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The Insistence of Beauty
by
Stephen Dunn
"Beauty isn't nice. Beauty isn't fair;" So, in part, states an epigraph for this stunning new collection, his thirteenth, by the Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry (2000). First traversing betrayal and loss, Stephen Dunn then moves to speak of new love, with its attendant pleasures and questioning. The title poem, perhaps emblematic of the book as a whole, is evocative of be...more
Paperback, 96 pages
Published
March 17th 2006
by W. W. Norton & Company
(first published 2004)
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Jun 07, 2008
Anina Ertel
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Anina by:
people who do not usually read poetry
Shelves:
adult-fiction
i loved this
This is the second book I've read by Stephen Dunn. I enjoy his writing and enjoyed this book. What I especially like is his dialogue poems. In a talk I attended on the use of contradictions in poetry to increase tension, Stephen Dunn was used as one of the examples and now I want to read his book of essays. He said, "A poem must contain the shadow of its affirmation." He also said he argues with himself when he composes and that he resists where the poem wants to go. He is a very skilled poet wh...more
Strong sense of narrative, simple language, and a good number of eager, brilliant lines scattered here and there. Dunn is especially good with endings. They are often clean, elegant, and open, just the way I like them. For example:
The "The Answers" poems, however, are baaaaad. Please, peel them off your copy.
Four starlings
on a telephone wire, an oak's bare branches—
no, not architecture, only a kind of evidence.
(from Winter)
The "The Answers" poems, however, are baaaaad. Please, peel them off your copy.
I like this book for personal reasons. These poems are like confessions a close friend might make if you both had drunk enough that you could pretend later that nothing was said or heard. Unflinching.
Some books you read like you are visiting a foriegn city on vacation. I think this book has set up house in my spare room and is going to live with me until it, not me, decides it has had enough.
I have no idea if you will like it or not.
Some books you read like you are visiting a foriegn city on vacation. I think this book has set up house in my spare room and is going to live with me until it, not me, decides it has had enough.
I have no idea if you will like it or not.
I continue to be blown away by Dunn's insightful poetry. This one, about the continuous failures and victories of love, could break your heart or at least shake you up.
The poems "Juarez" and "The House is Quiet" are amazing poems, but there are a few others, both of "The Answers" which just are not that good.
A wondrous collection of poems filled with musings on the nature of love and faithfulness (or the lack thereof) and the poet's task.
More direct than some of Dunn's poetry and at times, for my taste, a little too spare, but very effective and affecting.
I feel a bit strange for giving out so many 5-star ratings so far....
But I absolutely loved this collection. I can't really think of a better meditation on not only beauty, but love and destruction and the intertwined reasons for each. I truly recommend this one to my friends who don't typically read a lot of poetry. I think many of you would find yourselves liking it (I'm looking particularly at you, Tony and Georgette).
"Plain" language that manages to bring across a much deeper meaning.
But I absolutely loved this collection. I can't really think of a better meditation on not only beauty, but love and destruction and the intertwined reasons for each. I truly recommend this one to my friends who don't typically read a lot of poetry. I think many of you would find yourselves liking it (I'm looking particularly at you, Tony and Georgette).
"Plain" language that manages to bring across a much deeper meaning.
Truth
I've loved some of his other work, but this collection just wasn't my cup of tea.
Absolutely brutal stuff.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Nov 09, 2008
Kent
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-poetry,
poetry-2000s
I appreciate the sentiment, and the complexity of the emotion surrounding these poems. How is one supposed to leave behind something that was taken for granted, but was still dear. The narratives here are always engaging and honest.
Any of Stephen Dunn's work is wonderful. His writing never gets old.
I like Dunn a lot and this collection was not a disappointment.
I enjoy all of Stephen Dunn's work!
I like his earlier book better.
May 18, 2013
Julie
is currently reading it
Apr 21, 2013
Blkbx
added it
Mar 01, 2013
Chidi OKORO
marked it as to-read
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Stephen Dunn was born in New York City in 1939. He earned a B.A. in history and English from Hofstra University, attended the New School Writing Workshops, and finished his M.A. in creative writing at Syracuse University. Dunn has worked as a professional basketball player, an advertising copywriter, and an editor, as well as a professor of creative writing.
Dunn's books of poetry include Everythin...more
More about Stephen Dunn...
Dunn's books of poetry include Everythin...more
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