Book Haul of the Week: In which Becky talks about poetry It’s a rainy day and I am in the trenches of Readers Block. We get lots of questions about readers block: the state in which you have a hard time finishing or starting books. And my advice is always to read poetry or short stories for a while, to get you back into the groove but still hit that itch to read. So I am finally taking my own advice. On a trip to the library I got: The Unswept Room by Sharon Olds Uprock Headspin Scramble and Dive by Patrick Rosal Telephone Ringing in the Labyrinth by Adrienne Rich No Real Light by Joe Wenderoth Crush by Richard Siken I found most of these books standing in front of a bookshelf staring at spines. Taste in poetry is such a personal and fluid thing that I don’t even use goodreads to find poetry books, because I may like one poets work, but hate poets similar to her. It takes time to find your taste in poetry, and I haven’t found mine yet. Though I do have my favorite poems, I’m not sure why I like them or how to find more I will love. So I just keep reading. To those of you who aren’t sure about poetry, there is so much poetry out there and each poet and poem is unique. You may not like the poems you read in school (I generally don’t) but there could be a collection out there waiting to change your life. Don’t feel bad about not liking a certain poet, but more importantly don’t decide you don’t like poetry based on them. I really hated poetry until I read “Nineteen” by Elizabeth Alexander and the first line grabbed my wrists: That summer in Culpeper, all there was to eat was white And I can’t even explain why, or expect that it will effect you the same way. All I know is that after reading “Nineteen”, I got this crawling need to read more.  I’m just saying, if you don’t like poetry now, maybe you haven’t found the right poems yet. However, I fully acknowledge that poetry isn’t for everyone. But goddamn, you guys. Poetry is my jam. -Becky PS: I got a Sleater Kinney CD which will make me happy, and “Boy A” which will make me miserable. Balance is very important. 
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Book Haul of the Week: In which Becky talks about poetry

It’s a rainy day and I am in the trenches of Readers Block. We get lots of questions about readers block: the state in which you have a hard time finishing or starting books. And my advice is always to read poetry or short stories for a while, to get you back into the groove but still hit that itch to read.

So I am finally taking my own advice. On a trip to the library I got:

  • The Unswept Room by Sharon Olds
  • Uprock Headspin Scramble and Dive by Patrick Rosal
  • Telephone Ringing in the Labyrinth by Adrienne Rich
  • No Real Light by Joe Wenderoth
  • Crush by Richard Siken

I found most of these books standing in front of a bookshelf staring at spines. Taste in poetry is such a personal and fluid thing that I don’t even use goodreads to find poetry books, because I may like one poets work, but hate poets similar to her. It takes time to find your taste in poetry, and I haven’t found mine yet. Though I do have my favorite poems, I’m not sure why I like them or how to find more I will love.

So I just keep reading. To those of you who aren’t sure about poetry, there is so much poetry out there and each poet and poem is unique. You may not like the poems you read in school (I generally don’t) but there could be a collection out there waiting to change your life. Don’t feel bad about not liking a certain poet, but more importantly don’t decide you don’t like poetry based on them. I really hated poetry until I read “Nineteen” by Elizabeth Alexander and the first line grabbed my wrists:

That summer in Culpeper, all there was to eat was white

And I can’t even explain why, or expect that it will effect you the same way. All I know is that after reading “Nineteen”, I got this crawling need to read more.  I’m just saying, if you don’t like poetry now, maybe you haven’t found the right poems yet.

However, I fully acknowledge that poetry isn’t for everyone. But goddamn, you guys. Poetry is my jam.

-Becky

PS: I got a Sleater Kinney CD which will make me happy, and “Boy A” which will make me miserable. Balance is very important. 

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