The Lichtenberg Figures, winner of the Hayden Carruth Award, is an unconventional sonnet sequence that interrogates the relationship betw... read full description
reviews
Dec 29, 2008
Sheera
rated it: 
I bought this book because of the last line of the first poem: "The chicken is a little dry and/or you've ruined my life."
I'm scared this will be a book of occasional one-liners. I'm also scared of rejection.
I'm scared this will be a book of occasional one-liners. I'm also scared of rejection.
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Dec 16, 2009
Tao
rated it: 
I like this book. I can read this book in any mood and enjoy it I think. This book is sarcastic, self-conscious, afraid, and smart.
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Feb 06, 2010
James
rated it: 
This book kicks ass. The title may be a little alienating, but it's totally appropriate. The poems are quick, sharp, fractal, and spooky:
"We had thought that by arranging words at random
we could avoid ideology. We were right.
Then we were terribly wrong. Such is the nature of California."
That's funny right? The poems handle meta-poetics in a really smart, accessible way. A surprisingly quick read.
"We had thought that by arranging words at random
we could avoid ideology. We were right.
Then we were terribly wrong. Such is the nature of California."
That's funny right? The poems handle meta-poetics in a really smart, accessible way. A surprisingly quick read.
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Jan 09, 2009
Nicolasshump
rated it:
For my money, Ben Lerner is one of the best, most intelligent, and most ambitious poets writing today. This is a collection of edgy sonnets that totally plays with the whole history of the sonnet form. Ben is also a great guy to have a beer with. He's originally from Topeka and edits a literary journal called No.
Dec 26, 2008
Tim
rated it:
Ben Lerner is the real deal. His unique brand of cut-ups with theory texts (I was always wondering what good theory was for poets) and other bits of odd assorted language detritus mixed with his own meditations on these culled bits makes for compelling reading. Sonnets that shake the faith of the old sonnet lovers.
Mar 27, 2010
Danika
rated it:
If I could, I would give this book more stars than almost any other book on my list. However, this would require me to go through my whole list and give almost every book that is not this one 4 stars instead of 5, and then I would have to change the old 4 stars to 3 stars, and so on and so forth.
May 31, 2010
Meaner than "Angle of Yaw." Lerner's reinvention of the sonnet taught me words such as "epistaxis" and "cenotaph." I suspect "Angle of Yaw" and his recent "Mean Free Path" are the better of Lerner's books, but you kind of can't go wrong with this guy.
Oct 05, 2011
S.B.
rated it:
I don't know what the sentence "Coruscant skinks emerge in force" means. But I don't really care, I like the way it sounds. These poems are a testament to Ben Lerner's genius.
Jan 27, 2011
Todd
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This is the third time I’ve read Lerner’s first book and I still find it a fresh read. The clash of his intelligence and humor creates unexpected sparks while he interrogates pop culture, politics, violence, and the academy. It’s a heady mix that keeps your head spinning. And besides all of that, I just enjoy watching how he demolishes the sonnet again and again. The sequence takes on a manic pace as the book winds down leaving you feeling a little winded, a little roughed up and hankering for m
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Sep 04, 2008
Mike
rated it:
Really lovely. Wonderful interleaving of a childhood narrative that emerges in snips and chunks when the volume is read as a whole. And this without mentioning Lerner's fine ear for the texture of quotidian language, which he elevates to poetry without letting it lose its footing.
Aug 22, 2008
Jamison
rated it:
One of the more exciting books I've come across lately-- these poems attempt to balance rhetoric with emotion, pop culture with lyricism, content with energy and, very often, succeed.
Sep 09, 2008
Wendy
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Some of the best contemporary poetry I've ever read. I'm not a poet historian or a poet but his work is dark, political and and very intresting.
Jun 25, 2007
Stuart
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this book is swell, although i remember nothing about it so maybe its not. the author photo on the back, though, will stay in my mind forever.
Jul 29, 2007
Very happy, just put THE ANGLE OF YAW on reserve at the library, very excited, very very today, eager for poetry.
Sep 10, 2008
David
rated it:
great anthology - essential reading for anyone interested in late 20th century poetry
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