Customer Reviews:
INFORMATIVE BOOK.......2006-02-27
The book, on the whole, does as its title asserts - uses good photographic images to show the reader the various shapes used by Wedgwood. It also offers some guidance as to the rarity of colors used and a basic historical reference.
Even with the wide variety of shapes shown, there were some missing. The identification of the designs was most informative.
great quick reference.......2004-04-05
This is a great book on wedgwood jasperware. It will definitely help identify genuine pieces and offers great illustrations. I thought there would be much larger collection of pieces illustrated within the book though, so I was somewhat disappointed since none of the jasperware I own was even listed in the book.
Author's opinion given as a reference work but pix are great.......2004-02-07
The title of this book suggests that it is a guide to all Wedgwood Jasper Ware, but the author concentrates strictly on dipped jasper ware. The title should indicate this. The text of the book also is filled with the author's opinions that dipped jasper ware is somehow superior to solid Wedgwood jasper ware and that the latter category of wares is rather declasse. He is certainly entitled to his opinions but they should not be presented as standard for Wedgwood collectors. His collection (and therefore his book)concentrates on a very specific period of production that he prefers but as I stated above the title does not indicate this. Having said that, am I sorry that I purchased this book (indeed pre-ordered it and waited several months for it?) Not at all. The photographs are sumptuous, and that section of the book is superb. The shapes of the pieces and subjects of the bas reliefs listed apply to all types of Wedgwood wares, dipped jasper, solid jasper, basalt, Queensware, drab ware, etc. For this very reason, the book is a valuable reference. Quality books on Wedgwood are few and far between and older ones are difficult to find if one wants to own them and not have to go to a library. In conclusion, drool over the pictures, but divide the text into two categories: Wedgwood history (which the book is short on) and author's opinion (of which there is plenty.)
An addendum of second thoughts:
The book convinced me to acquire my first piece of dipped jasperware. I can certainly see why the author raves about the quality of the workmanship during this period of production. The dipped jasper has qualities that more modern solid jasper does not offer but the solid jasper has wonderful qualities of its own. I will not go so far as to say that one is superior to the other, but that each needs to be appreciated for what it is. I am grateful to the author for expanding my (Wedgwood jasper) vision.
Finally a book on 19th and 20th century Wedgwood.......2004-02-05
While many books have been written about Josiah Wedgwood and 18th century "first period" production, there has been very little information for the collector of 19th century jasperware. Until now. Michael Herman has written a wonderful guide to explain and classify the wide range of dipped jasperware and bas relief ware produced by the Wedgwood factory. If all this book did was to identify the myriad of shapes with their proper shape names, it would be a must read for all collectors and dealers. But the author also provides a wealth of detailed information from his vast expertise on the subject of Wedgwood. A history of jasperware production is given, bas-reliefs are identified, the wide range of colors explained and dated, and there is even a section on jewelry. I definitely enjoyed reading the book and have discovered many new pieces that I want to add to my collection. I look forward to new books by this author.
A Collector's Guide: The Shapes of Wedgwood.......2004-02-02
A collector's guide and shape book filled with wonderful color photographs of the many varieties of Wedgwood jasper ware dip. Author Michael Herman shares his knowledge and experience with other collectors.
It not only provides basic information so important to the beginning collector. It is a resource for all collectors in this area. Each piece is identified as fully as possible-including the bas relief figures.
Dark blue does predominate, not a surprise, as it was the most popular color. Still the other jasper ware colors are well represented.
Most of the pieces illustrated were made between the mid 19th century and the virtual end of jasper dip production in 1940. It is indeed refreshing to have a book that focuses on this period in this area of collecting. The timeless appeal of Wedgwood jasper ware is so well illustrated.
Average customer rating:
- Mixed bag
- Natural Beauties with Natural Light...
- Narrow definition, but true beauty
- Natural Beauties
- art photography
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Natural Beauties
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ASIN: 3936709084 |
Book Description
A compilation of color nude photos from 20 erotic photographers, introducing a new style of Nude Art: Simple Nudes, focusing exclusively on a model's beauty. The Simple Nudes philosophy is to ""simply"" celebrate the model's beauty, and not subsume the model to any other purpose, not sex, not Art, not commercialism. Like the Dogma film movement from Europe, Simple Nudes are characterized by * the inherent beauty of the model in the natural state * no forced poses * no unnatural styling or props This new, independent form of expression, also named DOMAI style, from the web site which invented and champions it, is not a compromise between Art nudes and sex nudes, but is a true third art of nude appreciation.
