The Switching/Yard by Jan Beatty

[Susana]

I went to hear this poet read last Sunday in Brooklyn and then had to read this book, her most recent. Continuing with her portrayal of searching for her birth parents (she was put up for adoption by a single mother), this collection focuses as well on train trips.

Here's an excerpt near the beginning from "California Corridor":

On the San Joaquin Line
between Modesto & Merced,
past the arroyos, past the fruit trees
in rows, rows—hands of the farm workers/
beauty always with blood behind it,
nothing free.

She can have amazing wit in the midst of writing about some of the harsher aspects of living. My favorite poem is "Why I Don't F**k Intellectuals" (asterisks are mine--she doesn't censor:

driving the curves
of the river in my old Chevy—

banging
my hands on the steering wheel singing
Back in Black
(still hot after Bon Scott)

air heavy with the Allegheny/
open with love for my baby—


all I want

Beatty is a poet with blue collar roots and casts a tough eye on live and sex, though the last poem in the collection is a very tender love poem and is dedicated to her husband as is the book. I don't know another voice exactly like this one--definitely in my top 3 books read this year.

[Sarah]

Great review. I hadn't heard of her. I find the search for birth parents very moving in itself, so I'd be interested to read this. I like the first excerpt especially.

[Ruth]

Love the bit of California Corridor you quoted. I'll have to check on this one.

[Jen]

She sounds diverse in tone. You've made me curious.

[Susana]

Very diverse. Everything from Jim Morrison peeing on his audience to poems of incredible yearning.

[Nina]

I've had this book on my list for awhile, and your review has pushed me-I will order it tonight!