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unojaden's review against another edition
I’ve decided to dnf this for now because I don’t see myself picking it up again anytime very soon.
lauraew333's review
1.0
I was enjoying this until I reached the poems "Victoria's Secret" and "Taking Off Emily Dickinson's Clothes." The titles really say all you need to know.
racheladventure's review
5.0
I enjoyed this book of poems. Collins has a way of making the ordinary magical. Here are my favorite poems from this collection:
Walking Across the Atlantic (pg 4)
Introduction to Poetry (pg 16)
Forgetfulness (pg 29)
Consolation (pg 47)
Piano Lessons
Fishing on the Susquehanna in July
Victoria's Secret (109)
Lines Lost Among Trees (117)
Taking off Emily Dickson's Clothes (119)
Aristotle (132) [this was my favorite of the entire volume]
Walking Across the Atlantic (pg 4)
Introduction to Poetry (pg 16)
Forgetfulness (pg 29)
Consolation (pg 47)
Piano Lessons
Fishing on the Susquehanna in July
Victoria's Secret (109)
Lines Lost Among Trees (117)
Taking off Emily Dickson's Clothes (119)
Aristotle (132) [this was my favorite of the entire volume]
colinthegreatandpowerful's review
5.0
Billy Collins has always been one of my favourite poets for his minimalist style, clever turns of wit, and thoughtful concepts. And so, I'm happy to report that this collection has not failed to succeed the others in making me laugh, think, and cry.
jjordankc's review
4.0
I am NOT one to enjoy or even appreciate poetry. However, my sister loves it and gave "The Trouble with Poetry" to my parents for Christmas. I picked this up for a friend and read through it and LOVED it. Marginalia is probably my most favorite, but so many of them are great. His poetry is very accessible even to those who don't enjoy poetry. Beautiful!!
rudyyy's review
5.0
I loved discovering Billy Collins! I remember liking the one about the Man in the Moon, Schoolsville, Insomnia and many more! So tongue in cheek. Reminded me or reading Shel Silverstein and similar poets as a child where the poem is often just about a silly imagined scenario.
alpal2020's review
3.0
Lovely, but very male, by which I mean not very universal. If you think of poetry as a window into the mind of the poet, you will love his beautiful mind! If you think of poetry as a window into what it means to be human, or a way to understand your own experience, you may not love it. Unless you're exactly like him, I suppose.
kurtwombat's review
5.0
SAILING ALONE AROUND THE ROOM saved me as a reader of poetry. I had never read a lot of poetry, but I at least visited now and again. Before this book, it had been a long time since reading favorites such as Anne Sexton or Pablo Neruda. If reading poetry requires a particular muscle--I had let mine atrophy. Then I heard an interview of the author Billy Collins that included his reading some poetry. Suddenly the years of my not reading poetry that felt so insurmountable fell away. Poetry made sense to me again. I leapt upon the first book of his I could find (fortunately this one) and was amazed at his ability to be humorous one moment, incredibly touching the next and sometimes both at the same time. I can’t recommend this enough—it is accessible for people just getting into poetry but also sturdy enough for people who have read their share.
blakehalsey's review
4.0
Billy Collins is a must for any lover of poetry in the modern world. While he doesn't quite "paint with words" as much as some other poets might, therein lies his strength--he writes what is real, what one can relate to, what is experienced and dreamed.