Customer Reviews:
Mixed bag.......2007-09-26
I found the quality of the photography ran the entire gamut from the very amature effort that almost anyone with a point-and-shoot camera could accomplish to some exceptionally professional work. Unfortunately, there was too little of the latter.
I was, however, pleasantly surprized to see tht there was little of an overtly soft-porn mode. It seems that too much of the new "nextdoor beauties" photography is just a thinly-veiled, soft-porn eroticism. Still, there was little that would be considered fine art. But, then again, as the author says, that's not the purpose of the book. Just nice pictures of pretty naked girls. It works.
Natural Beauties with Natural Light..........2007-04-13
As a glamour and nude photographer myself, I purchased this book for ideas and inspiration--I was not dissatisfied at all. I love the use of natural lighting, sometimes less means more and this book packs more than most if you're a connoisseur of natural beauty. I recommend anyone interested in this type of photography, buy it now!
As an author of Garage Glamour: Digital Nude and Beauty Photography Made Simple, and Rolando Gomez's Glamour Photography: Professional Techniques and Images I recommend this book should not only be on a collector's list, but for any student of photography--we're always learning no matter what level your photography. ---Rolando Gomez, contributing writer, Studio Photography magazine
Narrow definition, but true beauty.......2007-01-14
I really enjoy this collection, for all the reasons the editor want me to like it for. The models are young, charming, and unaffected. Their poses are [generally] natural and comfortable. Their figures vary somewhat, as people do - some fuller of bust, some charmingly slender. Each one looks like someone I'd like to meet. The big artistic concept here is that there is no big artistic concept. I also like the multiple images and poses of each model, showing more of the variety there is in each unique woman.
Still, the models do tend towards a type: European in features and coloring, twentyish and young-looking even so, and the figures vary only within a limited range. The look is beautiful (or at least pretty), but just one of the many kinds of beauty in the world of women. If you don't have to spend too much, it will add a soft and warm touch to any collection of figure photography.
//wiredweird
Natural Beauties.......2006-11-10
It was refreshing to review a book of nude photographs of women where the photos were real, untouched & not posed in a way to exploit the models. I have always had an interest in nude photography & the beauty of the female form. Top marks to the photographers, models & editor.
art photography.......2006-11-03
So the premise of this cute little book is the overlapping or merged ground between art and erotica. By and large the photos are a success. the woman and settings photographed are truly beautiful, sometimes as art, sometimes as erotica, and usually as both. Some of the women have what is best described as an unusual beauty, as do some of the backdrops. There are a phenomenal number of models from the eastern block. One of the memorable backdrops is of an eastern european or russian forest which has been leveled for timber, leaving a sea of stumps... I can recommend this book as a very nice addition to either a photography book collection or a collection devoted to an appreciation of the female form.
Book Description
A beautiful collection of sensitive and often abstract nudes by award-winning photographer Robert Farber. Newly released in paperback, this bestselling collection is now available to a wider audience.
Customer Reviews:
Big and inviting.......2007-03-26
This is a mix, some sharp-edged still-lifes (e.g., plate 35) and skyscapes (68, 75), among other topics. This is really about Farber's nudes, though. A few (e.g. 37, 78) are shot outdoors. Many of the models appear indoors, where jagged plaster (74) or stony, spare surroundings (85) set off the smooth curves of the model. In others, domestic surroundings (17, 51) set a gentler tone. Most of my favorites are among the studio shots, though. In them, Farber captures many moods, from dreamy distance (22, 28), to affection (69) or a lovingly humorous sense (61) that works at many levels. One grouping conveys a much more complex emotion. In includes Farber's Newseek cover (4) on breast cancer, but others (5, 25, 65) give a similarly defensive feeling, somehow afraid of betrayal by one's own body.
