Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge discussion

This thread is for dropping ideas, questions, resources, comments, and discussion about Task 17: A Collection of Poetry.

http://bookriot.com/2014/10/07/50-fav...

Delirium- Poems by Drew Hoffman

Leaves of Grass for me. Or maybe e e cummings - I've only read a few of his poems and I thought they were very pretty.

I think Citizen: An American Lyric would fit under this? Yes? https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/c...

Karin wrote: "I think Citizen: An American Lyric would fit under this? Yes? https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/c..."

Hope so, I'm planning on reading Citizen for this one too.

Melissa wrote:
Hope so, I'm planning on reading Citizen for this one too."

Nice! do you have an idea when you'll be reading it?

The Golden Gate has been in my TBR pile for a long time.

I plan to read Dog Songs for this category.

Poetry? As good a reason to grab Bo Burnham's Egghead as any I guess :)

Think I'm going with W. B. Yeats for this one, I don't really own a whole lot else as far as poetry goes. I'm woefully under-read in this category. Maybe an old epic poem like The Iliad/The Odyssey.

I've been meaning to read Meditations in an Emergency since hearing Don Draper read from it in Mad Men, so I'm going with that.

I'm using mostly books that I already own for the challenge, but I don't own much poetry, so I bought A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry today for this category. It has a nice variety of poems from different time periods and different cultures and includes many classic poets, so I think it will be interesting.

I'm reading Citizen too, but I would recommend Life on Mars, Prelude to Bruise or Kyrie: Poems which I've read/re-read recently and are all wonderful.

Kenny wrote: "I've been meaning to read Meditations in an Emergency since hearing Don Draper read from it in Mad Men, so I'm going with that."

Frank O'Hara is one of my favorite poets. Good choice!

I really enjoyed Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
It was good as an audio book too.

Prelude to Bruise for me!

Cynthia wrote: "Prelude to Bruise for me!"
Prelude to Bruise has been on my TBR list since I heard about it, so I'll be finding a copy and reading this one as well!

Carrie wrote: "I've always loved Shel Silverstein. I haven't read him in years, so that's what I'm planning."

Shel Silverstein is wonderful. I love Where the Sidewalk Ends!

I think I will read Brown Girl Dreaming - I've heard that it is so good!

I got The Bees for Christmas, so I'm going to read that :)

I'm reading Forever Fifty and Other Negotiations or If I Had My Life to Live Over.

Kelli wrote: "I plan to read Dog Songs for this category.

"

I was lost on this one, not a fan of poetry, but I love dogs! Thanks for the suggestion!

Your Invitation to a Modest Breakfastby Hannah Gamble is my pick

Will finish "Leaves of Grass."

Lisa wrote: "I think I will read Brown Girl Dreaming - I've heard that it is so good!"

Brown Girl Dreaming is my current audiobook, but there are several poems in it that I loved.

I began my challenge with No Matter the Wreckage by Sarah Kay. I thought to include it as my Indie Press task, but then I found that Empathy Exams is by an indie publisher so that will be my pick for that category.

I never read poetry and am clueless for this category. I would love recommendations. I've only read children's books that contain poems.

Teresa wrote: "I never read poetry and am clueless for this category. I would love recommendations. I've only read children's books that contain poems."

Maybe you should try something by Shel Silverstein or Jack Prelutsky.
If you want to read novels written in verse Ellen Hopkins might be worth a gander as well as Brown Girl Dreaming which could also serve as an award winner.

Jeimy wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I never read poetry and am clueless for this category. I would love recommendations. I've only read children's books that contain poems."

Maybe you should try something by Shel Si..."

Thank you, Jeimy. I didn't know Jacqueline Woodson's novel was in verse. I will try that one. We own Shel Silverstein's books as my youngest son loved his books.

Never having had much affinity for poetry, I thought I might try something by Rilke or Rumi that were acquired with the best of intentions but never actually read. I was also given Ten Poems to Change Your Life as a coffee table book some time ago and couldn't get through it. Then I saw a podcast that talked about by Christine Heppermann, and I think this seems like a good fit for something that might keep me engaged. I love fairy tales, and the premise for this collection seems really fantastic.

Jenn wrote: "... Then I saw a podcast that talked about Poisoned Apples Poems for You, My Pretty by Christine Heppermann, and I think this seems like a good fit for something that might keep me engaged. I love fairy tales, and the premise for this collection seems really fantastic. "

I hadn't heard of this one, but it's now added to my TBR list. Thanks!

Teresa wrote: "I never read poetry and am clueless for this category. I would love recommendations. I've only read children's books that contain poems."

Highly recommend Frank O'Hara's "Lunch Poems" or, if you're into more contemporary poetry, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz's "Dear Future Boyfriend" or Richard Siken's "Crush."

Book riot -- does a book-length poem count as satisfying this category ? I was thinking about tackling The Illiad for this one. (I'm embracing the "harder" aspect of the challenge!)

Upasna wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I never read poetry and am clueless for this category. I would love recommendations. I've only read children's books that contain poems."

Highly recommend Frank O'Hara's "Lunch Po..." Thank you so much for the recommendations, Upasna! I will definitely look into these!

I'm reading, Langston Hughes Selected Poems. It is so good. I have to keep stopping and reading poems out loud to whoever is nearest (sometimes I'll admit that's the cat). I thought poetry was going to be one of the hardest categories for me but stumbling on this volume at my library made my heart leap.

Laura wrote: "Book riot -- does a book-length poem count as satisfying this category ? I was thinking about tackling The Illiad for this one. (I'm embracing the "harder" aspect of the challenge!)"

Sure!

I plan to read Rare Earth, which was written by one of my favorite professors. I bought it awhile ago and haven't gotten around to it. He is also LGBT-identified, if anyone is looking to cross off two items with one book.

I'm going to reread "The Surrender Tree Poems of Cuba's Struggle for Freedom" by Margarita Engle, which Is classified as children's poetry. I have the version which has the Spanish version & the English translation. I'm reading both.

Anyone interested in love poems? Pablo Neruda's work is BEAUTIFUL!

I'm going to read Mary Oliver's newest book: Blue Horses. I adore her poetry. Blue Horses: Poems

Would The Fall of Arthur count? It's listed as an unfinished poem...

Jenn wrote: "Never having had much affinity for poetry, I thought I might try something by Rilke or Rumi that were acquired with the best of intentions but never actually read. I was also given [book:Ten Poems..."

I was at a loss for this category too and then I read the synopis of this book and I'm excited about it!

I'm reading HEAD OFF & SPLIT by Nikky Finney. I'd love to discuss it with someone.

One of my own -"No More Masks"-American Womens'poetry.

Reading Yellow Tulips: Poems 1968-2011 by James Fenton. Twenty-something pages in, and I like it, though I'm not really sure that I "get" poetry. It's like there's some kind of code that I've never been able to crack.

Karin wrote: "I think Citizen: An American Lyric would fit under this? Yes? https://www.graywolfpress.org/books/c..." Definitely. That is the one I chose, as well. It is stunning. A must-read, especially with all that has transpired in the last year. This book would also work for the "Indie Press" category.

I have a shelf of anthologies!Will start with "No More Masks"a collection of American women poets....

Robert Frost

Meg wrote: "I really enjoyed Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems by Billy Collins
It was good as an audio book too."

I did the audio of this also. Listened twice!

I'll probably do The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke.

Or for religious Jewish poetry, maybe The Ineffable Name of God: Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel or The Spectacular Difference: Selected Poems by Zelda Schneurson Mishkovsky. I've read a poem here and there from both and they're wonderful.