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jshusteval's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
5.0
osynligabarnet's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Love it!
evelynverne's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first collection I’ve read of Rilke’s, and I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t have started with this one. I really liked most of the Elegies, I think they had a lot of great images and ideas. I underlined a lot of lines. I wasn’t as hyped about the Sonnets to Orpheus, though. I think I was expecting Rilke to talk to Orpheus more, so that may be why I was a bit disappointed. I think I want to re-read this collection again in the future, possibly after I’ve read more from Rilke, then I’ll have a better grasp on his style. Anyway, thought this was just solidly good. Also really liked that it had both the English and the original German.
sundrawn's review against another edition
4.0
The Duino Elegies is one of my most treasured texts ever.
moreteamorecats's review
5.0
Poulin's translation makes certain different choices than I might. For example, "Weltsraum" tends to become "cosmic space". This material is certainly susceptible to New Age or deep-ecology readings; my own, naturally, tend to be more para-Christian than anything. Matter of taste perhaps. At a technical level, on the other hand, I have to admire Poulin managing to keep an English sonnet rhyme scheme in his translations while still keeping a sense of the German's freedom.
All that said, the point here is the poems themselves, which are incomparably rich meditations on embodiment, time, and mortality, with a healthy side of angels and gods. Someday, I'll write something about angels, apocalypse, and the nature of human worship. It will draw on Rilke here, and [a:Walter Benjamin|1860|Walter Benjamin|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1225048463p2/1860.jpg], and [a:Tony Kushner|35822|Tony Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209471902p2/35822.jpg], and Messiaen, and Neon Genesis Evangelion, and it will be fabulous.
All that said, the point here is the poems themselves, which are incomparably rich meditations on embodiment, time, and mortality, with a healthy side of angels and gods. Someday, I'll write something about angels, apocalypse, and the nature of human worship. It will draw on Rilke here, and [a:Walter Benjamin|1860|Walter Benjamin|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1225048463p2/1860.jpg], and [a:Tony Kushner|35822|Tony Kushner|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1209471902p2/35822.jpg], and Messiaen, and Neon Genesis Evangelion, and it will be fabulous.
natalielorelei's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely fucking transcendent. Painfully, perfectly beautiful.
piccoline's review against another edition
5.0
I imagine I will continue returning to these poems always.