The Opposite of Clairvoyance by Gillian Wegener – Review & Giveaway

29. August 2008 · 40 comments · Categories: Book Review and Giveaway, Poetry · Tags: , ,

Scan through the archives of carp(e) libris reviews and you’ll find quite a selection of poetry. As I learn more and more about poetry, and as we learn to have a deeper appreciation for it through reviews and giveaways, I’m refining my tastes in the craft a little more with each book. The Opposite of Clairvoyance holds something of a blend of strength of voice and gentleness of spirit that I keep finding myself drawn into. Gillian Wegener’s selection of poems in her new book (published by Sixteen Rivers Press) covers a multitude of subjects that keep continuity through Wegener’s unique voice and musical rhythm. I often wonder how poetry would sound when read aloud by the poet, and this book is no exception.

Whether you’re a nature lover, someone who gains solace from reading heartbreak, or a mom in love with her kids, you’ll find something to relate to in The Opposite of Clairvoyance. But don’t make the mistake of thinking this poetry is cotton candy and tulips. There is a power to the voice as well as an edge, and many of the poems have an undercurrent of longing or reveal a disappointment in life. Regardless of the topic, each one ends leaving the reader to pause and reflect. For me, this is one of the main reasons to read a poem – reflection, either on the positive or negative aspects in life, and possibly the hope that the poet feels the same way we do, expressing it in ways we never thought to attempt.

To win your own autographed copy of The Opposite of Clairvoyance, read on.

3 Ways to Win:

1.) Leave a comment telling me what you look for when choosing poetry. Do you like something you can relate to? Easy to understand? Or do you like something more abstract? Have fun with your comment! Winners are randomly chosen, but if the name drawn doesn’t respond, I choose the next winner by comment.
2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)
3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.
Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Monday, September 1, 2008, to enter.

Drunken Boats by Alan Jenkins

27. August 2008 · 1 comment · Categories: Poetry, The Cahier Series · Tags: , , ,

 

If you’ve been following my series of reviews of The Cahier Series published by Sylph Editions, then you know Cahier #4 is next in this wonderful line-up. Alan Jenkins’ love for the poet Arthur Rimbaud shines forth in his cahier, which features the famous Drunken Boats (Le Bateau ivre), translated from the French by Jenkins. Also featured are two original works by Jenkins celebrating the style of Rimbaud and his passion for the sea.

I think most amazing to me was to learn that Rimbaud had not only written Drunken Boats at the age of seventeen, but that he had never been to sea before writing it. Anyone who has had the pleasure of reading this work will know that you can’t read it without experiencing vivid imaginings of a vast and complex sea. Jenkins’ translation is smooth and seemingly effortless, giving the poetry lover something rich to visit again and again. 

Alan Jenkins’ own two poems are also a great pleasure to read, evoking images of Rimbaud’s sea. The three works in one volume make for a powerful combination, enhanced all the more by the incredible artwork I’ve been learning to expect from The Cahier Series.  

The Albanian Affairs by Susana Fortes

26. August 2008 · 3 comments · Categories: Book Reviews, Fiction, Spanish Literature · Tags: , , ,

There is something about the short but powerful novel that I love. I look forward to immersing myself in an emotional and thought-provoking world, one that hits you with a wallop of depth in just a few sittings. These books often have the ability to stay with me more than the longest of epics. The Albanian Affairs by Susana Fortes is just this sort of novel. Originally published in Spanish as El amante albanes, and now translated by Leland H. Chambers by McPherson & Company (an indie press with a fantastic catalog), The Albanian Affairs manages to offer lust, love, political history, and family intrigue all in a mere 180 pages.
The story takes place in an Albanian villa full of family secrets. Ismail, the youngest son, is growing more and more curious over the death of his Spanish mother when he was only a boy. He also finds himself tormented by the presence of his older brother’s new wife, the first woman to reside in their family in many years. He and Helena find themselves drawn to each other – too much. At the same time he struggles against his growing feelings for his brother’s wife, he begins to unravel his mother’s story.

The Albanian Affairs is a passionate work that is painted rather than written. The language is stunning leaving me to marvel at the translation, and the backdrop of an Albania under the dictatorship of Enver Hoxha makes for a dark and moving novel. 

As for McPherson & Company, there are a few publishers out there that make me drool over their book list like a kid with a department store Christmas catalog. This is one of them. If you love translated works and unique literature as much as I do, you learn to follow the indie publishers as much as your favorite authors, and McPherson & Company is one I like to keep my eye on.

Read the first two chapters of The Albanian Affairs online.

The Painter from Shanghai by Jennifer Cody Epstein – Book Giveaway

15. August 2008 · 53 comments · Categories: Book Review and Giveaway · Tags: , ,


I’ve been wanting to review books either written by Chinese authors or containing a Chinese setting, but until recently, I haven’t really seen many. Now I have a few waiting on my “to-be-reviewed” shelf; I suppose we can credit this interest to the Beijing Olympics. Lately we’ve all had a little glimpse into different aspects of Chinese life and culture. For me, The Painter from Shanghai has been more than a glimpse; it has been a riveting history lesson hidden between the pages of an amazing story.

