Five Decades: Poems 1925-1970 (Neruda, Pablo)
by Pablo Neruda, Ben Belitt
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If I was sent to a desert island, this is the single book I would take with me to read for the rest of my life. Some of the English translations in this book are actually pretty horrible; read Selected Poems if you don't read Spanish. This one is a pretty comprehensive survey of my favorite poet of all time, hands down. He could be writing about the Spanish Civil War, the sea, United Fruit Company, the woman he loves, or a pair of socks-- everything is as if you never noticed it or saw it or ...more
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Read in January, 1996
Pablo Neruda's poetry really did change my life. This particular cover of this collection reminds me of the summer of 1996, when I was subletting on campus and living in a little girl's room. The girl was gone for the summer, so I was sleeping in her bunkbed. Anyway, I really wanted to learn Spanish because of Pablo Neruda. I remember completely mastering "tengo un coche blanco" and "tienes un coche blanco" (because Chris had a white car, aka Babe) but little else. Anyway, I ...more
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Read in December, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone
This is, to me, difficult reading. Yet really satisfying when a poem "hits the mark" and you understand it. Neruda's is the only poetry book I've ever brought, due to the movie "El Postino," in which there is a character loosely based on him, and the actor playing him was so great with Neruda's words I wanted to read more. I have to think much harder than when reading prose, but that's good. Give it a try- it's thought-provoking. And his use of words is simply amazing; beauti...more
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Read in January, 2002
"That's how I am," I'll say, leaving this
pretext in writing: "This is really my life."
But everyone knows that's not how it happens at all.
Not only the cords in the net, but the air
that escapes the interstices matters:
the rest remains as it was: inapprehensible.
Time races by like a hare
in the February dew.
As to love -- love that unlimbers its haunches
leaving only a teaspoon of ashes
to say where the burning began --
the less said the better;
- "thos
pretext in writing: "This is really my life."
But everyone knows that's not how it happens at all.
Not only the cords in the net, but the air
that escapes the interstices matters:
the rest remains as it was: inapprehensible.
Time races by like a hare
in the February dew.
As to love -- love that unlimbers its haunches
leaving only a teaspoon of ashes
to say where the burning began --
the less said the better;
- "thos
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Read in January, 2005
I think this was the best choice in getting a collection of Pablo Neruda's poems. The poems are in both Spanish and English. I feel sorry for those of you who don't understand Spanish because you're really missing out on something. The beauty is in the words, how they're said aloud. The Enlish versions don't do it any justice really.
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Read in June, 2008
This author was referred to me by a spanish speaking friend, and later his poems were read to my spanish class. Neruda is great and wonderful. Very romantic poems and a poem for everything. This is the dual language version, one side spanish and one side english.
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Every poem is given in both Spanish and English translation, on facing pages. That said, the English translations seem to me a bit stilted and unnecessarily obscure. But I would recommend it to anyone who knows Spanish passably.
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Read in May, 2008
recommended to Mandy by:
Dr. Gaylord Brewer
Neruda has a way with words. After reading them all, I think the one about the Lemon will always be my favorite, but there are words that stir my soul in his poems and I loved them.
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I love Neruda, though my Spanish speaking friends say he is poorly translated into English. Well, five languages are enough for me right now, so Spanish will have to wait.
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Neruda writes some of the most erotic and wonderful love poems ever. If someone things poems can't be a turn on, they should read this man's work.
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