Family Resemblance: An Anthology and Exploration of 8 Hybrid Literary Genres

by Marcela Sulak (Editor), Jacqueline Kolosov (Editor)

Literary Nonfiction. Hybrid Genre. Poetry. Fiction. Art. Cultural Studies. When we talk about hybrid literary genres, what do we mean? Unprecedented in both its scope and approach, FAMILY RESEMBLANCE is the first anthology to explore the answer to that question in depth, providing craft essays and examples of hybrid forms by 43 distinguished authors. In this study of eight hybrid genres—including lyric essay, epistolary, poetic memoir, prose poetry, performative, short-form nonfiction, flash fiction , and pictures made of words —the family tree of hybridity takes delightful shape, showcasing how cross-genre works blend features from multiple literary parents to create new entities, forms that feel more urgent than ever in today's increasingly heterogeneous landscape. Introductions and an afterword discuss the importance and current popularity of hybridity in literature and culture and offer methods for teaching hybrid works. Intended for both scholarly and general readers, this seminal collection sparkles with inventiveness and creative zeal—an essential guidebook to a developing field.

Kazim Ali • Susanne Paola Antonetta • Andrea Baker • Jennifer Bartlett • Mira Bartók • Jenny Boully • Julie Carr • Katie Cortese • Nick Flynn • Sarah Gorham • Arielle Greenberg • Carol Guess • Terrance Hayes • Robin Hemley • Takashi Hiraide • Tung-Hui Hu • Mark Jarman • A. Van Jordan • Etgar Keret • Joy Ladin • Miriam Libicki • Bret Lott • Stan Mack • Sabrina Orah Mark • Brenda Miller • Ander Monson • Maggie Nelson • Amy Newman • Gregory Orr • Julio Ortega • Jena Osman • Kathleen Ossip • Pamela Painter • Craig Santos Perez • Khadijah Queen • David Shields • Mary Szybist • Sarah Vap • Patricia Vigderman • Julie Marie Wade • Diane Wakoski • Joe Wenderoth • Rachel Zucker

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Crafts, Essays, Anthologies, Writing

464 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2015

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indispensable. Don't even try to dispense with it.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second time using this book for a course in poetry writing at a college level, and the twelfth time reading through it for inspiration and excitement. I recognize and admire many of the writers featured within, enjoy the samples of their work prefaced by each of their mini-essays--concepts behind their writing. Really, this is the stuff I enjoy as a poet, seeing how concept meets the practical, how the private and public is a reflection of each other. It's a relief to know we all struggle as writers until the writing takes place and carries us. Sulak and Kolosov have done an amazing service for us here.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when writing strays from its own boundaries and genres? I have always enjoyed the books by Rose Metal Press, and this anthology, Family Resemblance, will be a great addition to my personal library. The book strives to explore genres that may not be easily defined, including the always interesting worlds of prose poetry and flash creative nonfiction. Included in this book are explorations of each genre's history, critical responses, and of course, segments of original works. While I can't say that I liked all the pieces, I can say that the editors made some great choices about what to explore as they really tried to include a variety of works.

[Allissa Balint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very inspiring. A great way to introduce hybrid genres to anyone.

[Stewart Lindstrom]

Awesome anthology. I've never seen anything like this. Loved the work of Kazim Ali, Kate Cortese, and Gregory Orr, especially.

[Julene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended at an AWP2019 panel titled: Cheating on Poetry with Nonfiction. During Q&A, to answer a question about finding sources on hybrid forms this book was recommended. It's a great book with essays about 8 forms from 5 authors in each section with a sample of their work.

1. Lyric Essay, featuring: Julie Carr, Susanne Paola Antonetta, Sarah Vap, David Shields and Kathleen Ossip.
2. Epistolary, featuring: Julie Marie Wade, Diane Wakoski, Amy Newman, Joe Wenderoth, Takashi Hiraide, and Joy Ladin.
3. Poetic Memoir, featuring: Arielle Greenbergy & Rachel Zucker (in collaboration), Kazin Ali, Jennifer Bartlett, Maggie Nelson, and Gregory Orr.
4. Prose Poetry, featuring: Sabrina Orah Mark, Mary Szybist, Mark Jaman, Tung-Hui Hu, and Carol Guess.
5. Performative, featuring: Nick Flynn, Khadijah Queen, A. Van Jordan, Jenny Boully, and Terrance Hayes.
6. Short-Form Fiction, featuring: Brenda Miller, ander Monson, Patricia Vigderman, Sarah Gorham, and Bret Lott.
7. Flash Fiction, featuring: Katie Cortese, Julio Ortega, Robin Hemley, Pamela Painter, and Etgar Keret.
8. Pictures Made of Words, featuring: Craig Santos Perez, Jena Osman, Miriam Libicki, Stan Mack, Mira Bartok, and Andrea Baker.

There is an introduction by editor Marcela Sulak who explains this anthology is a hybrid and the most difficult part was coming up with the 8 categories. Many of the pieces included in the sections could be put under more than one of their headings. A second intro comes next, Riddling the Sphinx: An Introduction to Hybridity, by Susanne Paola Antonetta, and an afterward by the editor Jacqueline Kolosov.
For anyone writing and wanting to find new ways to think about writing this is a worthwhile book to read.

Published in 2015 by Rose Metal Press it is a comprehensive overview of writing forms and what contemporary writers are thinking about their work.

[Jane Hammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful resource for thinking about hybrid forms, great anthology of essays, prose poems, etc. Craft essays and commentary on writing and the writing life by the anthologized writers. Useful and also great reading--a lot of these pieces I would not have come across in my usual reading--and I read pretty broadly. I reread much of this book.

[Isla McKetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book was comforting. I loved seeing all the examples of where hybrid work had gone before and knowing that it's not really that new and that we can do anything we damned well want.

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Joanna Chen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book to dip into for those who write within different genres.