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mattdube's review
3.0
Kind of an interesting read-- Spaar-- and again I can only go on the evidence of this book-- writes a kind of Dickinsonian line, with lots of category words, or those that refer to abstract or deep concepts, the kinds of things earlier writers would've capitalized. I think Spaar's verse suffers in comparison to Dickinson, though I think that's hardly a surprise... The capitalization thing is maybe significant because I think there's a strong core of belief in Dickinson, to sort of back up her abstractions, but Spaar has a harder time making that case, in our later more disbelieving age. I think there's then a creeping doubt, a suspicion that conviction maybe isn't enough, in these poems. That said, there are really good poems here, and if you like your lines clotted, you've got that here-- these are bumpy, rhythmic poems, and some of them are, gasp, pretty sexy.
aml44's review
5.0
Astonishingly good poetry, vivid and with great depth of emotion. Spaar's observations and use of language are remarkable.