BOOK BRIEF

In the Waiting Room

Elizabeth Bishop
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In the Waiting Room

Fiction | Poem | Adult

Book Brief

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Elizabeth Bishop

In the Waiting Room

Fiction | Poem | Adult
Book Details
Format

Poem • Fiction

Genre
American Literature
Setting

Worcester, Massachusetts • 1910s

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In "In the Waiting Room," a young person, Elizabeth, sits in a dental office, reading a National Geographic magazine. As the individual reads, they experience a profound moment of self-awareness and realization about their connection to the world and humanity, prompted by the images and sounds around them.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Emotional

Bittersweet

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

3.6

101 ratings

55%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Elizabeth Bishop's poem, featured in the collection In the Waiting Room, is widely praised for its vivid imagery and exploration of themes like identity and self-awareness. Critics admire Bishop's meticulous attention to detail and her ability to evoke complex emotions. Some reviewers note that its introspective nature may not appeal to all readers, yet it remains a compelling piece.

Who should read this

Who Should Read In the Waiting Room?

A reader who relishes introspective poetry and coming-of-age themes would enjoy In the Waiting Room by Elizabeth Bishop. Fans of James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man or Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse will appreciate its exploration of identity and self-awareness.

3.6

101 ratings

55%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Format

Poem • Fiction

Genre
American Literature
Setting

Worcester, Massachusetts • 1910s

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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