Comments on: What Was the Best Poetry Collection of 2009? http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/ Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:59:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: One Night Stanzas » Blog Archive » Poetry & “cronyism” http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-26110 One Night Stanzas » Blog Archive » Poetry & “cronyism” Mon, 11 Oct 2010 08:01:42 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-26110 [...] more than a little embroiled in a, er, lively comment thread on to “chum marketing”, here at the Magma Poetry blog. In the early days of Read This Magazine I was always very worried about being accused on cronyism, [...] [...] more than a little embroiled in a, er, lively comment thread on to “chum marketing”, here at the Magma Poetry blog. In the early days of Read This Magazine I was always very worried about being accused on cronyism, [...]

]]> By: Alexis van der Merwe http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-7002 Alexis van der Merwe Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:34:57 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-7002 My vote would most certainly have to go to Orphaned Latitudes by Gerard Rudolf. It's a beautiful, thoughful, vivid view of a life-in-progress and a wounded country left behind. My vote would most certainly have to go to Orphaned Latitudes by Gerard Rudolf. It’s a beautiful, thoughful, vivid view of a life-in-progress and a wounded country left behind.

]]> By: Graham Mummery http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6401 Graham Mummery Thu, 21 Jan 2010 12:29:39 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6401 Amongst the ones I most enjoyed were: George Szirtes: "The Burning of the Books" for it's subtle mastery of form and the feel of history and memory in the verses. One gets the sense of being part of both the horrors and joys of events. Plus there's a lot of human wisdom too. Robert Bly is a favourite of mine. His "Reaching Out into the World-New and Selected Prose Poems" brought some old favourites (often revised) but stunning to read with a strong sense of involvement in objects, things etc. Finally, one that was issues in 2008, but is now out in paperback - Zbigniew Herbert, "Collected Poems". 500 pages of masterpieces that I read from cover to cover. One of the truly great poets of the 20th century from Poland. World Class! Amongst the ones I most enjoyed were:

George Szirtes: “The Burning of the Books” for it’s subtle mastery of form and the feel of history and memory in the verses. One gets the sense of being part of both the horrors and joys of events. Plus there’s a lot of human wisdom too.

Robert Bly is a favourite of mine. His “Reaching Out into the World-New and Selected Prose Poems” brought some old favourites (often revised) but stunning to read with a strong sense of involvement in objects, things etc.

Finally, one that was issues in 2008, but is now out in paperback – Zbigniew Herbert, “Collected Poems”. 500 pages of masterpieces that I read from cover to cover. One of the truly great poets of the 20th century from Poland. World Class!

]]> By: Karin Eloff http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6145 Karin Eloff Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:29:31 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6145 Definitely Orphaned Lattitudes by South African born writer and poet Gérard Rudolf. He writes with his blood. Definitely Orphaned Lattitudes by South African born writer and poet Gérard Rudolf.
He writes with his blood.

]]> By: Michelle McGrane http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6142 Michelle McGrane Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:10:06 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6142 @Jacqueline: <i>The Little Friend</i> is a favourite, as is <i>The Secret History</i>. Tartt's a fine writer. @Jacqueline: The Little Friend is a favourite, as is The Secret History. Tartt’s a fine writer.

]]> By: lyndsay http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6130 lyndsay Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:06:46 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6130 carol anne duffy rapture English and Italian wonderful carol anne duffy

rapture English and Italian

wonderful

]]> By: Cathy Bryant http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6119 Cathy Bryant Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:47:44 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6119 Ovid, just wanted to thank you for excellent advice and for making me laugh too. Thinking about the incestuous nature of the pobiz, I've never met any of you, but my partner was taught by Sheena and says she had a great influence on him, which has then passed on to me (remember Keir, Sheena?) - I rather like the inter-connectedness of it and the fact that it's mostly good-natured. I'm not really bothered about toadying to journos - I'll take selling the odd copy to mates and interested people any day. Best wishes to all, Cathy Ovid, just wanted to thank you for excellent advice and for making me laugh too.
Thinking about the incestuous nature of the pobiz, I’ve never met any of you, but my partner was taught by Sheena and says she had a great influence on him, which has then passed on to me (remember Keir, Sheena?) – I rather like the inter-connectedness of it and the fact that it’s mostly good-natured. I’m not really bothered about toadying to journos – I’ll take selling the odd copy to mates and interested people any day.
Best wishes to all,
Cathy

]]> By: Min Morgan http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6075 Min Morgan Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:09:33 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6075 There's an element of the Emperor's New Clothes when it comes to judging poetry collections. A critic says they like a particular collection and immediately others jump on the bandwagon. That said, for me the best collection of 2009 was Julian Colton's Everyman Street which I came into contact with via the Hand + Star websites top rated books. Colton's collection proves that good poetry can be streetwise, accessible and socially relevant. I imagine a lot of critics don't know quite what to make of it's heady mix of tragedy, soap and excellent verse. In 2009, Colton's brilliant collection was streets ahead. Min Morgan. There’s an element of the Emperor’s New Clothes when it comes to judging poetry collections. A critic says they like a particular collection and immediately others jump on the bandwagon. That said, for me the best collection of 2009 was Julian Colton’s Everyman Street which I came into contact with via the Hand + Star websites top rated books. Colton’s collection proves that good poetry can be streetwise, accessible and socially relevant. I imagine a lot of critics don’t know quite what to make of it’s heady mix of tragedy, soap and excellent verse. In 2009, Colton’s brilliant collection was streets ahead.

Min Morgan.

]]> By: Laura Chalar http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-6057 Laura Chalar Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:26:19 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-6057 I loved Mariella Nigro's "El tiempo circular" (Circular Time), published in Uruguay. Beautifully crafted poetry, with a touch of the slightly menacing alongside the wistful/melancholy. Her intelligence and unexpected yet perfect imagery never fail to surprise me. I loved Mariella Nigro’s “El tiempo circular” (Circular Time), published in Uruguay. Beautifully crafted poetry, with a touch of the slightly menacing alongside the wistful/melancholy. Her intelligence and unexpected yet perfect imagery never fail to surprise me.

]]> By: Adele Ward http://magmapoetry.com/what-was-the-best-poetry-collection-of-2009/comment-page-3/#comment-5981 Adele Ward Tue, 05 Jan 2010 10:49:08 +0000 http://magmapoetry.com/?p=2638#comment-5981 It was so funny to be laughing at poetry 'in jokes' in The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker. I can't think of any other novel that can surely only be enjoyed by poetry fanatics. I was going to give it away but I know I'll want to read it again. I wrote a review of it on adeleward.blogspot.com (a much neglected blog - how do people find time to keep these things up-to-date?) and Completely Novel keeps sending this review out in their emails. It was so funny to be laughing at poetry ‘in jokes’ in The Anthologist by Nicholson Baker. I can’t think of any other novel that can surely only be enjoyed by poetry fanatics. I was going to give it away but I know I’ll want to read it again. I wrote a review of it on adeleward.blogspot.com (a much neglected blog – how do people find time to keep these things up-to-date?) and Completely Novel keeps sending this review out in their emails.

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