A coming-of-age in every sense of the phrase. The book marks the poet's discovery of his vocation as a writer, a reckoning of his place in his family history, and a questioning and coming to terms with his childhood Catholic faith. In all of these aspects of the narrative, Shoemaker's small-town Kentucky home is vividly conjured and becomes a central character of the story itself. Through its moving blend of lyric poetry and prose, the book invites the reader into a particular kind of family memory passed down from generation to generation, not only through its evocative writing but also through the artful presentation of photographs taken or selected by the author's cousin, Sara Shoemaker, an accomplished visual artist in her own right. A gift both for the spiritual seeker and the aspiring artist, We Knew No Mortality rewards multiple readings with its thoughtful exploration of personal transformation.
