Customer Reviews

Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z.: A Novel

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In her first novel, Debra Weinstein, tells the wicked-funny story of creative writing student and aspiring poet, Annabelle Goldsmith, and her apprenticeship to the famous flower poet Z. "This is the story of how I came to momentary prominence in the world of poetry," Annabelle tells us, "and, through a series of misunderstandings, destroyed my good name and became a nobody" (p. 3). Because of her naivete, Annabelle ultimately becomes little more than a personal assistant to her self-absorbed literary mentor. When Z exploits Annabelle by sending her on personal shopping errands to buy blue, burgundy, and purple hand towels, "jet black, not midnight black, not shoeshine black" ink, and silk boxers, in addition to conducting botanical research, Annabelle's academic dream job soon deteriorates into pure hell. In an erotic subplot, Annabelle becomes immersed in an affair with an older graduate student, Harry, who expects her to play Nora (naked, except for high heels and gloves) to his James Joyce.

Z is a more fascinating and well-developed character by far than Annabelle. An interesting character study in narcissism, Z is equally charming and detestable, yet in the end, hardly "the finest poet writing in the English language" (p. 13) Annabelle believes her to be. Though plagued with a disappointing ending, which employs a novel-within-a-novel conceit, Weinstein's tale will nevertheless appeal to readers (like me) with a passion for poetry, and to readers (like me) who have experienced academic life in a college English department or creative writing program. Readers who enjoy this genre of fiction should also experience Tobias Wolff's OLD SCHOOL.

G. Merritt

Who knew that poetry was such a cutthroat business? Debra Weinstein's debut novel is a brilliant, multilayered look at the world of poetry and the people who populate it. Funny and yet strangely lyrical, "Apprentice To The Flower Poet Z" is a lovely read.

Student and wannabe-poet Annabelle Goldsmith stumbles into a dream job when she becomes the "apprentice" (read: assistant with a more glamorous title) to Z., a famed poet who writes poetry about flowers. Among Annabelle's duties is buying ink, trespassing for flower desciptions, and buying a boyfriend's underwear for the charming, enigmatic Z. Vaguely she knows that all this is awful, but she submits meekly anyway.

Annnabelle also takes up with an older student, Harry, who enmeshes her in some weird erotic situations to serve as his muse. Then Annabelle meets Z's husband and sullen daughter Claire, both of whom hide more unflattering secrets about this glamorous poet. But Annabelle discovers the most shocking fact about Z yet -- and it's tied to Annabelle's own budding poetry.

"I want the world to think poetry, the way it thinks television..." So says Spence, Z's sexy boyfriend. That may be a bit much to ask, but Weinstein certainly makes the world of modern poetry -- either beautiful or ruthless -- closer to readers in this book. While there are a few subplots that seem to peter out (like the story of Harry's mentor, or Annabelle's shrink sessions), the main plot is the mesmerizing one.

Weinstein herself is a poet, and it shows. She has a sort of spare poetry to her prose writing, a bit like a prose haiku -- minimal details, but still evocative. And the poetry she sprinkles liberally through "Apprentice" is simply beautiful, always very polished and striking. She also strikes deep into the heart of an aspiring poet's world -- the workshops, the intellectual snobbery (usually revolving around Annabelle's love of Dickinson), the guidelines that others can set for poetry.

Z is the most fascinating character of the book. We can tell that below the cool, smart artist exterior that there's something a lot less pleasant, but Weinstein unwinds the "flower poet" so that we only get hints to add up. Annabelle can be a bit of a doormat, but she's a nice lead character with all the artistic idealism of a person just setting out in her wished-for job.

From Emily Dickinson to empty flower poems, "Apprentice To The Flower Poet Z" is a beautifully-written, wickedly witty debut novel. Highly recommended.

I read such a marvelous, amusing and brilliant novel today: Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z. by Debra Weinstein. By turns morbidly then innocently funny, high wit and low, searching and cynical, finest kind indeed. And, the writing -- dear god, it's a marvel and a gift. A young under-grad poet-in-training from Long Island lucks into a fellowship in Manhattan with a highly respected poet and, dear reader, this is their story. Wow and wow.

A must-read for anyone who has an interest in good novels, poetry, luscious language, insightful stories amusingly told, Manhattan, the academic milieu. My only regret on reading this book is having read it since it won't ever again be unknown ground to me. I fully expect to see this title on some of the award long and short lists for this year.

This is the sort of novel I stand up for ... it's that good, and how.

