Reviews

Ten Windows: How Great Poems Transform the World by Jane Hirshfield

gijs's review against another edition

4.0

Very well written and thought-through meditation on the nature and ways of poetry; a nearly impossible to pin-down (or pen-down?) literary art form. One of my favorite observations;

‘Many good poems have a kind of window-moment in them—they change their direction of gaze in a way that suddenly opens a broadened landscape of meaning and feeling. Encountering such a moment, the reader breathes in some new infusion, as steeply perceptible as any physical window’s increase of light, scent, sound, or air. The gesture is one of lifting, unlatching, releasing; mind and attention swing open to new-peeled vistas.’

mezekial's review

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

Hirshfield is an incredible guide and teacher, both in life and in this particular collection of essays. She is the kind of writer that get's me excited to return to my craft, with fresh knowledge of just how deep and necessary the craft is.

Great for students of poetry, both inside of and outside of academia.

abetterjulie's review against another edition

4.0

This book took the entire forever to read, but not because it wasn't brilliant and beautiful. It was like eating a fancy fifteen-course meal. Tiny nibbles at a time, much discussion and thoughtful staring into space between, and then another bite to chew and swallow. This book is written intelligently and gorgeously, and as such, it is almost a poem in itself. I learned much from it, and I'm sure if I re-read it, I'd learn even more. I particularly enjoyed her breakdown and analysis of sample poems. My biggest complaint about this book was the binding. It was very stiff, and I had trouble keeping it open while reading. It caused hand pain, and would be frustrating and impossible for someone with rheumatoid arthritis. I realize that's a weird thing to notice, but when you have chronic pain, those things become important. It would be fabulous rebound in something that lay flat because then you could slow down more and take notes in the margins!

thewintersings's review

challenging informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

bekahpaige's review

3.0

I am torn about my rating for this one, or even if I should rate it. Some of the chapters I really liked. I thought Hirshfield was at her best when describing the HISTORICAL and cultural significance of poems, such as the haiku chapter. She was also really good at picking out poems that were powerful that I had not read or come across before. Other chapters literally put me to sleep faster than a narcotic. And a few chapters set my teeth on edge, the worst examples of pretentious, narcissistic navel-gazing of poets as superior beings that I haven't came across since my days as an English literature major. I skimmed some chapters and mainly went for the poems, then ignored her long boring "explanations" of them. I guess I will split the difference and give her a 3 star rating.

abetterjulie's review

4.0

This book took the entire forever to read, but not because it wasn't brilliant and beautiful. It was like eating a fancy fifteen-course meal. Tiny nibbles at a time, much discussion and thoughtful staring into space between, and then another bite to chew and swallow. This book is written intelligently and gorgeously, and as such, it is almost a poem in itself. I learned much from it, and I'm sure if I re-read it, I'd learn even more. I particularly enjoyed her breakdown and analysis of sample poems. My biggest complaint about this book was the binding. It was very stiff, and I had trouble keeping it open while reading. It caused hand pain, and would be frustrating and impossible for someone with rheumatoid arthritis. I realize that's a weird thing to notice, but when you have chronic pain, those things become important. It would be fabulous rebound in something that lay flat because then you could slow down more and take notes in the margins!