David Anthony Sam's Blog, page 168
November 19, 2017
A Necessary but not enjoyable read
Housefire Elegies by Keith Montesano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
“…[W]e’ll never owe a thing to this nightlong world,” writes Keith Montesano, which might serve as the epitaph for this book as well as life. I did not want to like “Housefire Elegies.” The unrelenting horror of violent death. The nearly random juxtaposition and blending of mixed analogies and metaphors. But perhaps that was Montesano’s point–if there is nothing but violent meaninglessness, then the language should reflect it? For “God has nothing to do do with how tight you hold on” when the tsunami comes your way, or the plane crashes, or the criminal attacks, or the housefire burns. And you are lucky, perhaps you will “live out your days among us all, and escape before you ever know the meaning.”
This is not an enjoyable read–and it is not intended as such. There are good poems, sometimes clubbed to death by overweening focus on the violence–almost a pornography of violence. And the juxtaposition I mentioned sometimes takes a poem nearly off the rails. But if you live in the Untied States of gunfire and mass murder, this is a collection you should read. You will, of course, have to make your own meaning elsewhere.
November 16, 2017
Flawed by worth reading
Sixty Days and Counting by Kim Stanley Robinson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I wanted to like this concluding volume of Robinson’s trilogy more than I did–in fact, parts were very good. What holds me back and reduces my rating is primarily the naive politics, often expressed in unbelievable blog “chats” by the President of the US. The conspiracy suspense story is fun and exciting. The “domestic” drama of a father trying to do right by his young sons also good. The science in the science fiction is plausible and the effects of global climate change all-too likely. Then there is the unlikely resolution to all-things China that spoils much of the end of the book. I do like the weaving of Buddhism, science, and real politik. And the characters are complex and interesting.
November 15, 2017
The Sea Letter will publish my poem “The Exile is his Diary” online and in in an upcoming print issue
The Sea Letter will publish my poem “The Exile Is His Diary” online and in in an upcoming print issue.
November 13, 2017
A comprehensive guide through the incomprehensible mind of genius.
Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A biography itten through the lens of Leonardo’s jounals, this work by Isaacson is a comprehensive journey through the comprehensive but incomprehensible mind of a genius. Organizing by topic as much as chronology, Isaacson helps us see how Leonardo sought to understand all things and reveal the intersections and connections within.
November 12, 2017
November 11, 2017
November 10, 2017
Tell me what you think of the new look for my website in the comments box
Tell me what you think of the new look for my website in the comments box: http://www.davidanthonysam.com/
November 6, 2017
The Voices Project has published my poem “War of Headlines” on its website
The Voices Project has published my poem “War of Headlines” on its website.
November 5, 2017
Please Like and Follow my Facebook Poetry Page
Please Like and Follow my Facebook Poetry Page
November 4, 2017
A Worthy Effort
We Deserve the Gods We Ask For by Seth Brady Tucker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Seth Brady Tucker’s collection seems earnest. But for me the conceit of superheroes mixed with real or imagined characters doing dramatic monologues did not work well enough. Perhaps a bit more editing–and I don’t mean the occasional typos–would have strengthened what is a noteworthy effort at describing PTSD and the soldier’s experience, as well as giving voice to other speakers. The diction sometimes stretches too far and is in danger of trivializing heartfelt emotion. Nonetheless, “We Deserve” is worth reading at least once.
