In this radiant new collection, Franz Wright shares his regard for life in all its forms and his belief in the promise of blessing and renewal. As ...
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Mar 03, 2010
D.E.
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This book matters to me. Here I've found phrases, images and ideas that bludgeon like a hammer or caress like a feather. Here I recognize a God I know. The God of recovering drug addicts and booze hounds, the God you turn to when it's three am and you're convulsing and shivering on the bathroom floor, the God I turned to when I was a young man and I had shipwrecked against the shoals of my own fucked up self. Wright writes about a Catholic God, about 5am masses, signs of the cross, and the fearf
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Nov 13, 2008
martha
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This is a book about grace. It focuses on Franz Wright's newfound sobriety and conversion to Catholicism. It's my understanding that he got a lot of flack for the latter, since religion -- or earnestness about religion -- is an unpopular topic in modern American poetry. But he's unapologetic about it and the poems are careful and spare and intense. The senses of both hope and struggle are tangible.
I kept being astonished by how *not* overwritten these were. It definitely deserve More...
I kept being astonished by how *not* overwritten these were. It definitely deserve More...
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Nov 15, 2009
Matt
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Somebody mention F Wright to me the other day, and I thought, I've never read his work, so I gave this one a shot. I think it's decent-- these are well constructed poems of religious contemplation, alternating with poems about coming to terms with an absent father (the poet J Wright). I do feel like the religious poems lack the kind of angry passion I think characterizes the best religious poets like, I don't know, George Herbert. They seem a little easy, actually, with less of the wrestling wit
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Jun 14, 2011
Aya
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This is a favorite collection of a dear friend. I've had it loaned to me several times (when I had the flu or a cold or we'd had a lot of rain that week and there wasn't any hot chocolate on hand) but I'd never actually read it b/c in distress I like to turn to books I've read before or books that have over 500 pages. (Very few people have the same problems when they finish reading Les Miserables that they have at the *start* of Les Miserables, is all I'm saying.) When I finally checked it out t
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Mar 18, 2008
W.B.
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Not my favorite book from this very readworthy author, although this is the one that netted him a very nice prize.
I love The Beforelife and others by him.
Happy Birthday, Franz!
I am glad you are here and writing and crafting such poetry, such great misery-safety-nets for all of us misery acrobats here on earth!
I love The Beforelife and others by him.
Happy Birthday, Franz!
I am glad you are here and writing and crafting such poetry, such great misery-safety-nets for all of us misery acrobats here on earth!
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Aug 05, 2007
Lauren
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I saw him read from this book, and it was really terrible. Nothing worse than seeing a formerly good poet, suddenly find god. Yuck.
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Feb 01, 2009
Richard
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Franz Wright is so amazing that I think he would be dangerous to show to young writers, mainly because his style can quite easily be copied into trite, vague and emotionless crap. But Franz spins galaxies of depair and forgiveness (mostly of the self) where even the street outside the window may wish you ill or take suicidal turns towards the ocean. Wright's poetry is the poetry of deep-rooted pain and the need to find happiness in the world, and it is delivered in quick punches, startling ima
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Oct 22, 2010
Jenna
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Someone recommended this book to me years ago, because she said her boyfriend was going through a phase where he was questioning mortality and he was loving this book. She said she thought I might enjoy this book too.
Now, I don't know what vibe I was giving off that she made the correlation between her boyfriend's issues and me - but I'm glad she recommended it. I previewed a bit at the bookstore and knew I had to own it. "Walking to Martha's Vineyard" was my first exposure t More...
Now, I don't know what vibe I was giving off that she made the correlation between her boyfriend's issues and me - but I'm glad she recommended it. I previewed a bit at the bookstore and knew I had to own it. "Walking to Martha's Vineyard" was my first exposure t More...
Aug 18, 2008
beauregard
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one of my tip top faves.
MY PLACE
for Beth
Rain land, walnut blossoms raining
white
where I walk at sixteen
bright light in the north wind
Still sleeping bees at the grove's heart
(my heart's) till the sun
its "wake now"
kiss, the million
friendly gold huddlings
and burrowings of them hearing the shining
wind
I hear, my only
cure for the loneliness I go through:
more.
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MY PLACE
for Beth
Rain land, walnut blossoms raining
white
where I walk at sixteen
bright light in the north wind
Still sleeping bees at the grove's heart
(my heart's) till the sun
its "wake now"
kiss, the million
friendly gold huddlings
and burrowings of them hearing the shining
wind
I hear, my only
cure for the loneliness I go through:
more.
More...
Jun 07, 2009
KFed
rated it:
There are few volumes of poetry that have had more impact on my life and on the way I read -- which are really maybe the same thing -- than this, Franz Wright's stirring and heartbreaking 'Walking to Martha's Vineyard.'
It's the crispness of the language and thought offered here, combined with the complete absence of language and easy answers/allusions in many places, that make this book so outstanding. (To say nothing of the subject matter.) Consider descriptions like the second stan More...
