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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
This is a great reference for anyone interested in the writing/teaching of poetry- It has a bit of everything.
PopSugar Challenge 2015: A non-fiction book (x)
PopSugar Challenge 2015: A non-fiction book (x)
This was informative (in regards to form and metre and all the possible precise technicalities of poetry) and Stephen Fry's narrative voice is decently entertaining. Didn't feel any revelations from this. The wishy-washy orientalist tone when describing "exotic" forms (in a very brief mini chapter) was not appreciated.
I wasn't reading this for the purpose of learning to write poetry myself (which is how it addresses the reader to a large extent), but actually that was quite a good way of setting up the book. This also acts quite nicely as a sort of anthology ordered by poetic form. Could not care for Fry's own example poems (which to be fair he is fully self-critical of) and it just dragged on a bit. Still glad I read it.
I wasn't reading this for the purpose of learning to write poetry myself (which is how it addresses the reader to a large extent), but actually that was quite a good way of setting up the book. This also acts quite nicely as a sort of anthology ordered by poetic form. Could not care for Fry's own example poems (which to be fair he is fully self-critical of) and it just dragged on a bit. Still glad I read it.
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
As someone who has done poetry classes and already has an appreciation for poetry, this was a nice refresher on the flesh and bones of poetics. A great way for people new to the form to deep dive into it.
It's a very well-written work, of course, and a great way to learn prosody. But as is always the case with Fry's writing (and speech), I tend to lose track when I'm reading one of those wordy sentences he's so wont to use, and a dictionary close at hand is indispensable.
It took me a while to read this book, not because it's boring, but because it has these Poetry Exercises that take time--that are supposed to take time. At the end, I found myself skipping those because I felt the book was taking more than its due.
It took me a while to read this book, not because it's boring, but because it has these Poetry Exercises that take time--that are supposed to take time. At the end, I found myself skipping those because I felt the book was taking more than its due.
A book that does what it says. If you can't produce something with a smidgen of merit after reading this book then perhaps writing poetry isn't for you. Contains the clearest explanation of metre I have read in a long time. Combined with Fry's sense of humour, its a joy to read through and implement.
funny
informative
slow-paced
Perfect Introduction to the Art
Best introduction to prosody I've found. Fry introduces technical concepts of form, rhyme and meter in an accessible and paced fashion that allows the neophyte to acquire the information more thoroughly than other prosodic manuals. I'd recommend it to any beginner.
Best introduction to prosody I've found. Fry introduces technical concepts of form, rhyme and meter in an accessible and paced fashion that allows the neophyte to acquire the information more thoroughly than other prosodic manuals. I'd recommend it to any beginner.
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I have no inclination towards writing poetry, but I have always wanted to spend more time with it as a reader. This book really opened my eyes to the history and incredibly broad range of categories of poetry. Fry treats the subject with humor, sometimes on the bawdy side; but he is serious about helping you understand so much about poetry if that's what you want. He goes into incredible detail about types of poetry that I've never heard of and will never remember. But he made it easy to understand, and I now have a resource if I ever want to dig into an obscure type of poetry someday.
If you are reading this book and start to bog down, just skip the parts that you find of no interest. For me, I still read it, but the chapter on forms got more involved than I cared about. But the rest of the book, including the "Incomplete" glossary were very helpful and a fun, engaging read.
If you are reading this book and start to bog down, just skip the parts that you find of no interest. For me, I still read it, but the chapter on forms got more involved than I cared about. But the rest of the book, including the "Incomplete" glossary were very helpful and a fun, engaging read.
I want to love it; I don’t. I’m not a poet, and my love of poetry extends to Shakespeare and that’s it. But, Fry writes in a wonderful conversational style that meant I finished the book because it felt less like a book, and more like an enthusiastic one-sided conversation with a friend on their topic of interest. Definite read if you enjoy poetry.