David Anthony Sam's Blog, page 132
March 29, 2020
Review: Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft
Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I first read Burroway’s book in its second edition. Now in its tenth edition, Writing Fiction is even better. I recommend it for the beginning or more mature writer.
Review: The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers
The Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Fred Rogers deserves a better biography. The facts are here but the book needs editing, with too much unnecessary repetition and a lack of organization.
March 22, 2020
Jane Hirshfield reads “Today, Another Universe” by brainpicker | Free Listening on SoundCloud
Stream Jane Hirshfield reads “Today, Another Universe”
— Read on soundcloud.com/brainpicker/jane-hirshfield-today-another-universe
Hirshfield is one of my favorite poets writing today.
March 21, 2020
My poem”Half-life” has been published by Backchannels and can viewed online
My poem”Half-life” has been published by Backchannels and can viewed online HERE. My thanks to the editors.
This is the introductory poem in an unpublished collection, Shards.
Celebrate World Poetry Day | United Nations
Write a poem.
Read a poem
“Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning. On World Poetry Day, reflect on the power of language and the full development of your creative abilities.”
— Read on www.un.org/en/observances/world-poetry-day
March 17, 2020
If you will review my new poetry collection, Dark Fathers, on Amazon and/or Goodreads, I will send you a free eBook copy.
If you will review my new poetry collection, Dark Fathers, on Amazon and/or Goodreads, I will send you a free eBook copy.
Email me at davidanthonysam@gmail.com if you want to participate. This offer is good through the month of March 2020.
March 15, 2020
Review: Early Hour – A fine a small collection to be savored.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In “Early Hours,” Michael McGriff weaves his wife into the world of nature around her, using imagery that in itself would not be erotic to describe the emotional and physical love he has for her. These are not simple poems, though the language is accessible and real. Death lingers at the center as well as at the edges, but the knowledge of mortality makes his love grater and not bitter.
So many poets today strain to juxtapose images in an attempt at some kind of surrealism–and most often fail. McGriff’s imagery seems right even as it causes you to gasp at what has been gathered together in a sentence or a phrase:
the outline of your face
is sky-written in the black loam
of thunderheads.
Another example:
because the river’s teeth
still gnash
against [the horse’s] flank
and its eyes
stil have the luster
of black china
glowing black-bright
in the glass hutch of memory
The imagery is both from nature and domestic life, putting himself, his wife, their relationship and their daily living deep into the natural world–as it should be.
A fine a small collection to be savored.
