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4.15 of 5 stars
Vellum, the exquisite debut collection from Matt Donovan, meditates on beauty, art, and the violence that is sometimes inherent in both.Here, he ju... read full description

reviews

Oct 14, 2007
Matthew rated it: 5 of 5 stars
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 More...
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May 25, 2008
Ben rated it: 4 of 5 stars
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...
May 30, 2011
Michael rated it: 3 of 5 stars
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: 4 of 5 stars
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!
Mar 19, 2008
Nick rated it: 5 of 5 stars
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.
Aug 31, 2008
Tattered Cover added it
signing at the store 9-8-08
Feb 12, 2012
Jane added it
Jan 05, 2012
Grace marked it as to-read
Nov 01, 2011
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Sep 01, 2011
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Sep 20, 2011
Courtney rated it: 4 of 5 stars
May 04, 2011
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Apr 11, 2011
Lesley rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Apr 05, 2011
Kori marked it as to-read
Mar 14, 2011
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Feb 14, 2011
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Dec 11, 2010
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Dec 05, 2010
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Oct 28, 2010
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Aug 25, 2010
Emily rated it: 3 of 5 stars
Dec 27, 2011
Andrew rated it: 2 of 5 stars
Mar 05, 2010
Karen rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Dec 31, 2009
Stephanie marked it as to-read
Oct 20, 2009
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Sep 16, 2009
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Jun 02, 2009
Colin rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Jun 07, 2009
Sara rated it: 4 of 5 stars
May 03, 2009
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Apr 09, 2009
Liam rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Mar 22, 2009
Jessica marked it as to-read