Jennifer Cody Epstein took her fascination with the Chinese painter Pan Yuliang and turned it into a well-written, painstakingly researched story that gives us a vivid portrait of what this artist’s life may have been like. Although we don’t know a lot of detail about Pan Yuliang, we do know she was orphaned and sold into prostitution, and that she was rescued by a man who took a special interest in her. There are other skeletal details, but Epstein has filled in the picture to add flesh and muscle. Pan Yuliang and her early 1900′s China leaps to life and keeps every one of the over 400 pages burning with tales of art, Chinese culture, and one woman’s struggle to become the artist society says she has no right to be.

Having been to art school, I appreciated Epstein’s ability to comfortably write about art and the technical aspects of painting and drawing. As an avid reader, I was impressed with her knack for making these technical tidbits flow through a story, without dragging the reader through any dull sections. Everything flowed effortlessly in a way that will allow any reader to follow the pace set.

Want to win your own copy of The Painter from Shanghai? I’ve got your ticket to China via typeface, so leave me a comment and good luck!

3 Ways to Win:

1.) Leave a comment telling me if you know anything of Chinese art or culture. What interests you most about either? Have fun with your comment! Winners are randomly chosen, but if the name drawn doesn’t respond, I choose the next winner by comment.

2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.

Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Friday, August 22, 2008, to enter.

Published by W.W. Norton & Company.

The Death of the Poem – Book Giveaway

14. August 2008 · 60 comments · Categories: Book Giveaway, Poetry · Tags: , , ,


Not too long ago, I reviewed a fantastic book of poetry called The Death of the Poem and Other Paragraphs. I’m happy to be able to share that book a little further, as I now have a copy to give away to one of you. (If you haven’t read the review yet, please do. Oh, and that’s Justin Courter over there on the left.)

Just a few months ago, I considered myself a sort of non-poetry person, and I always felt bad about that. I’d given up on poetry, cast it aside, called it names, and – well, I was neglectful of Mr. Poetry. But through the development of this blog, I’ve come to grow quite a fondness for the guy, and I encourage you to do the same thing too. After all, we need a little poetry in our lives. Everything is so fast-paced. But slowing down to contemplate a poem doesn’t need to be the ho-hum so many people imagine. They can be edgy, hysterical, thought-provoking.  They can be a Courter poem.

Remember being a kid and first discovering Shel Silverstein (if you happen to be of that generation)? How many weeks did you have to wait for it to be your turn to rent one of those books from the school library? And how cool were you, toting around your copy of A Light in the Attic? My friend, you can still be cool and tote poetry at the same time. I shall help you. I shall give away a copy – no wait, I’ll give away two copies – of The Death of the Poem. But you’ve got to do a little something for me. Leave me a comment, if this is how you’re going to enter, and tell me about either your childhood memories of poetry (good or bad) or your adult views of poetry (good or bad). If you hate the stuff, that’s okay. I see that you’re trying–you are entering to win a poetry book after all. I don’t think Justin Courter will mind either. He’s not your average poet.

3 Ways to Win:

1.) Leave a comment telling me either your childhood memories of poetry (good or bad) or your adult views of poetry (good or bad).  It’s okay–you can tell me.

2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.

Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Friday, August 22, 2008, to enter.

The Book of Marie by Terry Kay

13. August 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Book Reviews, Fiction · Tags: , , ,


Cole needs to sort out his feelings about what happened in his complicated past. He’s facing his 50-year class reunion, and with that come the questions, the flashbacks, the story of a girl he knew so long ago. She touched his life much more deeply than he seems to be willing to admit, and here she is again, resurfacing. Way back when, in a 1950′s Georgia town, she exploded on the scene with her “controversial” viewpoints about the South, civil rights, and even Cole himself. She never was liked, but she was right–no one forgot her.

The Book of Marie is an aching and heartfelt novel that flashes back and forth between the present day and the events of 50 years ago, giving the reader an interesting perspective on how a life can change so much over the years, and how it stays the same despite the passage of time. I loved the setting of high school in the pre-civil rights South, and the relationship between Cole and Marie kept me riveted to the book.

Terry Kay is an accomplished author with a long line of books to his credit. For me, reading The Book of Marie is only the first of many Terry Kay works I intend on reading. The quality of the writing style and the sensitivity towards his characters have me wishing I would have discovered his sooner, but glad I finally did. He has a real mastery for storytelling, and I can recommend it with confidence. My only warning: Finish the book alone and with tissue nearby. If nothing else, you’ll be sorry to see this one end.

Published by Mercer University Press.