Many of the images simply, almost abstractly express the elegance of the human shape. Some (83 and especially 49) examine the whole woman. A large number are faceless, sometimes captured from behind (6, 66) but more often cropped (13). Even the arms and legs of the model (39, 63) or group (40, 45) may be cropped, leaving only the elegance of the torso. I find something unsettling in these pictures - the anonymous intimacy, but also something I have no good word for. What's the opposite of "disembodied," when only the body is left?
One thing about this collection works badly for me: Farber's fondness for graininess or blur. I like the informal sense of having escaped from a razor-edged world, but the degree and frequency of grain and blur suit an esthetic that I lack. So, on the whole, I come away from this collection with a mixed sense. I enjoy much of it, and big parts of many individual works. Much of it does little for me, though.
//wiredweird
Three and One-half Stars.......2006-07-21
This is a book that could have been much better. Most of the photographs present a grainy, soft appearance, with varying degrees of abstraction. Many of the pictures are much smaller than the book's page, and too many extend across two pages--something that spoils the natural coherence and visual flow of a composition. There is a good mix of black-and-white, sepia, and color shots. The variation of natural objects and scenes with nudes is largely effective. Most of the nudes are partial shots, such as a torso. A couple of the photographs are outstanding, but only a couple.
A close look into the world of natural beauty.......2005-01-28
Robert Farber is by far one of the most well known photographers of nudes and fashion. One can not mistake his work, his soft style with a mix of hard grain.
This book is a large collection of his work in nude photography throughout his years in photography. Each plate in this book has its own feel and meaning, drawing the viewer into his work even more. It is no wonder that Farbers works are displayed in permanent collections around the world.
The book is beautifully published on thick warm toned paper, which is perfect for displaying his work, do to the fact that these reproductions are about as close as you can get to the real thing.
The book does not display just nudes either. Scattered throughout the book are chrome shots of landscapes and portraits of flowers as well, hence the name "Natural Beauty". Every page in this book is a wonder. Once you get to the back, a small index of each photo is displayed with text by Farber on how he went about making each and every photo in the book. This is great because you really get to see how he goes about his creative process.
This is a great coffee table Monograph of beautiful photographs that cannot be passed up. This is a very important monograph that all photographers and collectors alike should have. Not many photographers are able to mimic Farbers style, other than the legend David Hamilton and the newcomer Richard Murrian, which makes the works in the book stand out like no other.
excellent artist and book.......2003-04-18
If you are a fine art photographer you already know the artist, he is without a doubt in the top ten today. If you are into fine art this book is a must for your personal library. If you are like myself a photographer who is inspired by incrediable work, both artistically and techincally this is a must for you as well. The images capture the hidden grace and beauty of the female form while avoiding being typed as graphic or other negatives. His style is well defined and the lighting is simple yet effect and the use of cropping guides the viewer along the lines like a short classical musical melody. Come and be inspired.
A beautiful piece of work.......2002-04-16
This book is a wonderfully presented collection of interesting fine art photos. The creative moody use of grain is quite inspirational. It occupies a proud place on my shelf.
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- A Pleasing Look into Ukrainian Nudism
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Happy Naturists: Natural Nude Living in Ukraine
A Litovchenko
Manufacturer: Edition Reuss,Germany
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ASIN: 3934020259 |
Customer Reviews:
A Pleasing Look into Ukrainian Nudism.......2004-08-02
Naturists of all ages and body types are celebrated here in this first publication from Andrii Litovchenko, the founder and president of KCN (Kiew Commonwealth of Naturists) in Ukraine. Litovchenko's photography is a simple documentary of the lifestyle and activities that go on at the club. Much of the work is similar to what one would find in almost any book of nudism; groups of sun lovers playing and frolicking and genuinely enjoying life au natural, but there is an noticeable focus on the beautiful young women of the organization and some of it is very probing and revealing. For example, there are numerous shots of young ladies with their legs spread, exposing their genitals in a completely uninhibited manner. This is not to suggest that Litovchenko's work is in any way gratuitous or exploitive, it was probably included just to give the book a little edge, and in no way detracts from the charm of the book as whole.
The entire book is comprised of vibrant, color photography and consists of 128 pages. If living natural and nude is your thing, or even if just viewing others enjoying the lifestyle, then this book is sure to impress.
