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shaunnow38's review against another edition
5.0
I discovered Hayes poetry earlier this year, on the recommendation of a colleague. After reading his poetry collection How to Be Drawn, I discovered this beautiful work. Straddling several genres, To Float in the Space Between is a great book for lovers of poetry, process, and the at of creation. Hayes takes Etheridge Knight as his focus throughout the book, as he interrogates the man's life, his influence on Hayes' own life specifically, and his influence on poetics in general. Reading Knight through Hayes (sometimes vice-versa) is a fascinating experience. Hayes himself produces extremely intimate and well thought out pieces on poetry through Knight, Wanda Coleman, Yousef Komunyaaka, and others, and reading these pieces helped to illuminate the depth of Hayes poetry.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the work of Etheridge Knight, but not so interested in a direct biography/critical text on him. Hayes brings the dramatic and poetic power to the text unlike any other writer I have seen before. It is like a letter to a mentor more than a critical text. I would also recommend this as a piece to accompany Hayes' own poetry, as it includes some snippets and full poems, as well as the story/process behind them. The already vivacious poet comes alive between this pages with a distinct human presence. There is tenderness rather than distance - a gorgeous painting of a man in conversation with life, love, and influence.
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in the work of Etheridge Knight, but not so interested in a direct biography/critical text on him. Hayes brings the dramatic and poetic power to the text unlike any other writer I have seen before. It is like a letter to a mentor more than a critical text. I would also recommend this as a piece to accompany Hayes' own poetry, as it includes some snippets and full poems, as well as the story/process behind them. The already vivacious poet comes alive between this pages with a distinct human presence. There is tenderness rather than distance - a gorgeous painting of a man in conversation with life, love, and influence.
keondra's review against another edition
5.0
what a gorgeous work by hayes. i don’t know where to begin. the title really captures the scope of the collection - hayes’ life and work in conversation with knight’s. hayes’ analysis never veers too far into the abstract making it a pleasurable and informative read for non-scholars (like me) and scholars alike. truly beautiful and will certainly re-read.
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