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knitter22's review
3.0
I rarely read publishers' blurbs anymore because they are too often way off the mark. I definitely should have looked at the one for 100 Poems to Break Your Heart more closely though. I was expecting a compilation of poetry for times of grief or sadness, and while it is that, it is also quite dense and full of analysis. Edward Hirsch has chosen 100 poems and arranged them chronologically, from 1815 to 2018, with poems from many diverse sources. There were several that really spoke to me, such as Sharon Olds' "The Race", Kate Daniels' "The Addict's Mother", and Patricia Smith's "Ethel's Sestina". The last one is about Hurricane Katrina, and begins "Ethel Freeman's body sat for days in her wheelchair outside the New Orleans Convention Center." It is indeed heartbreaking.
I would have preferred a more modern collection of poems with less analysis that would have allowed me to develop my own thoughts about the poems, but this is a good volume to choose if you are looking for plenty of grief ("We are not so much diminished as enlarged by grief") and analysis to go along with it.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
I would have preferred a more modern collection of poems with less analysis that would have allowed me to develop my own thoughts about the poems, but this is a good volume to choose if you are looking for plenty of grief ("We are not so much diminished as enlarged by grief") and analysis to go along with it.
Thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
kellenk's review
1.0
I write this review to tell you that you should not expect to experience poems in their truest most heartbreaking ways if you read this book. Instead, Hirsch wants to tell you his complete and total analysis of the poem and it’s emotions rather than letting you feel it yourself.
I wouldn’t’ve minded reading the poem and then Hirsch’s analysis, but instead, he breaks sonnets and poems up and holds them under a microscope instead of just letting them be poems.
I wouldn’t’ve minded reading the poem and then Hirsch’s analysis, but instead, he breaks sonnets and poems up and holds them under a microscope instead of just letting them be poems.
oviyabalan's review
2.0
I was hoping the explanations to be precise and brief. It was an okay-ish read.
On a positive note, the book definitely covered some great poetry. Appreciate the attempt.
On a positive note, the book definitely covered some great poetry. Appreciate the attempt.
alishreads's review
3.0
Name: 100 Poems to Break Your Heart
Author: Edward Hirsch
Genre: Poetry, Love, Loss, Death, Longing
Rating: 4/5
Review:
This book is an anthology of heart touching poems of pain and loss by some of the most popular poets like Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, John Keats, Thomas Hardy, John Berrymen, Anne Sexton and many more. The author has done a critical analysis of each poetry and gives us an insight of the poet's mindset while writing the poem. This is a wonderful collection of poetry, which I loved to read. Each poetry is an amazing peice of work which leave us lost in thoughts.
Author: Edward Hirsch
Genre: Poetry, Love, Loss, Death, Longing
Rating: 4/5
Review:
This book is an anthology of heart touching poems of pain and loss by some of the most popular poets like Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, John Keats, Thomas Hardy, John Berrymen, Anne Sexton and many more. The author has done a critical analysis of each poetry and gives us an insight of the poet's mindset while writing the poem. This is a wonderful collection of poetry, which I loved to read. Each poetry is an amazing peice of work which leave us lost in thoughts.
gray_ghost's review
5.0
Collected poems that provides context and analysis. But also they offer heartache and tears.
annebennett1957's review
4.0
Finishing this book, I feel like a deserve some sort of award. Weighing in at over 500 pages I have to confess I thought I'd never finish it. The poems for the most part pulled me on. The analysis of said poems often left me flat, though I do appreciate Edward Hirsch's depth of understanding of poetry in all its forms. Unfortunately for me I was living with a broken heart as I read these poems to break my heart. Perhaps I need to explore Hirsch's other books to see if he has something similar on a more uplifting topic.
My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2022/04/three-poetry-book-reviews.html
My review: https://headfullofbooks.blogspot.com/2022/04/three-poetry-book-reviews.html
trin_ney18's review
2.0
2/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending this book my way. This in no way influences my thoughts or opinions.
Reading the title of this book, I was really excited because I do love collections of poetry. Personally, I feel reading poetry is incredibly subjective so there is no guarantee that you'll love any of the poems found within this collection. However, I will say that this collection was amazing with its breadth of different times and voices represented.
I was not expecting an in-depth analysis of each work. I had been missing my discussions that we had in my various college literature courses and that was very reminiscent of the breakdown that we would have. If that's what you're into then absolutely go for it and pick this up. But it also makes for some really dense reading and it's sort of a niche topic that not every reader is going to want to pick up.
I got what I wanted out of it, I found some new poems that I really connect with. Other than that, I don't have any strong feelings either way for this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for sending this book my way. This in no way influences my thoughts or opinions.
Reading the title of this book, I was really excited because I do love collections of poetry. Personally, I feel reading poetry is incredibly subjective so there is no guarantee that you'll love any of the poems found within this collection. However, I will say that this collection was amazing with its breadth of different times and voices represented.
I was not expecting an in-depth analysis of each work. I had been missing my discussions that we had in my various college literature courses and that was very reminiscent of the breakdown that we would have. If that's what you're into then absolutely go for it and pick this up. But it also makes for some really dense reading and it's sort of a niche topic that not every reader is going to want to pick up.
I got what I wanted out of it, I found some new poems that I really connect with. Other than that, I don't have any strong feelings either way for this book.
kburns2004's review
3.0
Haven't ever really gotten into poetry, was hoping to use this as a jumping-off point. I really appreciated how the author broke down the poems to make them easier to understand. It's not a book for me, but I can see how others would enjoy it.