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Nostalgia, My Enemy
New poetry by Iraqi poet Saadi Youssef, one of the major voices from the Arab world
The country we love was finished
before it was even born.
The country we did not love has claimed
the blood left in our veins.
—from “A Desperate Poem”
This book collects some of the best of Saadi Youssef’s most recent poems from the last decade, since the ongoing American-led war in his home co...more
The country we love was finished
before it was even born.
The country we did not love has claimed
the blood left in our veins.
—from “A Desperate Poem”
This book collects some of the best of Saadi Youssef’s most recent poems from the last decade, since the ongoing American-led war in his home co...more
Paperback, 96 pages
Published
November 27th 2012
by Graywolf Press
(first published November 13th 2012)
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I was excited to win this book as it combines two things I love independently – poetry and Middle Eastern culture.
The majority of the poems are short (one pagers), which is my preferred length.
Like any poetry collection, some of the poems are better than others - some absolutely wowed me, while others left me disappointed. Of course keep in mind this collection was translated from Arabic (a very poetic language), so despite how skilled the translators may be, it’s likely there were nuances lost...more
The majority of the poems are short (one pagers), which is my preferred length.
Like any poetry collection, some of the poems are better than others - some absolutely wowed me, while others left me disappointed. Of course keep in mind this collection was translated from Arabic (a very poetic language), so despite how skilled the translators may be, it’s likely there were nuances lost...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I often get weirded out by the imagery in modern Arabic poetry. The stuff that gets pushed out there in anthologies and in the other places where I've have limited access to it, comes off like weird overblown high-school-girl imagery. Just take a look at a grave for New York by Adonis (although, to be fair, how can we ever know how much he was channelling Lorca in New York, which would pretty much let him off the hook.) I know this is my own fault for not looking deeper. But what you get usually...more
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Saadi Youssef is a powerful writer. Born in iraq, he now lives in London. His words convey the longing and pain of a man exiled form his homeland, hungry for peace, brokenhearted over the conditions of his people.
His words are the words of a man who is able to tenderly articulate an ache, words that will make you wonder what is in the mind of the next quiet man you see across from you on the subway. He also writes of the beauty in the light, the bird's wing, the movement of water.
I was very hap...more
His words are the words of a man who is able to tenderly articulate an ache, words that will make you wonder what is in the mind of the next quiet man you see across from you on the subway. He also writes of the beauty in the light, the bird's wing, the movement of water.
I was very hap...more
I won this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway.
Didn't know anything about this poet, but was very excited to win this book, and even more excited when I discovered that it was from Graywolf Press! This is an excellent book of poetry from a poet in exile, remembering with sadness the place that was--now overrun by war and tyranny and death squads. Often lyrical and sad, but above all important because of the fresh perspective and unique voice of Mr. Youssef.
Thanks for the book Graywolf!
Didn't know anything about this poet, but was very excited to win this book, and even more excited when I discovered that it was from Graywolf Press! This is an excellent book of poetry from a poet in exile, remembering with sadness the place that was--now overrun by war and tyranny and death squads. Often lyrical and sad, but above all important because of the fresh perspective and unique voice of Mr. Youssef.
Thanks for the book Graywolf!
A beautifully constructed collection. By turns serene and haunting, these poems are dense with image and emotion (as poems are wont to be, no?). One can feel the stagnation of life in 'Still Life', longing in 'O Nostalgia: My Enemy', and the frustration of recapitulation, repetition and routine in 'The Concerns of a Man, 2000 B.C.'. I had some ire-induced reflux while reading 'The Wretched of the Heavens'.
While I have quite a rocky history with poetry (I am partial to prose) I do like to thin...more
While I have quite a rocky history with poetry (I am partial to prose) I do like to thin...more
I would only waste words attempting to describe the beauty (and sadness) in this book of verse. I highly recommend it!
enjoyed the majority of them, but some I just couldnt finish.
Won as part of the Goodreads first reads program. Review to come in a few days.
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ولد في العام 1934، في ابي الخصيب، بالبصرة (العراق).
اكمل دراسته الثانوية في البصرة.
ليسانس شرف في آداب العربية.
عمل في التدريس والصحافة الثقافية.
تنقّل بين بلدان شتّى، عربية وغربية.
شهد حروباً، وحروباً اهلية، وعرف واقع الخطر، والسجن، والمنفى.
نال جوائز في الشعر: جائزة سلطان العويس، والجائزة الايطالية العالمية، وجائزة (كافافي) من الجمعية الهلّينية.
وفي العام 2005 نال جائزة فيرونيا الإيطالية لأفضل مؤلفٍ أج...more
More about Saadi Youssef...
اكمل دراسته الثانوية في البصرة.
ليسانس شرف في آداب العربية.
عمل في التدريس والصحافة الثقافية.
تنقّل بين بلدان شتّى، عربية وغربية.
شهد حروباً، وحروباً اهلية، وعرف واقع الخطر، والسجن، والمنفى.
نال جوائز في الشعر: جائزة سلطان العويس، والجائزة الايطالية العالمية، وجائزة (كافافي) من الجمعية الهلّينية.
وفي العام 2005 نال جائزة فيرونيا الإيطالية لأفضل مؤلفٍ أج...more
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