“Natural Selections” by Joseph Campana

Over the past couple months, I’ve mentioned that I wanted to start a monthly poetry spotlight in order to increase my knowledge of contemporary poetry.  I’m finally doing it! I received a copy of the collection “Natural Selections” by Joseph Campana through NetGalley.  I read the book a few weeks ago, but I haven’t been satisfied with [...]

Read Full Post »

“The Swing Girl” by Katherine Soniat

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. “The Swing Girl” is a collection of poems by Katherine Soniat.  As a whole, the poems have a Mediterranean feel and call to mind the frailty of life and the abrupt effect of war on daily life.  Not all of the poems [...]

Read Full Post »

“The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday

I read this book as a part of a class I’m taking this semester on multiculturalism and librarianship. The book is about Native American culture, specifically the Kiowa.  It tells the story of the author’s journey to visit his grandmother’s grave near Rainy Mountain.  Each page is split into three segments.  Momaday opens each section [...]

Read Full Post »

“Broetry” by Brian McGackin

Everybody needs at least one good coffee-table book.  As a grad student whose life has been impacted by the somewhat shitty economy, I found this book of poems to be hilarious. The collection, entitled “Broetry,” is written by a guy who actually has an advanced degree in poetry.  The subject matter lies along the lines [...]

Read Full Post »

Thomas the Rhymer

One of the books that I picked up during the Borders liquidation sale was Ellen Kushner’s “Thomas the Rhymer.”  I thought that before reading it I would like to take a look at the legend upon which it was based. “Thomas the Rhymer” (also known as “True Thomas”) is a ballad that is closely related [...]

Read Full Post »