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A review by tracyreads
The Devil's Dreamland: Poetry Inspired by H.H. Holmes by Sara Tantlinger
5.0
All. The. Stars. Amazing poetry collection surrounding HH Holmes.
I have always been fascinated with books, documentaries, and tv shows dealing with true crime, especially those centered around serial killers. Last year, I watched a Netflix documentary on H.H Holmes, and just before I learned of Tantlinger's book, I was already listening to a podcast series on H.H. Holmes. Why are my viewing and listening habits relevant? Because it made my reading experience so wonderful as I saw Tantlinger creatively weave gristly true crime details into her poetry. Even if I hadn't had all of that background knowledge, I still would've appreciated this skill, but it did make a difference for me.
So. Poetry. It never has been my "go to" genre. I studied it when I had to in undergrad and graduate school. I have a few favorites that I teach when it is appropriate. But I've never looked at a book of poetry and said "oooh, yes please"...until I saw this book.
If you are like me, and poetry isn't your jam - consider giving this a try. Tantlinger plays with form and substance. Some of the poems are sparse and chilling, others are more prose-like, and ALL of them are accessible and engrossing.
These pieces look at Holmes' life from all angles. Most of them are chronological and one of my favorite things about this read is the focus on having people other than Holmes provide some of the POVs. We hear from his mother (man I loved that poem), Holmes, a few victims, a 3rd person narrator, the "Murder Castle", and his accomplice (well, if he can be called that) has a section. The levels of research and scholarship that must have gone into this collection are at once readily evident, yet the information is expertly woven into the poems. The result is being able to grab onto those details of HH Holmes and his crimes easily, without breaking that trance of sorts that comes with a great read. This is historical fiction (or historical horror) at its very best.
I may not be a poetry fan yet, but I sure am a Tantlinger poetry fan now. In fact, I will be reading her other poetry collection "Love For Slaughter" as my first book in January of 2019. And I cannot wait to get back into her brain.
I have always been fascinated with books, documentaries, and tv shows dealing with true crime, especially those centered around serial killers. Last year, I watched a Netflix documentary on H.H Holmes, and just before I learned of Tantlinger's book, I was already listening to a podcast series on H.H. Holmes. Why are my viewing and listening habits relevant? Because it made my reading experience so wonderful as I saw Tantlinger creatively weave gristly true crime details into her poetry. Even if I hadn't had all of that background knowledge, I still would've appreciated this skill, but it did make a difference for me.
So. Poetry. It never has been my "go to" genre. I studied it when I had to in undergrad and graduate school. I have a few favorites that I teach when it is appropriate. But I've never looked at a book of poetry and said "oooh, yes please"...until I saw this book.
If you are like me, and poetry isn't your jam - consider giving this a try. Tantlinger plays with form and substance. Some of the poems are sparse and chilling, others are more prose-like, and ALL of them are accessible and engrossing.
These pieces look at Holmes' life from all angles. Most of them are chronological and one of my favorite things about this read is the focus on having people other than Holmes provide some of the POVs. We hear from his mother (man I loved that poem), Holmes, a few victims, a 3rd person narrator, the "Murder Castle", and his accomplice (well, if he can be called that) has a section. The levels of research and scholarship that must have gone into this collection are at once readily evident, yet the information is expertly woven into the poems. The result is being able to grab onto those details of HH Holmes and his crimes easily, without breaking that trance of sorts that comes with a great read. This is historical fiction (or historical horror) at its very best.
I may not be a poetry fan yet, but I sure am a Tantlinger poetry fan now. In fact, I will be reading her other poetry collection "Love For Slaughter" as my first book in January of 2019. And I cannot wait to get back into her brain.