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samantha_reads_more's review against another edition
4.0
Reread this as part of a work reading challenge, and honestly I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time I read it.
I love the idea of hearing from a whole community after death. It allows for freedom in storytelling, as well as continuity throughout it. Idk, I just really enjoyed it.
I love the idea of hearing from a whole community after death. It allows for freedom in storytelling, as well as continuity throughout it. Idk, I just really enjoyed it.
ifthebook's review against another edition
1.0
Dull. Boring. Repetitive. There were a few epitaphs that I liked, but overall this was a true struggle to get through, which is rather amazing considering how short it is.
elettraelettra's review against another edition
4.0
Ero un pochino spaventata all'idea di leggere un libro di poesie... ma mi sono tranquilizzata immediatamente, il libro è assolutamente godibile anche senza una preparazione di qualsiasi tipo.
Le poesie sono quasi tutte facilmente comprensibili e in alcuni casi sono anche divertenti!
Consigliato: sì.
Le poesie sono quasi tutte facilmente comprensibili e in alcuni casi sono anche divertenti!
Consigliato: sì.
bibliotess's review against another edition
2.0
"It's the way the people regard the theft of the apple that makes the boy what he is."
aneides's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the concept, and parts of it were great. People's final statements about their lives often revealed all sides of a town's scandals and that was kind of cool. It might be fun to map out the people who mention each other in sort of a visual way, to see the connections and try to draw out a history that way, and I am sure it has been done in countless lit classes. However, I think this book was far too long, and the more high-falutin poems (including the two at the end, the Spooniad and I think the epilogue) were difficult to pay attention to. I read a lot of them without understanding or caring about the metaphors or references to history or various texts. Perhaps someday I'll reread. It might be better the second time.
jramm's review against another edition
4.0
After a full summer battling Infinite Jest (and thoroughly enjoying it), this book was welcome relief. It is a mix of homespun wisdom and incredibly insightful commentary. While very accessible, Masters is astute. He has a lot to say about living, death, and regret (and a surprising amount on lawyers). This is the kind of book you can give to your Grandma, with a nice note that says "I love you," and then have something to discuss over the holidays as you help her wash the dishes.
On morality's drive, for instance, from Sexsmith the Dentist: "Why, a moral truth is a hollow tooth / Which must be propped with gold." Some wisdom from old Lucinda Matlock: "What is this I hear of sorrow and weariness, / Anger, discontent and drooping hopes? / Degenerate sons and daughters, Life is too strong for you -- / It takes life to love Life." And something about living from Davis Matlock: "Well, I say to live it out like a God / Sure of immortal life, though you are in doubt, / Is the way to live it. / If that doesn't make God proud of you / Then God is nothing but gravitation, / Or sleep is the golden goal."
I'm now heeding the call of George Gray: "To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, / But life without meaning is the torture / Of restlessness and vague desire -- / It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid." And I'm living life as Fiddler Jones, my acreage be damned (you'll have to read that one on your own: http://tiny.cc/796r5).
On morality's drive, for instance, from Sexsmith the Dentist: "Why, a moral truth is a hollow tooth / Which must be propped with gold." Some wisdom from old Lucinda Matlock: "What is this I hear of sorrow and weariness, / Anger, discontent and drooping hopes? / Degenerate sons and daughters, Life is too strong for you -- / It takes life to love Life." And something about living from Davis Matlock: "Well, I say to live it out like a God / Sure of immortal life, though you are in doubt, / Is the way to live it. / If that doesn't make God proud of you / Then God is nothing but gravitation, / Or sleep is the golden goal."
I'm now heeding the call of George Gray: "To put meaning in one's life may end in madness, / But life without meaning is the torture / Of restlessness and vague desire -- / It is a boat longing for the sea and yet afraid." And I'm living life as Fiddler Jones, my acreage be damned (you'll have to read that one on your own: http://tiny.cc/796r5).
ghumpherys's review against another edition
2.0
This was our most recent book club selection and it wasn't my favorite. At times I felt like I was wading through a college assignment trying to make sense of some of the poems, and overall, it was just pretty negative and depressing. There were a handful of the poems (monologues from people buried in the cemetery of a small town) that I really liked, but overall there were too many that dealt with affairs, murders and basically the lifeview that God isn't important and there is no purpose to life.