Product Description
Articles on Palm Springs, South Africa, Europe, Cable TV, weddings, and gatherings.
Product Description
Articles on Topfree, Russia, Gay Nudism, and Modesty.
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Harlequin Pink: The Bachelor Prince (Harlequin Ginger Blossom Mangas)
Debbie Macomber , and
Misao Hoshiai
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ASIN: 1593075367 |
Book Description
Prince Stefano was a man most girls could only dream of meeting. And now the very handsome - and very eligible - bachelor has come to America in search of the girl he would someday make his bride! Hope Jordan's prince has finally come - but there is no happy ending in sight. Her royal suitor needs a wealthy wife to save his country from ruin, but Hope has nothing to offer Stefano except her love. Hope Jordan was the first woman to capture Stefano's soul, but will he give up his kingdom for her love?
Customer Reviews:
Don't Even Bother.......2006-06-21
False advertising, supposedly there are 200 pages but that's not even close. It's a translation of a japanese story, looks more like a comic book than a book, and reads from back to front in Japanese style! Nothing on the Amazon site warned of this presentation.
Amazon.com
In our increasingly visual culture, a growing amount of what we learn about history comes from the movies. This unusual and cornucopian book draws on the knowledge of 60 experts who examine the historical accuracy of a splendid array of classic movies such as Julius Caesar, Aguirre the Wrath of God, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Last of the Mohicans, Gallipoli, and Gandhi. They reveal what each movie has done right and wrong in portraying the complex threads of the stories as known to the world's most qualified scholars. Highly Recommended.
Book Description
In this widely-acclaimed volume, some of our greatest historians address the facts-and fiction-as seen in Hollywood's often epic recreations of historical events. Distinghuished historians such as Stephen Ambrose, Antonia Fraser, James McPherson, Gerda Lerner, Dee Brown, Frances FitzGerald, David Levering Lewis, and Simon Schama explore the relationship between film and the historical record. Offering hundreds of movie stills, archival photographs, maps, and other illustrations, along with sidebars on related historical events, Past Imperfect sheds new light on the uses of history in popular culture.
Customer Reviews:
The Beauty of the Cinema.......2002-10-03
This book is commendable for its conception but is flawed in its premise and execution. The problem is there are too many fingers in the pie. I would have liked to read about one historian's perspective on all the films reviewed. Instead, each film was addressed and compared to historical recollections by a different author. There is no uniformity of thought or perspective. For instance, I am sure that if Stephen Ambrose had reviewed TORA! TORA! TORA! he may have seen that film in a much more favorable light than did Akira Iriye. One can speculate to infinitum. It is possible to find and read countless books on a given historical topic. The point I am making is that each author has the ability to bring different perspectives or interpretations of historical record that may result in different conclusions of events or more importantly ideas. If you were to ask an auditorium full of historians what was the most important factor contributing to the start of the Civil War I am sure you may get at least five good answers. Perhaps the idea that a film conveys is more important than the accuracy of each step that led to that idea. I think that SPARTACUS is an important film not as a representation of a historical record but for the idea that the inherent rights of human beings to live free is a notion worth dying for. Kirk Douglas as SPARTACUS stated something to the effect that he would never stand by and see two men battle and die just for the amusement of other men. There is something very noble about that statement and to the visuals on the screen that precipitated that assertion. To touch a chord of emotion from the audience is really the magic of the cinema. I never once ever thought that the purpose of the cinema was to teach history. For the audience the main purpose of the cinema is to be entertained and if you take it a few more steps perhaps come away with an idea or spark of imagination. That's the beauty of the cinema.
