How a Poem Moves: A Field Guide for Readers Afraid of Poetry
Author: Adam Sol
Publisher: ECW Press
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Cover Description
A collection of playfully elucidating essays, to help reluctant poetry readers become well-versed in verse.
Developed from Adam Sol's popular blog, How a Poem Moves is a collection of 35 short essays that walks readers through an array of contemporary poems. Sol is a dynamic teacher, and in these essays, he has captured the humor and engaging intelligence for which he is known in the classroom. With a breezy style, Sol delivers essays that are perfect for a quick read or to be grouped together as a curriculum.
Though How a Poem Moves is not a textbook, it demonstrates poetry's range and pleasures through encounters with individual poems that span traditions, techniques, and ambitions. This illuminating book is for readers who are afraid they "don't get" poetry, but who believe that, with a welcoming guide, they might conquer their fear and cultivate a new appreciation.
TL;DR Review
How a Poem Moves is a friendly, accessible, super-digestible read perfect for anyone who wants practice reading poetry, with a smart, funny professor there to point out things you might have missed.
For you if: You are learning to read poetry more closely or intentionally.
Full Review
How a Poem Moves was the third book I picked up in my quest to learn how to read poetry on a deeper level. First was How to Read Poetry Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster, and second was Don’t Read Poetry by Stephanie Burt, both of which were excellent and helpful. This one was absolutely perfect to read next.
How a Poem Moves is basically like a poetry-reading practice book, or like taking a fun class with a smart, funny professor. At only about 200 pages, it contains more than 30 short chapters. Each one presents a single poem at the beginning, and then Adam Sol takes a couple of pages to help point out its brilliance and nuance. It’s sort of like No Fear Shakespeare for poetry, lol.
I really loved how digestible this book was. I actually just picked at it over the course of two months, reading a poem/chapter or two when my brain felt especially curious. Adam Sol is clearly an excellent teacher, and I’m jealous of all the students to get to take classes with him in real life!
If you’re looking for just a little bit of guidance as you practice reading poetry, this book will be perfect for you.