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You and Three Others Are Approaching a Lake
A sharp-witted investigation of love, work, and human responsibility in the age of consumption and hyperexposure.
"[Moschovakis'] poems illuminate, amuse, and provoke. Plato would have loved them."—Ann Lauterbach
In a world where we find "everything helping itself / to everything else," Anna Moschovakis incorporates Craigslist ads, technobabble, twentieth-century ethics text...more
"[Moschovakis'] poems illuminate, amuse, and provoke. Plato would have loved them."—Ann Lauterbach
In a world where we find "everything helping itself / to everything else," Anna Moschovakis incorporates Craigslist ads, technobabble, twentieth-century ethics text...more
Paperback, 132 pages
Published
January 18th 2011
by Coffee House Press
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The Poet as Investigator
Anna Moschovakis' prize winning book of poetry YOU AND THREE OTHERS ARE APPROACHING A LAKE should not be examined as poetry alone. There is so much dissection so the commodities of capitalism, technology, consumerism, Western philosophy, and religion that at times the poems, beautifully constructed though they are, appear a bit soap boxy. She is a cultural critic and there is much to be learned from her stance, her point of view, and yes, her insight!
The collection is div...more
Anna Moschovakis' prize winning book of poetry YOU AND THREE OTHERS ARE APPROACHING A LAKE should not be examined as poetry alone. There is so much dissection so the commodities of capitalism, technology, consumerism, Western philosophy, and religion that at times the poems, beautifully constructed though they are, appear a bit soap boxy. She is a cultural critic and there is much to be learned from her stance, her point of view, and yes, her insight!
The collection is div...more
Now I am not a poetry person (I hate admitting that. Makes me feel like one of those who says they don't get art or "I don't know porn but I know it when I see it..."). You get the drift, basically I am saying I am not an educated poetry reader. (Also makes me sad if people were to say that about short stories --and I'm sure they do-- but it would break my heart).
I loved this -- poetry as cultural criticism, but still moving/emotional. Poetry for the kindof gal I am and was growing up --that is...more
I loved this -- poetry as cultural criticism, but still moving/emotional. Poetry for the kindof gal I am and was growing up --that is...more
You and Three Others Are Approaching a Lake by Anna Moschovakis, which was awarded the James Laughlin Award by the Academy of American Poets, is a collection of four long poems with a prologue and epilogue poem that discusses and assesses four books — The Tragedy of Waste by Stuart Chase, Death as a Way of Life by Roger A. Caras, The Human Machine by Arnold Bennett, and In Search of Wealth by Cyril S. Belshaw — from the twentieth century that the poet discovered in a used bookshop in South Kortr...more
I found this book so refreshing. I have gone back to it many times. I particularly like the 'Death as a Way of Life' section.
"I can imagine a situation
in which I would die for atheism,
even if it weren't my own.
Would I die for logic?
If my death would make the world follow?
Things don't follow--
Would I die for that?
--posted Sept. 12, 2006
This book is intelligent and thought-provoking. Every word, every period, question mark feels delightfully intentional. I will definitely read more of Anna Mos...more
"I can imagine a situation
in which I would die for atheism,
even if it weren't my own.
Would I die for logic?
If my death would make the world follow?
Things don't follow--
Would I die for that?
--posted Sept. 12, 2006
This book is intelligent and thought-provoking. Every word, every period, question mark feels delightfully intentional. I will definitely read more of Anna Mos...more
Anna Moschovakis's poetry shrewdly shows us the emptiness of Western culture in an age of greedy consumerism, technology without meaning, and style (i.e., advertising) over substance. This is a funny, clever, 21st-century Wasteland, exposing the meaninglessness of our post-Christian culture in an age of technology. She draws on a myriad of sources, including pop culture, philosophy, primitive cultures, websites like Facebook and Craigslist, Scientology, American Christianity, U. S. history, mode...more
Strange. sprawling poems about our strange, sprawling American landscape. Riffing on topics like waste, technology, death and the media, Moschovakis critiques and celebrates the Freudian death-project of American society. While a bit more focus and clarity would be nice, Moschovakis's point in these four long poems is that individuals in our contemporary society skitter across the surface of reality like water-striders, always looking for home, whatever that might be.
Although the accompanying review calls this book " sharp- witted" I found it somewhat less impressive. It does some things I like including
using other identified sources for inspiration, and also uses a variety of poetic "approaches"to communicate what the poet wants us
to hear. However I'm not sure it's entirely successful. I probably won't read it again, but will consider reading other works by the same poet.
using other identified sources for inspiration, and also uses a variety of poetic "approaches"to communicate what the poet wants us
to hear. However I'm not sure it's entirely successful. I probably won't read it again, but will consider reading other works by the same poet.
I have yet to encounter another writer like Anna Moschovakis. Both challenging and charming, You and Three Others Are Approaching a Lake is a poetic treatise that thoughtfully considers fact, fiction, and autobiography. Moschovakis raises questions of social responsibility in an ever-globalizing economy and the micro/macro-technological cultures that are produced as a result. A poetry of belief, doubt and philosophical intimacy.
Another award winner from the Academy of American Poets that makes you wonder. It is an somewhat interesting attempt, but nothing memorable remains when you are done reading.
OR Leave the book and take the canoe.
OR Leave the book and take the canoe.
This is a terrific book of poetry that gets better with each reading. My review is posted at www.bookinwithsunny.com/posts/you-and...
couldn't tell if it was a bizarre moment or entirely appropriate when I turned to the colophon and saw Target's corporate logo, thanks
Moschovakis' style is distinct and grandios; her poems are riddled with observation and clever parallels.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book of poems. I can honestly say I've never really read anything like it.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book of poems. I can honestly say I've never really read anything like it.
“We start not with theory but with tangible performace
Enter: the world,
a species already
sufficiently inured to tragedy”
This gorgeous collection of poems tackles suffering, happiness, materiality, and materialism. And the technique is admirable. Moschovakis creatively and deftly borrows words and concepts for inspiration, and weaves the language together so skillfully that it's not always clear which words are borrowed and which are original to the poems. It is so well executed, and the poems are...more
Enter: the world,
a species already
sufficiently inured to tragedy”
This gorgeous collection of poems tackles suffering, happiness, materiality, and materialism. And the technique is admirable. Moschovakis creatively and deftly borrows words and concepts for inspiration, and weaves the language together so skillfully that it's not always clear which words are borrowed and which are original to the poems. It is so well executed, and the poems are...more
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I LOVE. like nothing else.
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