The Poetry of Kemal Faruquee

13. August 2008 · Comments Off · Categories: Book Talk, Interesting Links · Tags: , ,

We’ve been talking about poetry around here quite a bit lately. So when Kemal Faruquee asked me to check out his poetry website, Kemal Poems, I just had to take a look. Kemal started his site in 2004, and he’s filled it with the poetry he’s written. Kemal’s books, Naive Lip and The Uptake of the Disappointment Concept, are both available on his site.  But you can also peruse his site and get plenty of poetry for free if you’re in need of a little fix. Since I seem to be on a mission as of late to bring people back into poetry, a site like this may be just what you need to get your toes back in the prose. (And there is a prime example of why I am not a poet.)

One interesting feature on Kemal’s site is the “New Additions and Poem Genres” category.  By clicking on links such as Birthday Poems or Friendship Poems, Kemal is starting a collection of poetry for many occasions.  He even encourages readers to send in some they’ve found and would like to share, so if you’ve written some or found a gem, he may just post it for you.

And how is the poetry of Kemal Faruquee?  I rather enjoyed reading through them.  There’s something of a rambling melodic quality about it that I found made it easy to fall into the flow of the poem.  In particular, I was drawn to Imagining Myself an Old Man.  It’s romantic and sentimental without the sugary sweetness that can sometimes trip up a poet.  Overall, his poems are worth a look–and like I said they’re free.  If you’re just meandering around the poetry pool,  Kemal Poems is offering you Free Swim Day.  Kick off those flip flops and jump in.

Pegasus at the Plow by Patrick Walker – Review & Giveaway

05. August 2008 · 48 comments · Categories: Book Review and Giveaway, Poetry · Tags: ,

And the winner is…. Ed!  Thanks, Ed, for being a longtime visitor.  Hope you like the book!

I swore I’d never do it. When I started carp(e) libris reviews, I swore I wouldn’t review a book that was self-published. After all, the risk is great. Sure, there are some award-winning self-published books out there, but it just seemed a gamble. So when I got an email from the wife of a poet, a woman who published her husband’s work because she so believed in it,   curiosity got the best of me and I checked the author’s website. After reading a couple of his poems online, I thought, “What is carp(e) libris reviews for, anyway, if not to discover writers we might otherwise never hear of?” I wasn’t sorry. Patrick Walker is an excellent poet with over 35 years of poetry writing to share.

Pegasus at the Plow is a poetry collection with a truly unique voice. The style is most decidedly classical, and although you can somehow envision a dashing Robin Hood reciting them to his Maid Marian, the subject matter is often ironically modern. I really enjoyed the melding of old and new; how many poems of his did I read wondering how they’d be set to music? Yes, it would have to be to the sounds of a lute and a drum, methinks. (Oh, gosh. Did I just say “methinks”?) A wonderful feature of this book is the artwork, done by Patrick’s talented wife Virginia Cody, who he refers to as a force of nature. The sketches throughout complement the poetry, making the book as a whole a desirable addition to the poet-lover’s collection.

If you’re a poetry lover and you’d like to experience this book firsthand, I have an autographed copy that Patrick Walker was gracious enough to send along for one of you. Just follow the rules below.

3 Ways to Win:

1.) Leave a comment telling me if you usually read poetry, and if so, who are your favorites?

2.) Email subscribers are entered into this and all future giveaways, for as long as their subscription is active. Simply place your email address in the little white box at the top of my sidebar on the right. (Please make sure to verify your Feedburner subscription by responding to the email they send you. If you don’t receive it, check your junk mail. Only verified subscriptions are entered for all the giveaways.)

3.) Blog about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to this post. Come back and leave me a Comment with a link to your blog post.

Do all three, and you’ve got three entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Friday, August 8, 2008, to enter.

Sitting Practice by Caroline Adderson

04. August 2008 · 2 comments · Categories: Book Reviews, Canadian Literature, Fiction · Tags: ,


Ross was completely enveloped in love for Iliana. He’d finally found the love of his life, so he married her. They were barely starting their first year of marriage when a brutal accident turned their lives, and their expectations, on end. Iliana, now paralyzed from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair, was looking at life from a whole new angle. And Ross? Ross was laden with the guilt of having caused the accident.

If you’ve ever wondered what life would be like after being yanked off you gravitational center, Sitting Practice sure gives you a good look at the possibilities. They say we don’t really learn who we are until we’ve been through a fire, but for most of us it takes much longer than the fire itself. For most of us, we have to wait for the smoke to clear just to get our bearings. For Ross and Iliana, this is every bit the truth.

Sitting Practice is filled to overflowing with likable, realistically flawed and spiritual characters, with a story line that keeps your head in the book even when it’s regretfully closed. Adderson has a knack for conveying life-giving detail in her writings, making the reader wonder just how many shoes she’s walked in to offer such realistic points of view. From Iliana’s day-to-day experiences in a wheelchair to the simple toddler behavior of Ross’ nephew, each part is played out in vivid 3-D. Sitting Practice is certainly a touching and entrancing look into some of life’s more painful lessons.

Published by Trumpeter Books.