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serp's review
informative
inspiring
4.0
Brilliant for understanding poetry forms, with a wonderful and varied selections of poems. I think it would have been better had there been a little more explanation and analysis, but overall it's a fantastic book that I would recommend to both writers and readers of poetry.
pearseanderson's review
3.0
I don't know why I bought this. We only had t read 90 pages for Dan Chaon's 201 Prose/Poetry workshop. Goddammit, I don't really want this book. It's an academic anthology, Christ. So, uh, it was interesting I guess, I could've used a bit more analysis, but I guess that's the teacher's job? It, uh, really had some examples and a lot of them and some had different styles. So cool, it did it's job, it didn't give me any love, I'm going to file it away forever now somewhere. Cool, cool, a limp 7/10.
nicreadsbooks's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, although I was probably jumping between chapters to refer to the other poetic forms. Quite informative, especially the mini-essays on how different writers/poets have revolutionised the different poetic forms.
hannahvwarren's review
3.0
I've used this book to teach entry-level poets within the university, and they receive it well! The books lays out common poetic forms with examples and clear directions. The only downfall is that it doesn't often contain contemporary poetry but instead relies on older works. I often supplement this compilation with newer poems.
golivia's review
1.0
Requires reading for lit class. It has examples and basic instructions on how to write a sonnet, villanelle ect. But the instructions I could've found anywhere else...this is nothing special. Disappointing. 2/5
Update 09/2020
I changed my mind, this is hot garbage, don't buy it it's not worth your money.
Update 09/2020
I changed my mind, this is hot garbage, don't buy it it's not worth your money.
nhayner's review
4.0
This was really informative and I appreciated the examples it lent for each form. The poems included really allowed me to visualize the form and its variations. I just wish they had spent more time on each form instead of having thirty pages of famous poems between each chapter. It got really redundant annotating and analyzing those poems for class.
robk's review
3.0
It sort of feels like Strand ran out of steam as this anthology neared its final sections. In the beginning, Strand would identify a poetic form, explain the historical and contemporary contexts, provide some well-selected examples of each form, and then supply an 'up-close' reading of one poem. When part two arrived, Strand wrote about meter, but did not provide any examples, or much help at all. The entire section on meter was two pages long. Must find another book on meter, I suppose. The third and final section was on shaping forms, and Strand's commentary was scant.
As an anthology, this book is a success. As a textbook, not at all. It doesn't claim to be a text book, but the title implies a little more discussion on craftsmanship. I loved Strand's selections, many of which were new to me, but I would have liked a little more education to go along with them.
As an anthology, this book is a success. As a textbook, not at all. It doesn't claim to be a text book, but the title implies a little more discussion on craftsmanship. I loved Strand's selections, many of which were new to me, but I would have liked a little more education to go along with them.