Debra Weinstein's Apprentice to the Flower Poet Z. is a clever and engaging read, one that accomplishes what others have tried and dreadfully failed at: an amusing "expose" of an evil and demanding boss. Pity poor Annabelle--a young, aspiring poet at a prestigous NY university who thinks she is the luckiest poet in the world when she lands the "dream" job of assistant to Z., a highly praised contemporary poet. Annabelle is so enthralled with Z. that she doesn't seem to mind the ridiculous demands Z. makes of her, doesn't seem to mind that so many of those demands are impossible to live up to. Annabelle finally sees the truth in Z., but not before she has been taken advantage of--the reader sees it coming long before Annabelle realizes it. Weinstein does an excellent job with this novel and her characters because, as horrible as Z. is, she has a number of redeeming qualities that make Annabelle want to remain at her job. She isn't portrayed as so ridiculously horrible that no one in their right mind would ever work for her. The story is told with much wit and humor. Weinstein does not think very highly of much of academia and her send up here is quite amusing. The prose is pretty spare, but gets her point across excellently. Enjoy.

What I love about this book is the unbridled rage towards poets and academia. Weinstein is full of hate and rage -- the good kind. I couldn't put this down. Funny and in its own way, wise. I just hope it doesn't get reviewed by some pompous poet or stick-up-his-(rear) academic. This will be a cult classic.

Debra Weinstein captures the deer-in-the-headlights feel and the sometimes cryptic, usually quipping exchanges undergrads encounter inside the world of collegiate creative writing programs. Once upon a time I was a scholarship student to a midwestern university, studying under both their fiction and poetry professors. Unlike Debra Weinstein's main character Annabelle, I was not farmed out to any of these professors. Nor did I have to deal with the likes of Harry Banks, a graduate student crazy over James Joyce, and Annabelle's mild S&M fling over the course of the semester. Yet I was not completely unaware of student/teacher, teacher/teacher politics, and "Apprentice" is a believable, elegantly romping portrayal of such power struggles.

The language is what pulls it off, its sparcity and precision. I've heard that style called 'minimalist,' and I've heard it compared to laziness, but Debra Weinstein uses it like a comedian who carefully sets up a joke--no flood of details to confuse everyone--and then times the punch line just right to get the laugh. But a laugh isn't always the point in this book. Annabelle's central quest is to discover what poetry is (and by default what life and love and pain is), and the frugality of Weinsteins' narrative reigns in her characters' outrageous behavior and helps to keep Annabelle's story from sliding into the ridiculous.

The reader doesn't need to have any special knowledge of literature or of the literary world to enjoy this book. As a matter of fact, while I'm thankful for my years of tutelage with my professors, my subsequent degree has gone to prove that some of what's said in a workshop (mostly by students) is just literary doublespeak, political correctness gone artsy-fartsy, that time and distance from it helps to clear the head. And Debra Weinstein's book sees it reasonably clearly for a work of fiction. At its heart "A to Z" is the story of an adolescent "coming of age," a young woman disillusioned but not destroyed by her chosen vocation of poetry.

Weinstein captures not only the life of a budding writer in the world of academia well, she also hits all the right notes in the relationship between her narrator and the poet Z. It's an engrossing book that's hard to put down and I was impressed with the fresh and sly tone of the entire story. Although the conclusion is appropriate, I wished for more and would've liked just a few more twists and turns before having to close the book. Still, this is one of the better novels I've read in the last few years and I highly recommend it.

A clever and wonderfully written coming-of-age story of a different sort, in which a young intellectual discovers that her idols have clay feet and more. Sexy, dishy, and very smart, this book is a delightful read. And no, I am not the author, and yes, I really read the book....

A lovely book. I found the apprentice character of Annabelle had a refreshingly candid innocence. She is new to the literary world and is enamoured of her boss, the titled flower poet Z. She is slow to understand that Z is slyly manipulating her for her own gain. Annabelle is also new to matters of the heart and gives herself completely to Harry, too naive to understand the dangers inherent in doing so. I think that's why I loved this book so much. Annabelle is such a lamb that my own jaded and cynical self found her outlook on life as fresh as a rosebud.
The book also delves into the mystery of poetry. I've never been much of a poetry lover but this book had me questioning its' importance and the weight a few carefully chosen words can contain.

Weinstein's first novel exposes, in cynical fiction, the politics of something like poetry in academia. In a witty tale, Weinstein, similar to "The Devil Wears Prada", exposes the cruelty and dishonesty in every dictatorial boss you've ever know. This time it is "The Flower Poet", Z, who succeeds in the poetry world despite academic rivalry, affairs, a meltdown in her marriage and relationship with her daughter.

Weinstein tells the tale from the viewpoint of Annabelle, the naive and talented poet who becomes "Z"'s apprentice (and servant). It takes Annabelle a while to catch on to all the boss' machinations, but in the process, she'll charm you with her own lyrical wit and love of poetry.

Light and funny!