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bloodravenlib's review against another edition
5.0
This is the short note I made about this book back in 2005 when I read it:
>>This poet is both subversive and fun. It's guys like this that basically piss off right wing conservatives, to put it mildly (haha!). Seriously though, Nicanor Parra is a well known Chilean poet known for his humor and unconventional verse. So, what is antipoetry? Well, simply put it is the opposite of poetry, and yet it is not quite as easy as that. Antipoetry can be understood from the concept of antimatter. In her introduction to the book, Werner writes that "viewed through the lens of antimatter, antipoetry mirrors poetry, not as its adversary but as its complement; it is not by nature negative, but negative where poetry is positive, and vice versa; it is as opposite, complete, and interdependent as the shape left behind in the fabric where the garment has been cut out" (x).
I think that is a great way to look at it, as a complement, and in the case of Parra's work, as a playful poetry. Read why the poet thinks he should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Reading, what's the problem with philosophy (who does the dishes), and admire some visual artefactos (yes, he draws as well). The book is fun to read and reread. For the squeamish, there are some words (yes, he says "shit" and other chosen words of "color"), but nothing a reader can't handle. He addresses life, politics, math, philosophy, women, humor, etc. As an interesting touch, for bilingual readers, do look at the translation, or rather antitranslation. She was encouraged by Parra to use more cultural equivalents rather than literal translations. The results are some interesting and subtle differences between the poems and the translations, creating something new, maybe subversive, well worth it if you pay attention. Overall, this book is very highly recommended.<<
>>This poet is both subversive and fun. It's guys like this that basically piss off right wing conservatives, to put it mildly (haha!). Seriously though, Nicanor Parra is a well known Chilean poet known for his humor and unconventional verse. So, what is antipoetry? Well, simply put it is the opposite of poetry, and yet it is not quite as easy as that. Antipoetry can be understood from the concept of antimatter. In her introduction to the book, Werner writes that "viewed through the lens of antimatter, antipoetry mirrors poetry, not as its adversary but as its complement; it is not by nature negative, but negative where poetry is positive, and vice versa; it is as opposite, complete, and interdependent as the shape left behind in the fabric where the garment has been cut out" (x).
I think that is a great way to look at it, as a complement, and in the case of Parra's work, as a playful poetry. Read why the poet thinks he should be awarded the Nobel Prize for Reading, what's the problem with philosophy (who does the dishes), and admire some visual artefactos (yes, he draws as well). The book is fun to read and reread. For the squeamish, there are some words (yes, he says "shit" and other chosen words of "color"), but nothing a reader can't handle. He addresses life, politics, math, philosophy, women, humor, etc. As an interesting touch, for bilingual readers, do look at the translation, or rather antitranslation. She was encouraged by Parra to use more cultural equivalents rather than literal translations. The results are some interesting and subtle differences between the poems and the translations, creating something new, maybe subversive, well worth it if you pay attention. Overall, this book is very highly recommended.<<
kenningjp's review against another edition
5.0
Essential reading from one of Chile's best writers. Serious and silly but searing all the same.
partypete's review against another edition
4.0
i enjoyed the poetry but when i tried looking back to find a single instance of one that really popped out, i couldn't find any. of particular interest is that this volume is bilingual, and the poet worked alongside the translator to make many of the unusual translation choices.
richardwells's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. It's cheeky and hilarious and sets the world of "oh so serious I'm a poet who feels" right on its ear. Mr. Parra writes very short pieces with skill and grace and obviously enjoys throwing punches - he's refreshing, and it feels so good to read poetry that makes you laugh. He kind of reminds me of Jim Harrison, only a little less the curmudgeon.
woodlandbooklover's review against another edition
4.0
Read the 1954 version. It surprised me these poems would be published in the 1950s, but granted, I don't know anything about poetry in Chile back then. Some of the poems seemed to hit a whining tone from the speaker, but even those had surprising images and phrases that made reading enjoyable.
janmartinek's review against another edition
5.0
Good book to read while staying up at night due to unstoppable coughing — you'll cough even more, but the night gets remembered for something else. Strong, emotionally dense and unpretentious, plain and pictorial, modest and brutal at the same time. Full of humor and sarcasm, and also mocking the sarcasm itself.
Several different styles, from the short (the introduction says „graffiti-like“) to the epic poems in scale, though united by simple narration and topics of people, society, religion, politics… I'm just picking few of those most likeable/shareable as examples.
…
Several different styles, from the short (the introduction says „graffiti-like“) to the epic poems in scale, though united by simple narration and topics of people, society, religion, politics… I'm just picking few of those most likeable/shareable as examples.
XII
It isn't easy for me to feel sad
To be honest
Even skulls make me laugh.
The poet asleep on the cross
Greets you with tears of blood.
XIII
The poet's job is
To improve on the blank page
I don't think that's possible.
…
Good News!
in a million years the earth
will be whole again
We'll be the ones long gone
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