Vellum, the exquisite debut collection from Matt Donovan, meditates on beauty, art, and the violence that is sometimes inherent in both.Here, he ju...
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Oct 14, 2007
Matthew
rated it: 
I picked up this book after reading the first poem (which is rare for me, to have something leap out in such a way) and after noticing a nice list of "notes" at the back (nothing like a well-researched book of poems in conversation with other sources to whet my appetite), and finished it in one sitting (I'll admit, I couldn't put it down). With so many book awards out there I often am let down by the "winner", but I can honestly say this book clearly deserved to win the Bake
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May 25, 2008
Ben
rated it: 
Beautiful, of the Jorie Graham school of muzzy transcendence and free association between the concrete and the abstract. (OK, I don't know if that's a school, but I like Jorie Graham and this reminds me of her work.) But it's a little more muscular than Graham, a little more rooted in slang and ordinariness. There are some striking images here, and a confident, often playful, use of language.
The vellum of the title is the material on which scribes tried to capture the Real, and then More...
The vellum of the title is the material on which scribes tried to capture the Real, and then More...
May 30, 2011
Michael
rated it: 
I admire the long poems here, but too many of the ideas which start them fizzle out by the end. Not nearly as cohesive as Levis's, which this is surely influenced by. Still, a solid collection.
Feb 21, 2008
dana
rated it:
This book kind of knocked my socks off--so rich with language, place, the act of naming and fascinating juxtapositions of image. All with an honest, real tone that draws you into an incredible tornado of association and meanings
Huh. That sounds kind of poetry-fluffy.
Anyway, I really really liked this. Even if Donovan's Audubon poem is better than mine!
Huh. That sounds kind of poetry-fluffy.
Anyway, I really really liked this. Even if Donovan's Audubon poem is better than mine!
Mar 19, 2008
Nick
rated it:
A great book on poetry that is easy to enter. This guy knows just about everything there is to know about everything. Hell of a nice guy too.
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