Marie-Helene Bertino: From Debut Novel to Acclaimed Writer — Her Journey to Literary Fame

Marie-Helene Bertino is one of the most captivating contemporary writers, drawing readers and critics alike with her unique style and profound narratives. Her award-winning book, Safe as Houses, instantly established Marie-Helene as a talented author capable of delving into the human experience and the intricacies of everyday life. Read more about her story on philadelphianka.

A native of Philadelphia, she found a new home in Brooklyn, where her creative work flourished with fresh shades and forms. Bertino’s debut novel marked not only a new turn in her career but also earned recognition for its charm and depth.

In this article, you’ll find more about this remarkable writer, including intriguing details and deep insights that will help you better understand her work. Here, we explore the key stages of Marie-Helene’s career, the distinct qualities of her style, and the influential works that have established Bertino as one of the most notable writers of our time.

Biography: Influential Writer and Educator

Marie-Helene Bertino was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Of Italian and French Basque descent, her multicultural background has left its mark on her work. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Villanova University, where she first expressed her interest in literature and writing. Later, she earned a Master’s in International Relations from Brooklyn College, giving her a nuanced understanding of global issues and cultural contexts.

After moving to New York in 2003, Bertino began working as a biographer for a plaintiffs’ attorney, assisting clients with traumatic brain injuries. This experience allowed her to gain deeper insights into human nature, which she later reflected in her writing.

In 2020, Marie-Helene was a guest writer for the Kittredge Visiting Writer Program at the University of Montana, opening new career opportunities. She has also taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts, working in the low-residency MFA program to help students hone their writing skills.

Bertino later earned a Master’s in Creative Writing from University College Cork, further refining her knowledge and skills in the art. She gained valuable experience in editing and publishing while serving as an editorial assistant at One Story.

Influenced by writers such as Yoko Ogawa, Edward P. Jones, Toni Morrison, and Cormac McCarthy, Bertino’s work is rich in style and theme. She has taught at The New School, a private research university in New York City, where she shared her knowledge and experience with the next generation of writers.

Eventually, she became a professor of English at Yale University, where she continued her teaching and creative work, impacting students and the literary community.

Writing, Debut Books, and Other Creative Pursuits

Marie-Helene Bertino typically writes in the morning, while she feels almost as if she’s still dreaming. Ideally, she wakes up, enjoys a delicious cup of coffee, and opens her notebook or laptop, depending on her stage in the process. This setup makes both her and her cats incredibly happy. However, ideal writing conditions are rare, as she frequently works as a biographer for individuals with brain injuries and often travels to teach and lecture.

Bertino’s first collection of stories, Safe as Houses, was chosen by Jim Shepard as the winner of the 2012 Iowa Short Fiction Award and was later published by the University of Iowa Press.

Safe as Houses was long-listed for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award in 2013 and was named one of the best collections by The Story Prize in 2012. One story, North Of, features a woman who brings Bob Dylan home for Thanksgiving. It won both the Pushcart Prize and the Mississippi Review Prize for Fiction and was later reprinted in an anthology.

Her debut novel, 2 A.M. at The Cat’s Pajamas, was published by Crown in 2014. It was selected as a 2014 “Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Pick” and one of NPR’s best books of 2014.

Her second novel, Parakeet, was published in 2020. In Parakeet, we follow an unnamed bride-to-be in the weeks leading up to her wedding, after she is visited by her grandmother’s ghost in the form of a bird, who urges her to find her estranged brother. Bertino revealed that the character in Parakeet was inspired by her grandmother, an immigrant from the French Pyrenees.

After publication, Parakeet received critical acclaim, with a favorable reception based on twelve reviews, according to an aggregate review site. The book was an Editors’ Choice by The New York Times and made HuffPost’s Top Ten Books of the Year. It was also long-listed for the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize in 2020.

Marie-Helene’s Reflections on Her Hometown — Philadelphia

In one interview, Marie-Helene was asked an interesting question regarding the frequent mention of her Philadelphia roots in her works. Her book Safe as Houses contains two stories set in her hometown.

People often have complex relationships with their hometowns, yet Bertino describes her feelings for Philadelphia as difficult to explain. She believes the city has a dark beauty and a serious dysfunction. To her, Philadelphia’s mural program exemplifies the city’s determination and gritty spirit, which brings beautiful murals to the area. These murals adorn the city, and you can’t go far without seeing one. No other city, according to the author, looks quite like it.

Beyond this, Marie-Helene grew up in Northeast Philadelphia, an area stretching from suburban outskirts to Kensington’s elevated trains. She recalls that the people there are tough, stubborn, and uncompromising. They can see through you if they sense you’re not genuine. Bertino finds this fitting, as she has zero tolerance for pretense, liars, cowards, fake people, and, most of all, she can’t hide her feelings. Philadelphia made her this way.

How Bertino’s Work Explores Nuances of Human Nature and Social Dynamics

In summary, Marie-Helene Bertino is a prominent American writer known for her multifaceted literary work. Born and raised in one of the country’s major industrial, financial, and cultural centers, she has infused her writing with a unique perspective on human nature and social interactions.

Bertino became widely recognized for her ability to seamlessly blend different genres and styles, allowing her to explore a broad range of human experience and social issues. Her literary talent has received international acclaim, as evidenced by awards like the Pushcart Prize and the O. Henry Prize for her short stories, affirming her status as a significant figure in contemporary literature.

In her works, Bertino often tackles complex questions about human nature, morality, identity, and social relationships, inviting readers to delve into the challenging and often contradictory aspects of human life. Her distinct voice, stylistic elements, and profound insight into the human soul make her literary contributions vital and impactful.

With her sharp narrative style and multifaceted plots, Bertino not only illuminates social realities but also offers a fresh perspective on ordinary, yet essential, human experiences, making her work essential to understanding the contemporary world. Thus, this talented writer continues to captivate readers and critics, introducing new ideas and perspectives to modern literature.