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katiieecat's review
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
Skimmed most of the letters, though some good quotes are in them. I wanted the poetry. Some poems were wonderful but most did nothing for me.
duffypratt's review against another edition
2.0
Bees and calvary.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The poems are short and sharp. The language plain -- understandable on the surface at least, by anyone who speaks English and can think. You don't even need access to a dictionary. And on top of that, she isn't squarely on the university list of "to read" poets (or wasn't when I was at university). In these ways, I have always thought she had a place somewhat akin to, say, Dylan Thomas, or maybe Frost.
And yet, mostly these poems left me feeling a bit cold. I rarely felt moved. More frequently, I was struck by something as being clever or well put. But that's not what I look for in a poem. And for whatever reason, these poems didn't hit me on a deeper level.
I wanted to like this more than I did. The poems are short and sharp. The language plain -- understandable on the surface at least, by anyone who speaks English and can think. You don't even need access to a dictionary. And on top of that, she isn't squarely on the university list of "to read" poets (or wasn't when I was at university). In these ways, I have always thought she had a place somewhat akin to, say, Dylan Thomas, or maybe Frost.
And yet, mostly these poems left me feeling a bit cold. I rarely felt moved. More frequently, I was struck by something as being clever or well put. But that's not what I look for in a poem. And for whatever reason, these poems didn't hit me on a deeper level.
emilyraywaters's review against another edition
5.0
i love emily dickinson and her letters are witty and heartfelt. a must-have for any true fan.
ncsjessy's review against another edition
4.0
The poems included in this selection are so beyond imagination, very often Dickinson's word choices are able to present imaginary so vividly. It was a good read.
laviniag's review against another edition
3.0
Rich in details, poetic, of course, but somehow mixed with day-to-day experiences and little nothings
lauriesand82's review
5.0
A wonderful collection of Dickinson's work for the casual reader. I say "casual", but Dickinson's signature style-- spartan, incisive, at times imaginative to the point of opacity--will always require careful attention from the reader. Reading this collection in the midst ofa global pandemic has been a particularly interesting experience. Being largely confined to home myself (and resentful of that "hardship") highlights how truly eccentric Dickinson was, and how her incredibly deep love for family, friends, and nature carried her through whatever illness physical and/or mental that prevented her from having a more traditional life.
For those looking for more poetry in a similar style, I recommend the haiku of Issa. Although Dickinson's poetry does not follow the rigid format of haiku, it carries the spirit of it: creating vivid word pictures of nature, and often concluding the poem with a humorous or insightful twist that turns the reader's understanding of the poem on its head.
For those looking for more poetry in a similar style, I recommend the haiku of Issa. Although Dickinson's poetry does not follow the rigid format of haiku, it carries the spirit of it: creating vivid word pictures of nature, and often concluding the poem with a humorous or insightful twist that turns the reader's understanding of the poem on its head.
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