In The Gutter Spread Guide to Prayer, winner of the 2019 Autumn House Press Rising Writer Prize, Eric Tran contends with the aftermath of a close friend’s suicide while he simultaneously explores the complexities and joys of being a gay man of color.
At the intersection of queerness, loss, and desire, Tran uses current events, such as the Pulse nightclub tragedy, pop culture references, and comic book allusions to create a unique and textured poetry debut. He employs an unexpected pairing of prayer and fantasy allowing readers to imagine a world of queer joy and explore how grief can feel otherworldly. This stunning debut contains multitudes.