The Problem with Solitaire

by Lucia Misch

From possible apocalypse to the all-night pie diner—from the moon landing, to memory, to the cat’s take on death—The Problem With Solitaire considers the question: when we play against ourselves, who wins? with curiosity, compassion, and a stubborn refusal to flinch. Less interested in finding answers than pursuing the paradox itself, Lucia Misch’s poetry travels through landscapes actual, internal, and imagined with unorthodox insight and wit. Biography, body, meaning, depression, power, grief, self-determination, and disaster are just some of the themes that ride shotgun.

Balancing outlandish visions with moments of bare candor, sincere reverence with shameless cheek, Misch offers readers an agile, eloquent debut collection that never strays too far from its grubby little punk heart.

Genres: Poetry, Queer

108 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2020

Reviews

[Duncan · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Lucia Misch, this was a pure joy to read from start to finish. Highly recommended for all poetry lovers.

[Erin Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure brilliance. I wish I had written it. As soon as I finished The Problem With Solitaire, I went back and started reading it again.

[Fred Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This marvelous debut by a witty and gifted young poet is an infinitely textured, layered delight to read. The rich combinations of emotions and perspectives (melancholy, outright depression, sardonic humor, somber joy, good-humored frustration with the self...I could go on and on) grace this volume in countless ways. Sometimes a title alone is so beguiling that you linger over it, luxuriate in it, meditate on it the way you would an entire poem or story; some of the poems tell enchanting stories, others paint the portrait of a powerful moment, a sustaining insight, a dark memory from adolescence, a relationship between friends, between lovers, between a child and a parent...always plumbing (and evocatively describing) emotional depths with melancholy wisdom. And—most impressive—managing all of this with extremely spare language. Seldom has a poet delivered so much emotional and intellectual reward in so few words. A beautiful, sustaining, challenging, and deeply rewarding collection.

[Anne Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucia Misch's collection is an exquisite combination of subtle and hard-hitting, heartbreaking and hilarious. It filled me with admiration for her writing, her sensitivity, her sense of humor, and her soul.