Good but Not Perfect.......2002-01-24
This is a very interesting and useful book but I don't exactly like the overall point of view that it takes on motion pictures. It takes many historically based films and critiques them by comparing what is on the screen to actual historical events. Each chapter is devoted to one film (in most instances) and is critiqued by a different authority. The one constant that I see running throughout this book is that history does not make for good motion pictures if you are gazing through the eyes of the historian. That disturbs me. Motion pictures are a business as well a legitimate art form. If a historically based movie gets your interest as well as entertains you then perhaps that movie has fulfilled its purpose. The movie is the catalyst. It is up to you to dig up the history book and see what was recorded. And if you dig up a second history book it is very possible that those same events may be recorded slightly different. I liked the critique by Sean Wilentz on "THE BUCCANEER: Two Films" where he states that they stand somewhere in between fact and fiction. Akira Iriye is too critical of TORA! TORA! TORA! When you recall that particular motion picture, that's the one that stands out as a film that tried to get all the facts correct. Americans and Japanese respective of their home countries directed it. Iriye's criticism is almost ludicrous trying to state that inflections in the voices of some of the actors actually distorted the true meaning of their words. In light of PEARL HARBOR (2001) Akira Iriye is way off mark. Marshall De Bruhl's words about THE ALAMO are redundant and superficial. THE ALAMO was John Wayne's screen fulfillment of the legend. THE ALAMO is a great American film and it perpetuates that legend till this day. I liked what Stephen E. Ambrose had to say about THE LONGEST DAY. Ambrose recognizes that half the duality of filmmaking is a business. His approach and comments are very insightful and well written. As seen by James H. McPerson GLORY comes off best. It deserves it. "PAST IMPERFECT" is a good book but I just wish there were more input from the filmmakers.
Can you properly portray history in the movies?.......2001-11-14
When you're both a student of history and a movie buff, as I am, it can be difficult to sit and watch a film that presumes to have an accurate historical context without fighting the urge to evaluate it and pick holes in it. And I'm not the only one. This is a collection of analytical essays, most of high quality, by experts (not all of them historians) analyzing and critiquing individual films: Stephen Jay Gould on _Jurassic Park,_ Antonia Fraser on _Anne of the Thousand Days,_ Thomas Fleming on _1776,_ Dee Brown on _Fort Apache,_ William Manchester on _Young Winston,_ and numerous others. Sticking to those films about which I have some knowledge of the historical events they claim to portray, most are right on the money. James McPherson, commenting on _Glory,_ points out that while the context and general atmosphere are very well done, and the costuming and so on are exact, there are still deliberate historical errors for the sake of drama; none of the soldiers in Col. Shaw's 54th Massachusetts were ex-slaves, for instance, all of them having been recruited from among the state's free black population. And Catherine Clinton does an excellent job taking the wind out of _Gone with the Wind_'s mythical sails. There's a great deal of good information and criticism here and it's a compliment to say that nearly any of these essays will start an argument.
Let's have a revised edition...PLEASE???.......2000-11-08
This book is just too damn interesting not to go into a revised edition that would, welcomingly, include a few more recent examples of the movies portending to convey history. It is cleverly organized, with an actual historical "timeline" that is matched with a selected movie that attempted to portray events for that period or year. It starts all the way back in the Jurrasic period, with "Jurrasic Park," of course. Each movie critique is written by a different film expert or historian, so you get a lot of diversity of perspective as well as writing style. There is a very intelligent interview of director John Sayles ("Eight Men Out" "Metowan") in the preface, which may be reason enough for film buffs to purchase this book.
One can either browse through the book and focus on "favorite" or "hated" films of the past, or read it straight through. Each essay offers at least one very good insight on the nature of history and how elusive the "accurate" accounting of an era or event can be.
The overall impression this book leaves is that movies, for all their ostensible efforts to "recreate" historical realities, will NEVER get it quite right. That's because they are products of their own times, and cannot ever fully escape the sensibilities of their own historical eras. Given this approach, the reader cannot help but gain a deeper appreciation for the exacting work of historians -- even if he or she is first attracted to the book out of interest in film. Films (and histories) explored here include "Spartacus," "Aguirre, Wrath of God," "Houdini" "Anne of a Thousand Days," "Henry V" (both Oliver and Branagh)"They Died With their Boots On", as well as many more. Since this book's publication, there have been more films that have either come close to, or completely mangled historical reality, so a revised edition would be most welomed. So to Mark Carnes, et al. -- PLEASE???
Perfect for the film buff and the historian........2000-07-13
A book that unites two of my passions: history and cinema. Great essays that not only discuss the movies themselves; but also put the times that movies were made in a historical context. These movies often reveal more about the time the movie was made in than the historical period the movie is about.
