THE ANIMAL GOSPELS

by Brian Barker

The Animal Gospels is a collection of lyric-narrative poems that explore faith, identity, loss, racism, the transience of being, and coming of age in the South at the end of the 20th century.
Many of the poems tap into the mythic and totemic power of animals in an attempt to bridge the gap between the past and the present, remembering and forgetting, personal history and public history. The book as a whole is shaped by an abiding faith in story, song, and the redemptive power of memory and imagination.

Genres: Poetry

Paperback

Published December 31, 2005

Reviews

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It good.

[Jessica Freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so moved by these poems which read to me as unforced with an an innate understanding of nature, death, and sound. Barker knows how to balance story and sound in a way that many poets don't yet. His use of the land, of spirituality, flooding, and the complicated intelligence of the country that is never really discussed enough in literature are all brilliant here. I admire so much in this book of poems, and perhaps love most the muscular use of language-not overly decorative or ornate, but pounding images stay with the reader and grip us into reading throughout the book. There is something elegant and balanced in this book that really works for me as a reader.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really hoping for a little more from this collection. Sexy Southern boy from VA writes book of mythic poetry involving animals and the south - seriously, what's not to love. And while I have huge respect for the language and sounds of this poetry, I was grabbed until the last 1/4 of the book. The final poem, Monkey Gospel Floating Out to Sea, however, is PHENOMENAL!! This poems really brings all the ideas and themes of the collection together in a musically beautiful gospel for the South and Happiness and Life. I give the last poem 5 stars, the collection as a whole 3.

[Gary McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to stress: 3 stars is ABOVE average. This is a good book, just not a 4-star or above book... in my opinion.

All these 3-star books are good, just not my favorites is all. The 2-star and 1-star books are the ones I didn't like so much, obviously. But this is all objective anyway. Damn ranking systems to hell!!!

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Animal Gospels captures the dark blue charm of the south with poems that cling like humidity. I regret that I read this book during winter; I will revist its passages under a tree in the summer. The poems I especially liked were Guinea Pig Gospel and Gospel With Swine & Fire. The book leaves me wanting more.