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sanmeow's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
4.75
in the pines is such a beautiful collection ... i absolutely loved it and i'm not really sure what to say except that it was amazing. i highlighted so much while reading because of how notley excels in using words to invoke emotion. the way the author addresses pain, loss, and difficult feelings in general is breathtaking. reads like such an honest display of who the author is and how she feels and it touched my heart.
lalpert's review against another edition
5.0
“I'm not too gone to be healed, am I?”
This quote ^ sent me directly to google to find the source, and from there directly to the bookstore to find this book.
I read it in two sittings, only taking a break to breathe and compose myself. Then I read it again.
It’s said that Alice Notley is among the best living American poets. Admittedly, this was the first book of hers I’ve read. The goal “to change writing completely” is undoubtedly accomplished here.
This book was brutal, honest, inspiring, angry, and overall captivating. I could write novels of praise for the way Alice is able to take chances and ignore traditional writing styles while keeping everything symmetrical, meaningful, and striking.
I still think about this book daily, if that tells you anything.
This quote ^ sent me directly to google to find the source, and from there directly to the bookstore to find this book.
I read it in two sittings, only taking a break to breathe and compose myself. Then I read it again.
It’s said that Alice Notley is among the best living American poets. Admittedly, this was the first book of hers I’ve read. The goal “to change writing completely” is undoubtedly accomplished here.
This book was brutal, honest, inspiring, angry, and overall captivating. I could write novels of praise for the way Alice is able to take chances and ignore traditional writing styles while keeping everything symmetrical, meaningful, and striking.
I still think about this book daily, if that tells you anything.
vanessamaria's review against another edition
4.0
"It is time to change writing completely.
You are not doing that.
Wait and see."
Raw and harrowing, Notley puts her pain to paper and constructs a new form of writing in the process. Her work is often confusing because it is something new - I don't believe I ever read anything like this - and so reading it can often feel exhausting but perhaps her pain should feel exhausting. It should be hard to read about it, not easy. However, I understand if people dislike it - I don't believe it is for everyone.
Here are some lines that I particularly loved:
"Because your writing isn't a translation. It is all you are now."
"I am not a woman. I am a luckless thing."
"Momma told me I was happy; she would cry if I wasn't. This is the way this sadness works."
"I'm not too gone to be healed, am I?"
"I have no more woman in me."
"Aren't I defective? The wind is disturbing my heart."
"Why do you keep calling life a defect? / What else call it if you keep trying to fix it?"
"I won't find you in any of these books, so what good is prose?"
You are not doing that.
Wait and see."
Raw and harrowing, Notley puts her pain to paper and constructs a new form of writing in the process. Her work is often confusing because it is something new - I don't believe I ever read anything like this - and so reading it can often feel exhausting but perhaps her pain should feel exhausting. It should be hard to read about it, not easy. However, I understand if people dislike it - I don't believe it is for everyone.
Here are some lines that I particularly loved:
"Because your writing isn't a translation. It is all you are now."
"I am not a woman. I am a luckless thing."
"Momma told me I was happy; she would cry if I wasn't. This is the way this sadness works."
"I'm not too gone to be healed, am I?"
"I have no more woman in me."
"Aren't I defective? The wind is disturbing my heart."
"Why do you keep calling life a defect? / What else call it if you keep trying to fix it?"
"I won't find you in any of these books, so what good is prose?"
richardwells's review against another edition
I have no idea what Alice Notley is writing about. I see this book gets high marks from other readers, but it's incomprehensible to me. I'll keep it nearby and try again, but not with high-hopes. If anybody out there would like to explain this book to me, I'd be more than happy to pay attention.