Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series?"

"There are six books in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series, published between 2001 and 2025."

Q: "What is the first book in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series?"

"The first book in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series is Shiner, published in 2001."

Q: "Is Bluets a poetry collection or nonfiction?"

"Bluets (2009) defies easy classification. It is structured as 240 numbered propositions about the color blue, blending poetry, philosophy, and memoir. It is typically shelved as poetry but reads like lyric nonfiction. Libraries and bookstores categorize it differently."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Shiner	2001	Maggie Nelson	Buy
2	The Latest Winter	2003	Maggie Nelson	Buy
3	Jane: A Murder	2005	Maggie Nelson	Buy
4	Something Bright, Then Holes	2007	Maggie Nelson	Buy
5	Bluets	2009	Maggie Nelson	Buy
6	Pathemata, Or, The Story of My Mouth	2025	Maggie Nelson	Buy

Maggie Nelson’s poetry collections show the roots of the hybrid style she later brought to her nonfiction. Shiner (2001) was her debut, followed by The Latest Winter (2003). Jane: A Murder (2005) uses documentary poetry to piece together the life of her aunt, who was murdered in 1969 — a subject she later revisited in prose in The Red Parts.

Something Bright, Then Holes (2007) and Bluets (2009) continued to push at the boundaries between poetry and essay. Bluets, her most famous poetic work, has been widely assigned in creative writing programs. Pathemata, Or, The Story of My Mouth (2025) is her latest collection, arriving after a long gap in her poetry output.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series?

There are six books in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series, published between 2001 and 2025.

What is the first book in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series?

The first book in the Maggie Nelson Poetry Collections series is Shiner, published in 2001.

Is Bluets a poetry collection or nonfiction?

Bluets (2009) defies easy classification. It is structured as 240 numbered propositions about the color blue, blending poetry, philosophy, and memoir. It is typically shelved as poetry but reads like lyric nonfiction. Libraries and bookstores categorize it differently.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order