Everyone at This Party Has Two Names

by Brad Aaron Modlin

“Full of essential solitudes though simultaneously lit by 'a whore’s lightbulb against a star sky,' the poems in this, Modlin’s first, book are remarkable for their candor, for their wit, for their urge toward and into new moods and new modes. These poems, reminiscent of Beckian Fritz Goldberg and Norman Dubie, ask, 'touch me here,' and we do, and we emerge humored but also transformed. In prose and in verse, the poems here, much like the book’s title, have two names: holy and brilliant.” —Gary McDowell, author of Mysteries in a World That Thinks There Are None, co-editor of The Rose Metal Press Field Guide to Prose Poetry

“Poignant, quirky, troubled, the poems in Everyone at This Party are reminiscent of James Tate, Bill Knott, and eternal Edward Lear. Rife with characters who stumble, speakers who suffer, and wisdoms that bristle with the darkest and lightest aspects of being alive, Modlin’s portraits are delightful, artful, and frightening collages of the fractured individual who must daily relearn the lessons of love and grief. To read this book is to recoil with recognition, and then to shoot forward with the courage it provides via humor and the unexpected warmth of shared plight.” —Larissa Szporluk, author of Traffic with Macbeth

“Brad Aaron Modlin is at once curious and bemused about our behaviors, the gaps in our understanding, and the questions that seem to have been answered behind our backs, starting even before that day we were absent in 4th grade. Modlin navigates an entertaining hermeneutics of the everyday, grappling with relentless mutability. His whimsical metaphors and scenarios suggest that we are in thrall to the belief that by now we should understand everything; by now we should no longer be lonely. An impressive debut from a poet who is as interesting as he is unpredictable.” —J. Allyn Rosser, author of Mimi’s Trapeze

“What if the center really does not hold? What if the life you are living feels like a party you’ve wandered into, a party in which you, everything in your head, and everyone around you, is spinning, flying off into some emptiness for which the abyss is far too gentle a name? How is one to live in such a world? And why should one even try? The poetry of Brad Aaron Modlin, in the wit and energy of its language, in the complexity of its emotions, and in the authenticity of its vision, helps us believe that we could with labor and love get a glimpse of a few of the answers. When you finish this book, you’ll most likely want to thank him.” —Fred Marchant, author of The Looking House and Said Not Said (Graywolf Press)

Genres: Poetry

88 pages, Paperback

Published October 25, 2016

About the author

Brad Aaron Modlin is the author of EVERYONE AT THIS PARTY HAS TWO NAMES, which won the Cowles Poetry Prize, and SURVIVING IN DROUGHT (short stories) which won the Cupboard Contest. He is The Reynolds Endowed Chair of Creative Writing at University of Nebraska Kearney, where he teaches undergrad and grad students, curates the visiting writers series, and gets chalk all over himself.

His work has been the basis for orchestral scores, art exhibitions, and the first episode of the Poetry Unbound podcast from On Being Studios. (The poem "What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade.") He collaborates with other artists and likes learning from new people. When he gives readings in person, he remembers to pack comfortable shoes. Over Zoom, he's barefoot.

www.bradaaronmodlin.com
He tweets about books & frozen pizza:
@BradAaronModlin

Reviews

[Katrina Detwiler]

As someone who’s never deep dived into poetry, I enjoyed this book. There are a few standouts that really carry the book, but at the end of the day I just prefer my poetry to be read aloud by Irish greats.

[Darshita]

What an incredible set of poems that are both profound and accessible! Especially loved "What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade" which I am going to come back to again and again.

"She took questions on how not to feel lost in the dark
After lunch she distributed worksheets
that covered ways to remember your grandfather’s voice."

[Keegan]

So this was really good!

I liked how there was a motif (playing off the "everyone at this party") that ran throughout the collection. This poetry book definitely felt coherent and relevant to itself, which I enjoyed.

I also appreciated Modlin's exploration of meaningful relationships in his life, such as his sister and his partner. It highlighted some of his meaningful sentimentality and relatable struggles with insecurity. In particular, I most appreciated Modlin's vulnerability. He was able to manage it in a way where it wasn't just trauma-dumping/processing, but rather a meaningful engagement with himself, his past experiences, and who he may be becoming.

Of course, some poems hit way harder for me than others, but i doubt i'll ever read a poetry collection that hits home 10/10 times (and that's kinda the beauty of poetry anyways).

