Poser
Claire Dederer
December 2010
352 pages
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
I bought this…I even ponied up for the hardcover.
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I read this book a few months ago, so this is going to be a pretty sketchy post. But while I may have forgotten many of the details of the book, I can honestly say that I loved it. It’s a bit of a memoir composed around a yoga journey. I say a bit of a memoir, because it’s more about discovering parts of yourself through yoga, but there’s a fair amount of the author’s life offered up.
And it’s really good. Dederer is a freelance journalist, so she can write (thank god). She also has the talent of being able to explain yoga (both the poses and her reactions to them) in layman’s terms, which is something the author of the other yoga book that I read pretty much failed at. Granted, that one was more a history of yoga in the US, so they’re two totally different books, but Dederer could probably write about her journey with economics or philospohy (two topics I happen to loathe) and make me understand. She’s honest and personal and I loved her style.
Here’s the synopsis from her website:
Ten years ago, Claire Dederer put her back out while breastfeeding her baby daughter. Told to try yoga by everyone from the woman behind the counter at the co-op to the homeless guy on the corner, she signed up for her first class. She fell madly in love.
Over the next decade, she would tackle triangle, wheel, and the dreaded crow, becoming fast friends with some poses and developing long-standing feuds with others. At the same time, she found herself confronting the forces that shaped her generation. Daughters of women who ran away to find themselves and made a few messes along the way, Dederer and her peers grew up determined to be good, good, good—even if this meant feeling hemmed in by the smugness of their organic-buying, attachment-parenting, anxiously conscientious little world. Yoga seemed to fit right into this virtuous program, but to her surprise, Dederer found that the deeper she went into the poses, the more they tested her most basic ideas of what makes a good mother, daughter, friend, wife—and the more they made her want something a little less tidy, a little more improvisational. Less goodness, more joy.
Poser is unlike any other book about yoga you will read—because it is actually a book about life. Witty and heartfelt, sharp and irreverent, Poser is for anyone who has ever tried to stand on their head while keeping both feet on the ground.
OK, I am going to get this! *SOLD!*
Care´s last [type] ..The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Part 2 (the regular laptop with internet access version)
How the hell do you put your back out breastfeeding?? Grossssssssss
Cass´s last [type] ..Review: Holding Still For As Long As Possible by Zoe Whittall
Going to have to keep my eye out for this one. Thanks!
Sounds like a good one. I have not read anything Yoga related yet. Will look for this one here.
Veens´s last [type] ..Angels Fall by Nora Roberts
Yeah I’m with Cass. WTF? Was she breastfeeding her five year old? I have never done yoga in my life, but it is something that always sounds like a good idea. Maybe I’d be more of a relaxed individual.
Sandy´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday: Napa #11
I have recently taken up yoga again after several years, and am finding that if I don’t get to do it regularly, I get a little antsy. It is having some wonderful effects on my health and my body image is getting better by the day. I love yoga, and would love to read this. I have to say that I was surprised and delighted to see this book reviewed here today. I had no idea that there were books like this out there!
zibilee´s last [type] ..Love Begins in Winter: Five Stories by Simon Van Booy — 256 pgs
I don’t know much about yoga, but I do love memoirs and since you say this one is so good, I’m adding it to my list.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last [type] ..Wondrous Words Wednesday
It actually sounds like a great little concept for a memoir. I used to do yoga but got away from it and now I’m wondering why.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Our Vacation From A to Z
Ok…. never thought I would consider a book about yoga….
Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last [type] ..The Secret Lives Of The Four Wives by Lola Shoneyin
Sheila – I would not be at all surprised that if you ever tried a yoga class you would be instantly hooked.
Care´s last [type] ..Still Missing
well, i do love memoirs but don’t really know anything about yoga other than what i hear from friends who do this insane heat/death yoga.
glad to hear that dederer can write–i’ve read a few memoirs in my day that would have been better served by a ghost writer. glad you enjoyed this one but you didn’t tell us if you’re a big yoga fan or if you were inspired to try it after reading this one!
natalie @book, line, and sinker´s last [type] ..Sold! Clever Book Adverts
I’m going to get this one for my daughter! Who knows, I may even read it myself…
JoAnn´s last [type] ..Tuesday Intro: The Gap Year
I was iffy because the yoga thing sounds a little gimmicky at first, but if she can write, that makes ALL the difference! Great review, Jill!
Andi´s last [type] ..I Want to Eat This Book
Reading this post made me miss going to yoga classes. Unfortunately, do to some new budgetary restraints I had to give up my gym membership and with it my yoga classes. I’m hoping to return eventually, but I’m not sure when. Until then, this sounds like a good book for me to delve into.