My only complaint? Wish there wasa volume two!
Customer Reviews:
Content varies greatly from historian to historian.......2007-07-02
Historians review historical movies: great idea!
Do it in the context of political correctness: not such a great idea.
Now I'm familiar with most of the movies as well as the work of many of the reviewers. Most of the individual reviews are dead-on the money as far as I can tell. You can't learn much about history by watching movies, no matter how good they are. In fact, as some of the writers point out, the better some of these movies are the LESS likely they are to portray events accurately.
But what went into the decision-making process of selecting some of these movies? Tea and sympathy? What world-shaking event is THAT movie supposed to be portraying? Fort Apache? It doesn't even purport to portray and actual event. Dr. Strangelove? Come on.
Tea and Sympathy is only included so the author has an opportunity to discuss McCarthy and his rabid anti-homosexual agenda (I guess he didn't like ANYBODY) which is the kind of noise any intelligent and "open-minded" individual is supposed to make these days.
Dr. Stranglelove is included because it looks at how the Third World War was begun by crazed warmongers like General LeMay... oh, wait. That didn't happen.
Apocalypse Now? Well, if that is supposed to be Kerry's latest version of his service in Vietnam, I guess that might count.
There were a lot of other movies which really should have been included but weren't. The Bunker comes to mind, as well as Lawrence of Arabia and the Last Emperor.
Oh well. Maybe someone will take this idea and do it better some day.
Book Description
Combine elements of Bob Marley, Malcolm X, and Patrice Lumumba, and you get a sense of the power of the world's wildest rockstar. Fela created Afrobeat, an infectious mix of American funk and jazz with traditional Yoruba and highlife music, and used it to rail against the corrupt, hypocritical Nigerian govern-ment. Repeatedly targeted by police and military for his rebel-lious, countercultural lifestyle, he created a political party and seceded from the Nigerian state, renaming his commune the independent 'Kalakuta Republic.' Cultural icon and beloved hero of the pan-African world, Fela loomed large: captivating enor-mous crowds with electric performances (in Speedos or superfly suits), cherished by musicians from Paul McCartney to Mos Def, mourned by millions after his death from AIDS in 1997. Now, five years after his death, Fela's record sales continue to soar and thousands flock to his home every year to pay homage to anen-during icon. These essays by music critics, writers, and jour-nalists explore his fiery life and ever-grow-ing legacy.
Customer Reviews:
Multifaceted look at the Legend.......2004-05-13
Afrobeat is a marriage of funk and jazz mixed with Yoruba and Highlife music. Considered the father of the Afrobeat style, Fela Anikulapo Kuti is as famous for his music as his personal life. These essays investigate his life, his art and his legacy, including the controversial issues.
Knox Robinson explores the cult of Fela as it exists today, Mabinuori Idowu recounts the key events in the life of the legend and Joseph Patel discusses Fela's influence on hip hop and dance music. In her first of two essays, Vivien Goldman looks at his spiritual life and in the second she writes about the visual aspects of his world, like fashion, dance etc.
There are also interviews with Fela's son Femi (by Jerome Sandlarz) and an interview with Fela from 1983 by Barney Hoskins. A 1977 diary of John Collins that he kept while acting in the film Black President is included. Other contributors include Delede Jegede who writes about cultural aspects of Lagos and Ghariokwu Lemi, the artist who designed Fela's album covers.
The book concludes with an index and a Fela Timeline from his birth in 1938 to the latest related events in 2003 after his death in the late 1990s. There are 11 color photographs and about 30 black and white ones. The many illustrations include cartoons and a map of Nigeria.
This is a great book that illumines the life and work of this fascinating Nigerian musician and counterculture hero. His lyrics are quoted extensively but there is no systematic rating or reviews section for his albums. The inclusion of a discography would certainly have enhanced the book, especially as a reference source.
Average customer rating:
- What a wonderful read!
- A Worthwhile Trip
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Better to Travel: Selected Poems
Collin Kelley
Manufacturer: iUniverse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0595284094 |
Book Description
“A startling new voice.”