Really brilliant overall! Glad I picked it up :)

[Heartcells]

-what you missed that day you were absent from fourth grade

-my sister and i build a tabletop model of our childhood home, but better

-they’ll try again tomorrow

[Katie]

I love Brad Aaron Modlin's poem "What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade," so I decided to check out some of his other work. His poems here cover a lot of different subjects and points of view. Another one that stuck with me was "Lazarus Is Having Troubel Readjusting."

[Ginny]

Darkly quirky with a few standouts.

[Melodie]

Poems within poems within poems. It’s one giant poem when read in its entirety. I didn’t want it to end.

[Eileen Sateriale]

Quirky read.

[Monica Snyder]

Mrs. Nelson explained how to stand still and listen
to the wind, how to find meaning in pumping gas,

how peeling potatoes can be a form of prayer. She took
questions on how not to feel lost in the dark.

After lunch she distributed worksheets
that covered ways to remember your grandfather’s

voice. Then the class discussed falling asleep
without feeling you had forgotten to do something else—

something important—and how to believe
the house you wake in is your home. This prompted

Mrs. Nelson to draw a chalkboard diagram detailing
how to chant the Psalms during cigarette breaks,

and how not to squirm for sound when your own thoughts
are all you hear; also, that you have enough.

The English lesson was that I am
is a complete sentence.

And just before the afternoon bell, she made the math equation
look easy. The one that proves that hundreds of questions,

and feeling cold, and all those nights spent looking
for whatever it was you lost, and one person

add up to something.

Brad Aaron Modlin, What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade

[Heather Bond]

My attempt to diversify my reading into poetry. It is much more challenging but Modlin has some beautiful ideas and ways of portraying them through words. Here is an excerpt from my favourite poem:

"Mrs Nelson explained how to stand still and listen to the wind, how to find meaning in pumping gas, how peeling potatoes can be a form of prayer. She took questions on how not to feel lost in the dark. After lunch she distributed worksheets that covered ways to remember your grandfather's voice....The English lesson was that I am is a complete sentence."

[Amy Jane]

On my quest to continue reading some poetry everyday, I sought out a poet who I encountered through a podcast. What You Missed That Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade was the poem that resonated with me in a deeply personal way, and while the rest of the book is in a similar vein, nothing else really got close to this one. Grounded in the modern world and full of desperate truths about the human condition, Modlin’s words bring comfort and uncover dark humour about ourselves.

[Zane Akers]

This is a case of the lead single being better than the whole rest of the album, so to speak. The first poem in the book, which I saw randomly on the internet and on the strength of which I purchased the book, is a five-star barnburner of a short little poem. The rest of this little volume is consistently just-above-average poetry, growing less lively and less inspired as the skein unwinds, but ending on a satisfying note.

[Libby]

I’m not a poetry person, but I picked this up after previously hearing “What You Missed that Day You Were Absent from Fourth Grade” and I’m very happy I did. Not all of the poems meant something to me or spoke to me, but more than a few did. And some just sounded very good to say. Others were more I felt the writer needed to write them, but not necessarily needed someone to read them. This is it a knock, it’s just a different type of work and is interesting in its own way.

[Maryann]

This was an absolutely incredibly collection of poetry. It was funny and absurd, but deeply moving. It contemplates loneliness and love in virbant language. Every poem feels fresh and I found myself totally enveloped in this book.

[Savannah Lauren]

Read this beautiful collection in one afternoon on the train to the beach. The first poem, What you missed the day you were absent from fourth grade, was why I bought it, but the rest was a heart-wrenchingly beautiful collection of poem on heartbreak, love, and loss.

[Jennifer Bailey-Tyminski]

"What you missed.." poem is so beautifully written that I need to understand how Brad thinks and how this lovely poem came to be.
The book promotes feeling and I have to take a moment with each poem to let it all unravel.

[Susan]

Quirky and profound, funny and heartbreaking...so many complex emotions in one tiny book.

[Andre]

Last half is the best. Last third makes it all worthwhile.

[Vivienne Strauss]

I first heard this poet's work being read on a favorite podcast, Poetry Unbound - truly incredible work!

[Ciena Fitzgerald]

got here from On Being, stayed for the Irish audiobook, and 4 starred for the feeling

[Magdi Hazaa]

There's something so floaty, dreamy, and yearning about these poems. Gorgeous collection.

[Lisa G]

The poem 'What You Missed That Day You Were Absent From Fourth Grade' is profound, poignant.

[Deb]

Non a huge consumer of poetry, but I enjoyed this. Relatable in places but complex enough writing to challenge a bit.

[Trina]

I have nothing special to say: a couple poems were really good and memorable, but most of them weren't.