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ebree123's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful, stirring book that made me want to get off of my butt and go write things.
inkstainedlife's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read, ever.
kazen's review against another edition
4.0
Ruhl is a playwright, but she originally wanted to be a poet. ("I began to think there was a kind of equation for playwrights—indifferent-to-bad poets made good playwrights," she writes.) Ritvo tried his hand at writing plays in Ruhl's class but quickly returned to poetry. They kept in touch, writing emails between visits and poetry readings. Ruhl adds context when letters miss some of the story - when Ritvo's cancer returns, the treatments he goes through, and the joys they share when they are able to meet in person.
Going into this book I was expecting the letters, expecting the cancer, expecting the thoughts about life and finding meaning.
I was not expecting the poetry.
They send poems back and forth, first ditties written long ago or in stolen moments, but they evolve and add another layer to the correspondence. Images posited in letters, something as simple as the comfort of soup, are transformed when put into verse. It's like I've been given the key to their shorthand, and a key to their linguistic hearts.
I connected with some of the poems more than others. I especially liked Ruhl's - the images, the language, and the friendship-ly love hit me in the gut. Ritvo's poetry doesn't have the same punch but his letters make me think all the same.
My eyes sometimes glossed over with the religious talk, but it's neat seeing things from the perspective of a Catholic turned Buddhist and a Jewish boy turned atheist. Your mileage will likely vary.
A touching, beautiful look at the end of a life through the eyes of two poets. Bring some tissues.
Going into this book I was expecting the letters, expecting the cancer, expecting the thoughts about life and finding meaning.
I was not expecting the poetry.
Some loop closed by old age,
the droop of an old man's head
conferring a measure of acceptance,
head already looking at the ground, thinking:
when will a hole open up
and I'll fall into it?
(Ruhl)
They send poems back and forth, first ditties written long ago or in stolen moments, but they evolve and add another layer to the correspondence. Images posited in letters, something as simple as the comfort of soup, are transformed when put into verse. It's like I've been given the key to their shorthand, and a key to their linguistic hearts.
I connected with some of the poems more than others. I especially liked Ruhl's - the images, the language, and the friendship-ly love hit me in the gut. Ritvo's poetry doesn't have the same punch but his letters make me think all the same.
When I see you I am happy
even when you're sad.
Meet me at the carousel
in this life or the next.
Meet me at the carousel
I'll be wearing red.
(Ruhl)
My eyes sometimes glossed over with the religious talk, but it's neat seeing things from the perspective of a Catholic turned Buddhist and a Jewish boy turned atheist. Your mileage will likely vary.
A touching, beautiful look at the end of a life through the eyes of two poets. Bring some tissues.
recollections's review against another edition
4.5
"the opening and closing of my mouth is an attempt to fill my face with thought as kind and neat and unshaking as you." — max ritvo
what can i say except ouch and thank you? it is so funny at times as well as heartwrenching.
so...they're both writers. first he's her student, then they're just people who write and a beautiful friendship bloosoms. as the book and max's illness progress the letters become longer and more pensive, shifting mostly toward the topic of mortality (and aliveness). i got to much out of this book, these minds... isn't that the best a writer can do? give you, gift you, something, some thoughts? both sarah and max sure did and i am very grateful.
what can i say except ouch and thank you? it is so funny at times as well as heartwrenching.
so...they're both writers. first he's her student, then they're just people who write and a beautiful friendship bloosoms. as the book and max's illness progress the letters become longer and more pensive, shifting mostly toward the topic of mortality (and aliveness). i got to much out of this book, these minds... isn't that the best a writer can do? give you, gift you, something, some thoughts? both sarah and max sure did and i am very grateful.
freethefreckle's review against another edition
3.0
The reader needs to be two things to truly enjoy and draw insight from this book:
1. Be in an emotionally raw state, or able to get into one quickly
2. Interested in poetry
This is a book that can be easily burned through, its collection of short emails, updates on Max, poems. But it should not be. The language and ideas contained ask the reader to contemplate, reflect, question. My only regret is that I did not read this on my ereader so that I could more easily search the frequent references to unfamiliar authors, playwrights, poets, and Buddhist beliefs.
1. Be in an emotionally raw state, or able to get into one quickly
2. Interested in poetry
This is a book that can be easily burned through, its collection of short emails, updates on Max, poems. But it should not be. The language and ideas contained ask the reader to contemplate, reflect, question. My only regret is that I did not read this on my ereader so that I could more easily search the frequent references to unfamiliar authors, playwrights, poets, and Buddhist beliefs.
kaleskorner's review against another edition
5.0
What a special, beautiful book. I am a huge fan of Sarah Ruhl. As a young playwright, I admired her and wanted her to basically be her. I read her essays which I also enjoyed. Then, believe it or not, a colleague at work asked me if I had heard of Sarah Ruhl.
"Heard of her?" I said. "She's one of the best playwright of all time!"
He promptly told me that she wrote this new book that he thought I would enjoy. He was one hundred percent right. I loved this book. Her letters with Max are poignant, prominent, and important. Max was an insightful man. Some of the letters were too long and lethargic and much like reading college essays. However, I was blow away by some of the language. The poetry was extraordinary and beautiful. I wish I could have heard them read it aloud.
I highly recommend this book. It is a unique story about friendship, which I think is wholly underrepresented in literature as a whole. I also am a huge fan of epistolary novels. So this was one of the most perfect books. It shows the natural progression of a friendship, one that we can all cherish and relate to. So much so that you feel you are friends with Sarah and Max by the end of it. I admire their vulnerability at putting this part of their lives out into the world. I am happy it exists.
Conclusion: Keep
"Heard of her?" I said. "She's one of the best playwright of all time!"
He promptly told me that she wrote this new book that he thought I would enjoy. He was one hundred percent right. I loved this book. Her letters with Max are poignant, prominent, and important. Max was an insightful man. Some of the letters were too long and lethargic and much like reading college essays. However, I was blow away by some of the language. The poetry was extraordinary and beautiful. I wish I could have heard them read it aloud.
I highly recommend this book. It is a unique story about friendship, which I think is wholly underrepresented in literature as a whole. I also am a huge fan of epistolary novels. So this was one of the most perfect books. It shows the natural progression of a friendship, one that we can all cherish and relate to. So much so that you feel you are friends with Sarah and Max by the end of it. I admire their vulnerability at putting this part of their lives out into the world. I am happy it exists.
Conclusion: Keep
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