It's the crispness of the language and thought offered here, combined with the complete absence of language and easy answers/allusions in many places, that make this book so outstanding. (To say nothing of the subject matter.) Consider descriptions like the second stan More...
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Sep 04, 2010
Megan
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there isn't a single poem in this book that i wasn't thrilled to read. very tenuous and lonely and questioning, but also affirming. i wish i could copy out every poem right here. just one (the title poem):
"
And the ocean smells like lilacs in late August-how is that.
The light there muted (silver) as remembered light.
Do you have any children?
No, lucky for them.
Bad things happen when you get hands, dolphin.
Can you tell us a litt More...
"
And the ocean smells like lilacs in late August-how is that.
The light there muted (silver) as remembered light.
Do you have any children?
No, lucky for them.
Bad things happen when you get hands, dolphin.
Can you tell us a litt More...
Jan 11, 2011
Dallin
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Franz Wright won a Pulitzer for this book of poetry: "If you are not disturbed, there is something seriously wrong with you, I'm sorry" "The world is not illusory, we are" It's beautiful the way all tragedies are, but considering his life is the tragedy and HE is the author, there's a haunting personal level; you feel for him. I can almost sum up my opinion of his work with this quote from the book: "...entry in the contest for the world's most poignant suicide note.
May 28, 2009
Mark
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I enjoyed the poems in this book and their flow from one to the next. It was easy to read. Nothing jarring or jagged, raw or surprising. There are, however some fresh metaphors.
I appreciated the way the poet approached the themes of aging and death.
The entire book rests in a spirit of prayer. Like the Psalms, these poem alternately address the reader, God, the creation and the author's soul.
My favorite poem of the collection: "The Only Animal"
I appreciated the way the poet approached the themes of aging and death.
The entire book rests in a spirit of prayer. Like the Psalms, these poem alternately address the reader, God, the creation and the author's soul.
My favorite poem of the collection: "The Only Animal"
Apr 26, 2009
Jenna
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There are a few things in this book that I feel really enriched to have read: a handful of stanzas from the title poem; the turtle imagery at the end of "Walden"; the first page of "The Only Animal"; a couple of the very short poems ("P.S.," "The Poem"); the memorably clever "risperdal/whisperdoll" pun. On the whole, though, I think many of the epiphanies Wright presents here are so vaguely worded that they are in danger of being mistaken for c
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Dec 18, 2008
Claire
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while others may be put off by some of the christianity present in these poems, i found wright's spirituality to be easily accessibly from an atheist or agnostic perspective. the poems express a sense of devastation and hope simultaneously. they are written from a place of having hit rock bottom, looking up. i give these poems to friends who are struggling to climb out of the darkness.
May 13, 2010
Bradley
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"That glass was it filled with alcohol, water, or light // At ten / I turned you into a religion // The solitary / four-foot priest of you, I kept / the little manger candle / burning, I / kept your black half-inch of / scripture / in the hiding place // Destroyer / of the world // That empty / glass"
an excerpt from, "Flight"
This book makes me want to die crying.
an excerpt from, "Flight"
This book makes me want to die crying.
Oct 21, 2010
George
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A grand arc of compelling narrative, unique images, and moments of epiphany both quiet and bold.
I'm rarely one to read a complete collection of free verse poetry, but this has jumped onto my top 10 list of favorite books.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
I'm rarely one to read a complete collection of free verse poetry, but this has jumped onto my top 10 list of favorite books.
Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful.
Nov 28, 2009
Melissa
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You know how some poets take forever to get to the ending that takes the top of your head off? These poems are distilled down to that ending. He turns massive corners with minimal armor. Beautiful.
Jun 02, 2009
Terry
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Same criticism from me as of "The Beforelife"--spare and "allusional" to the point of obfuscation (on my part).
Feb 02, 2012
Jamie
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Marked by a rhythm that soberly dances on the precipice of sin and grace, regret and awe, the tangible and other-worldy.
Sep 28, 2008
R.G.
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I've read Franz Wright with interest for years. When I heard him read at the Dodge Poetry Festival this weekend, though, I felt as if a switch had been thrown in my brain, reactivating my own poetic desire. This book is less dark and disturbing than much of his work that I know, almost prayerful in some poems, but still it is a collection that continually surprises and stuns. Isn't that what poetry's all about?
Jan 02, 2009
AB
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Worth having, but only to have a hard copy of 'The Poem' on hand at all times. Otherwise, pretty disappointing. I might try one of his pre-conversion collections later on, though, just in case.
Aug 07, 2008
Karen
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I didn't realize starting this book that Franz Wright was the Son of James Wright. Having been drawn in and troubled by James Wright and his luminous cruelty (women cluck like starved pullets dying for love), it was interesting to see his son's poems wrestling with the legacy of what must have been a difficult father. I found FW's imagery compelling, but wanted the theme to wander more.
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