—Patricia Smith, Author of Big Towns, Big Talk
Collin KelleyÂ's debut, Better To Travel, is a haunting cycle of poetry dispatched from the teeming streets of London and New York to the decadence of Paris and New Orleans. From these far-flung outposts, Kelley deftly and unblinkingly conveys the end of a relationship and the need to escape to “sights unseen.” Readers have compared KelleyÂ's poetry to the emotional work of Anne Sexton and Sharon Olds. This is confessional poetry in its truest form: raw, uninhibited and unflinching.
Customer Reviews:
What a wonderful read!.......2003-09-09
I am not an avid poetry reader, especially when it comes to modern poetry, but I loved this book. The poems read like prose that has been distilled to it's purest essence. If you like the cover photo you will like the book. Although many of the poems deal with heartache and loss you feel the strength and deep roots that are there to support those emotions. Just like the tree in the photo that is making it's way through winter and is covered in snow. It is not a sad picture, it is beautiful and so is this book. Kelley stunned me with his elegance and bravery.
A Worthwhile Trip.......2003-08-08
I am seldom invested in poetry books. I usually must imbibe poetry in small does, lest I lose interest. All in all, I prefer prose work. But Kelley's BETTER TO TRAVEL is one of the rare works that sidestepped that preference.
The title itself implies movement, flux, action from somewhere to somewhere. And BTT substantiates this implication consistently throughout. The back cover reveals the book's premise: a physical flight from a moribund relationship. But the destination is more vaguely identified: "sights unseen" (the title of the book's closing piece).
But the flight from heartache is also mental and spiritual, of course. And gradually the reader finds that the flight *from* heartache was not wholly accurate---for the heartache is a fellow passenger on the plane, a haunting mate on London streets, a taunting vision in troubled dreams. The narrator's European trip seems a half-real vacation with a ghost: a reluctant self-exile ("Consider me exiled, expatriate, excommunicated.") from the lost love that he cannot ungrasp.
Kelley is not specific about *who* this lost love is. The flashbacks and lucid imaginations emanate a more essential power and presence rather than a meaty person. The narrator focuses on both real and fantastic shared moments: "How quickly I am in that place that is nowhere at all". He has fled to a dreamscape, a healing purgatory. And he admits this, even to his former love: "Your presence more spectre than spatial."
The book also mentions timely world events and issues that serve as a chronological backdrop for the narrator's journey. By book's end he returns to America, but sees that he is still in a foreign land---for he must relearn language and behavior and even love.
The craft itself can be initially mistaken by folks tired of diary-type works as yet more typical "confessional" poetry. But by the first poem's conclusion, I was relieved and invested. For the rest of BTT I felt as if I was a second set of the narrator's eyes---and a second wounded heart.
Kelley's style is nimble, clever, and injects very notable lines without setting us up for them. They are felt like snowflakes suddenly dropped on noses.
Which brings me to an attempt to describe the book with a brief image that comes to my mind in its regard:
BETTER TO TRAVEL is a snowglobe, just shaken, containing a cozy house locked to the world and those lost outside and a winter-forlorned but beautiful tree. And between the tree and the locked, lighted house a lonely, outcast man is sprawled on his back in the snow, slowly and grievously making snow angels with his arms and legs. Each time the man sweeps his limbs he becomes a bit younger---and the pain that drove him outside breathes out into the snow, freeing him.
I'm not sure why that image arose from my reading Kelley's book, but it serves as a mood indicator: be prepared for both pain and pleasantry, warmth and cold, death and rebirth.
Perhaps the image was planted by a part in my favorite piece:
"Here is the snow I never
saw this season and the
great house I run towards.
If I go indoors does it mean
I cannot cope?"
Average customer rating:
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In the Eye of the Beholder: Critical Perspectives in Popular Film and Television
Manufacturer: Bowling Green University Popular Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0879727535 |
Books:
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- White Graphics: The Power of White in Graphic Design
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- African Art Now: Masterpieces from the Jean Pigozzi Collection
- Aircraft Nose Art: From World War I to Today (Motorbooks Classics)
- American Sublime: Landscape Painting in the United States, 1820-1880
- Anselm Kiefer: Heaven And Earth
- Antique Playing Card Designs CD-ROM and Book (Dover Electronic Clip Art)
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