night thoughts: 70 dream poems & notes from an analysis

By Sarah Arvio

Book Overview

In this remarkable and unique work, award-winning poet Sarah Arvio gives us a memoir about coming to terms with a life in crisis through the study of dreams. As a young woman, threatened by disturbing visions, Arvio went into psychoanalysis to save herself. The result is a riveting sequence of dream poems, followed by "Notes." The poems, in the form of irregular sonnets, describe her dreamworld- a realm of beauty and terror emblazoned with recurring colors and images-gold, blood red, robin's-egg blue, snakes, swarms of razors, suitcases, playing cards, a catwalk.The Notes, also exquisitely readable,unfold the meaning of the dreams-as told to her analyst-and recount the enlightening and sometimes harrowing process of unlocking memories, starting with the diaries she burned to make herself forget. Arvio's explorations lead her back to her younger self-and to a life-changing understanding that will fascinate readers. An utterly original work of art and a groundbreaking portrayal of the power of dream interpretation to resolve psychic distress, this stunning book illumines the poetic logic of the dreaming mind; it also shows us, with surpassing poignancy, how tender and fragile is the mind of an adolescent girl.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375712224
• ISBN13: 9780375712227
• Release Date: August 2014
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.8" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

It wasn’t the book I wanted but it was cheap so I kept it

It wasn’t the book that I wanted to get. Still liked it though