Scan barcode
A review by corlys
Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
5.0
My dear Reader,
I’ve been rather poor and have taken my time to get around to this review. Therefore, my apologies as the ideas and the impressions from this wondrous set of letters will have been filtered by 4 busy days, and a little bit of alcohol.
I loved this, like really loved it, I loved it somewhere deep down in my soul. A part of my soul where my love of life and search for meaning exists. This book was one of those rare instances where all of reality suddenly seemed to mean more; the whole journey of life, which I am embarked on, was better contextualised and illustrated to me.
Its weird that something so short and quick can do that. It did though. Why did it do that? I think it has something to do with the personal nature of the letters. ‘More than kisses, letters mingle souls’ and that was strongly evidenced by Letters to a young poet. What Rilke wrote felt personal, meaningful and was beautiful. It was advice to a friend, advice to someone who meant a lot to him; Rilke was genuine and honest. The sincerity of that advice, especially considering Rilke is maybe 10 years older than me and Kappus was my age, connected immensely with me on many topics. Love, work, the struggle of life and its many questions, how to appreciate my endlessly diminishing time on this earth. Something about each letter felt affirming to me. On a subconscious level which I may never uncover, those letters informed me.
Some details I’d like to briefly mention. The first 9 letters were written within around a year or so. The final letter, short and sweet, was 4 years later. There was something sombre about that, something so sad. For those 10 letters I felt that tangible connection that existed 120 years ago. I was there, I really was there, for the briefest of moments I felt that life and humanity. That feeling down my spine, softly making its way up my neck, that warmth in my heart, in my soul; those letters somehow managed to prompt something spiritual in me. I couldn’t imagine the sensation, Kappus, opening up those letters only to unveil such a charming commentary on humanity’s greatest questions. And it being personally for him. I think it takes an inquisitive, purposeful mind to prompt something so beautiful and meaningful. So, a big thank you to my dear Kappus.
I struggle, as I always do, to put in to words the feeling and emotions I got while reading these letters. However, just like Rilke mentioned, the beauty of letters, and of this book, is that they can be read again and again. Hopefully, in the future, with the added context of life’s experiences, I can look back at these Letters and find fresh meaning and lessons for myself. The advice on love, occupations and on developing as an artist felt especially pertinent. I will read this book again; I think it’s my new go-to during a heartbreak, there is something deeply important to me hidden within this correspondence. Thank you, Mr. Rilke and Mr. Kappus for such a soulful experience.
Ever Yours,
K.P. De Antonis.
I’ve been rather poor and have taken my time to get around to this review. Therefore, my apologies as the ideas and the impressions from this wondrous set of letters will have been filtered by 4 busy days, and a little bit of alcohol.
I loved this, like really loved it, I loved it somewhere deep down in my soul. A part of my soul where my love of life and search for meaning exists. This book was one of those rare instances where all of reality suddenly seemed to mean more; the whole journey of life, which I am embarked on, was better contextualised and illustrated to me.
Its weird that something so short and quick can do that. It did though. Why did it do that? I think it has something to do with the personal nature of the letters. ‘More than kisses, letters mingle souls’ and that was strongly evidenced by Letters to a young poet. What Rilke wrote felt personal, meaningful and was beautiful. It was advice to a friend, advice to someone who meant a lot to him; Rilke was genuine and honest. The sincerity of that advice, especially considering Rilke is maybe 10 years older than me and Kappus was my age, connected immensely with me on many topics. Love, work, the struggle of life and its many questions, how to appreciate my endlessly diminishing time on this earth. Something about each letter felt affirming to me. On a subconscious level which I may never uncover, those letters informed me.
Some details I’d like to briefly mention. The first 9 letters were written within around a year or so. The final letter, short and sweet, was 4 years later. There was something sombre about that, something so sad. For those 10 letters I felt that tangible connection that existed 120 years ago. I was there, I really was there, for the briefest of moments I felt that life and humanity. That feeling down my spine, softly making its way up my neck, that warmth in my heart, in my soul; those letters somehow managed to prompt something spiritual in me. I couldn’t imagine the sensation, Kappus, opening up those letters only to unveil such a charming commentary on humanity’s greatest questions. And it being personally for him. I think it takes an inquisitive, purposeful mind to prompt something so beautiful and meaningful. So, a big thank you to my dear Kappus.
I struggle, as I always do, to put in to words the feeling and emotions I got while reading these letters. However, just like Rilke mentioned, the beauty of letters, and of this book, is that they can be read again and again. Hopefully, in the future, with the added context of life’s experiences, I can look back at these Letters and find fresh meaning and lessons for myself. The advice on love, occupations and on developing as an artist felt especially pertinent. I will read this book again; I think it’s my new go-to during a heartbreak, there is something deeply important to me hidden within this correspondence. Thank you, Mr. Rilke and Mr. Kappus for such a soulful experience.
Ever Yours,
K.P. De Antonis.