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alanffm's review against another edition
4.0
This collection of poems is so good and I wish I could give it five stars - but I can't. There's just something missing.
Second read:
One of Cohen's darkest books of poetry. The poems in here highlight a very real and tangible depression. Cohen's use of religion is particularly interesting. Judaism - as in many of his other books - is used to explore the inner workings of Cohen's mind. This strategy, for the first time, seems to fail him as his depression runs through all his allusions to the Bible and Jewish history. It is the introduction of a serious dedication to Zen Buddhism that stands out as novel and a (potential) panacea to the overall tone of this book. Placing Cohen in the category of Jubu (Jewish Buddhists) would be an interesting experiment. Like Cohen, many Jews of the post-Holocaust generation found refuge in Eastern religious practices like meditation and the like. Death of a Lady's Man in many ways feels like the inner machinations of someone on this spiritual journey. This hypothesis is further substantiated by the fact that it was at this time that Cohen adopted the Zen lifestyle under the tutelage of a Roshi from Mt. Baldy.
Second read:
One of Cohen's darkest books of poetry. The poems in here highlight a very real and tangible depression. Cohen's use of religion is particularly interesting. Judaism - as in many of his other books - is used to explore the inner workings of Cohen's mind. This strategy, for the first time, seems to fail him as his depression runs through all his allusions to the Bible and Jewish history. It is the introduction of a serious dedication to Zen Buddhism that stands out as novel and a (potential) panacea to the overall tone of this book. Placing Cohen in the category of Jubu (Jewish Buddhists) would be an interesting experiment. Like Cohen, many Jews of the post-Holocaust generation found refuge in Eastern religious practices like meditation and the like. Death of a Lady's Man in many ways feels like the inner machinations of someone on this spiritual journey. This hypothesis is further substantiated by the fact that it was at this time that Cohen adopted the Zen lifestyle under the tutelage of a Roshi from Mt. Baldy.
jayden_mccomiskie's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good book.
The reader of this book thought it was a good book because it was a good book.
The reader of this book thought it was a good book because it was a good book.
jacobinreads's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
What a beautiful, vulgar, haunting, and interesting 'conversation' to sit down and read. Cohen's poetry here isn't my usual cup of tea, but he did it very well. Enjoyed my time with this book.
jany_wants_a_cracker's review
3.0
some of the prose didnt do anything for me, but overall i thought this was a fine collection of thoughts, poetry, metaphors and images.
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