by Michael Weingrad

“Move over, Onegin—we’ve a new Eugene for the ages. In Michael Weingrad’s wildly charming and profound telling, young Eugene Nadelman’s adolescence in 1980s Philadelphia unfolds in iambic tetrameter, with each crush and clash and heartache feeling as epic as they do for the young and the hopeful. If you’ve ever spun the bottle or leered furtively at someone across the dancefloor, you’ll find yourself transformed by Weingrad’s wit, wonder, and heart, and, like young Eugene himself, grow wiser.”
—Liel Leibovitz, editor at large, Tablet Magazine

“[A] wistful and emotionally resonant novel that finds true poetry in teenage life."
—Foreword Reviews

Full of humor, pathos, and pop cultural references, Eugene Nadelman is a tale of young love and American manners in the era of Ronald Reagan and MTV—written in the witty sonnet form of Alexander Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin.

It’s 1982, and teenaged Eugene attends his cousin’s bar mitzvah in suburban Philadelphia. There he meets a kindred spirit in the savvy, sensitive Abigail. But when Eugene’s best friend also becomes smitten with Abby, a tragic rivalry ensues and, just as in the Pushkin poem, one character kills another in a duel. (Well, in a Dungeons & Dragons game, in this case.)

Eugene and Abby’s romance deepens against a backdrop of '80s music, fashion, and VHS rentals—with serious world events like AIDS and the Cold War hovering overhead. But when Eugene leaves for sleepaway camp and Abby for Europe, temptations abound, and one question becomes can their love survive a summer separation?

Genres: Poetry

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Michael Doane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael Weingrad’s Eugene Nadelman: A Tale of the 1980s in Verse is a witty, poignant, and deeply charming exploration of teenage life in 1980s Philadelphia, told entirely in the sonnet inspired meter of Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin. Every crush, clash, and heartache feels heightened yet intimate, reflecting the intensity of adolescent experience while folding in pop cultural and historical context from bar mitzvahs and Dungeons & Dragons to Reagan era anxieties and the shadow of the AIDS crisis.

Weingrad’s verse balances humor and pathos, painting a vivid portrait of friendship, rivalry, and first love. Eugene’s romance with Abigail is both tender and fraught, capturing the thrilling stakes of young desire. The story’s poetic form adds a rhythm and elegance that complements the period detail, making the book not only a narrative delight but also an inventive literary exercise.

Eugene Nadelman is ideal for readers of contemporary verse novels, YA readers interested in historical adolescence, and literary enthusiasts who appreciate playful yet emotionally resonant storytelling. It also lends itself to classroom discussion, book clubs, and programs exploring poetry, coming-of-age narratives, and ’80s cultural history.

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little book of verse is one of the strangest books I’ve ever read but it is sweet and hilarious. I laughed out loud many times and marveled at the cleverness of some of the lines. If you are looking for something different and a sweet little book about a teenage Jewish nerd in 1980s Philadelphia sounds appealing, definitely check out Eugene Nadelman.

[Wendy E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book in verse!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, brilliant, rich in detail - a real tour de force!!!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever memoir of growing up in the 1980s in the US told in verse, but overall it was simply meh.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this in the Libby app in the What’s New section, and am so thankful that I did. Funny, charming, clever, unique, and touching… it’s one of my favorite things I’ve read all year.

[S. Pierzchala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This epic poem encapsulates a young Jewish boy's summer in Philadelphia, where he experiences his first love, among other familiar yet important rites of passage. Taking place in the '80s, it’s a given that there are many delightful pop culture references that carry the weight of genuine affection—they are not there to cash in on current trends. Rather, Michael Weingrad takes us on a sincere and delightful trip down memory lane—and furthermore, does it in the medium of verse, which was presumably a challenge. This little volume includes often laugh-out-loud moments that balance the sometimes bittersweet reflections that are never truly bitter, with humor that is never snarky or cruel.
Overall, the work feels effortlessly executed and is truly enjoyable.

[Jill Bunnell]

Prompt #17: Told in verse