Wounded in House of a Friend

by Sonia Sanchez

Exploring the pain, self-doubt, and anger that appear in women's lives, a renowned poet demonstrates her mastery of haiku, narrative poetry, and African-American lyricism, transforming betrayal and heartbreak into emotional redemption, compassion, and self-fulfillment.

Genres: Poetry, Fiction

94 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Sonia Sanchez was born Wilsonia Benita Driver on September 9, 1934, in Birmingham, Alabama. After her mother died in childbirth a year later, Sanchez lived with her paternal grandmother and other relatives for several years. In 1943, she moved to Harlem with her sister to live with their father and his third wife.

She earned a B.A. in political science from Hunter College in 1955. She also did postgraduate work at New York University and studied poetry with Louise Bogan. Sanchez formed a writers' workshop in Greenwich Village, attended by such poets as Amiri Baraka (LeRoi Jones), Haki R. Madhubuti (Don L. Lee), and Larry Neal. Along with Madhubuti, Nikki Giovanni, and Etheridge Knight, she formed the "Broadside Quartet" of young poets, introduced and promoted by Dudley Randall.

Reviews

[ReD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

I'll post an actual review of this in a bit. I challenged myself to read poetry collections for January. I picked up Wounded in the House of a Friend without reading the inside cover or knowing anything about Sonia Sanchez.

I liked the name of the book. I thought I would reflect internally, spark some self-absorbed thoughts of my own inner pain that I could journal about. It was a slim volume and I thought I would plow through it quickly.

This is not something that can be plowed through quickly. These poems have weight.

These poems took me out of my own head.

These were beautiful and they hurt and I spent every day I read thinking about them in uncomfortable places.

If I ever meet Sonia Sanchez, I'll probably make a dumb-ass of myself by only being able to say "wow."

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the first I read by Sanchez; soon it will the first of many.
Her honesty and fearlessness kept me spellbound. Frequently, the musicality of her poems made me feel as if I were watching her perform a live concert beneath a darkened fantastical sky with fires crackling and swirling around us.

Her writing strips humanity to the core leaving nothing but truths and realities, sometimes beautiful, sometimes ugly, behind always inviting the reader to be a conscientious witness to history's past and history's present unfolding.

[Detrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... just wow. I read this book of poems when I was a teen. I loved it so much that I saved up my money and brought it. She has such away with words and putting you in a place where you can not only relate but feel what she is referring to... she is a real artist. Her canvas is paper and her pen is a brush... love her.

[Keishua · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book. There are some poems I glossed over because I was not really into them. Sanchez writes from the hip and that is why I love her.
This is not my favorite but it is bright with hope and compassion so it will remain a good read.

[joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

raw.

[Pam Mccullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book of poetry from my favorite professor @ Temple University in Philadelphia. But I'm biased.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a great attachment to her heartache-filled Haiku's.

[RK Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

really pretty poetry.

[Erika Carruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest. One of my favorites.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

[Angélique (Angel) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This collection was enthralling though sometimes challenging to get through. The strongest parts for me were Sanchez's story/poems and short verse.

[Marigold Bookhound · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger warning- graphic scenes of rape.

[Joann Schatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always known that I *diDn'T LiKe PoEtrY*. But like so many things, it turns out that my misconceptions and preconceived notions about poetry are the things that I didn't like. Once I actually started reading works by poets that related to me or poems that used a style that spoke to me or read collections of work that contained content that meant something to me, of course I fell in love. And to say that Sonia's work moved me would be a major understatement. I was reduced to tears multiple times reading Sonia's poems, and I'll tell you that each time it hit me out of nowhere. The emotions that she elicited from me shocked me and took me over. They moved into my body and I had no control over them. That kind of impact is not something that you forget easily. I guess this review might not be very helpful to people who want to know what this particular collection of Sonia's writing is like, but it's all I have. I was just so profoundly moved by her work - and it's like the 5th book of poetry I've ever read in my life. Maybe that tells you something? Maybe not. Either way, I loved this.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

been wanting to read this book for maybe about a year now and so i finally did! it was the title that initially got me interested— i think it’s probably my favorite book title ever. as far as the writing goes, i mean, i breezed through it because it was absolutely beautiful and engaging. lines i’ve highlighted and will reread and memorize, literally right out the gate— “the unspoken word is born, i see it in our eyes dancing” your favorite lyricist could never.. definitely would love to have a physical copy i could mark up and stuff. so good, thank you Sonia Sanchez

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a fan of poetry. Wish I picked this up in high school!!

[Susanna Thomas-Lovric · Rating 2 out of 5]

A collection of poetry lacking a cohesive voice in a manner that felt contrived instead of insightful. I barely made it through this work.

[Swetha]

read by the beach…delicious