laynescherer's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe not my favorite of his works, but he's set a high bar for himself (in my esteem at least). A perfectly wonderful read, just not as many stand-out pieces as other collections.
chinarose's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
lsmith36's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
Definitely a collection I would revisit. I found myself enjoying the first two sections of poems the most.
morgs777's review against another edition
5.0
Poetry is one of those things I dream of doing. Of being. I’m not as well-read as I would like to be of this genre but this is the first book that stopped me in my tracks and gripped at my heart since “Ariel.” Recommended to me by one of my favorite bartenders at one of my favorite bars, the titular poem is spectacular.
henryerickson's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
This is a good warm-up to Musical Tables. It’s slower and often seems to be talking about nothing. But good poetry is thinking about things without saying them and this was the definition of that. So I say well done— different but not bad. Excellent in fact.
daniell's review against another edition
4.0
Collins masterfully intersects accessibility, wit, and meaning.
Accessibility
There are no complex forms or strange words used in this book. There are no high conceits, no metaphysics, and no experiences depicted that a given reader might not know themselves.
Collins anchors his subjects in concrete objects and accompanying verbs. Abstraction and stillness are two ways to make poetry suck, and he consistently avoids both.
The downside of accessibility is that it indicates Poetry for Everybody, and near-universal conceits are not always desirable. Those with few objectors deserve scrutiny; beware the entertainer, the enchanter, the hypnotist.
Wit
To wit, here's an example of concrete objects and accompanying verbs, my favorite poem from this work, also a fine example of his wit.
Hangover
If I were crowned emperor this morning,
every child who is playing Marco Polo
in the swimming pool of this motel,
shouting the name Marco Polo back and forth
Marco Polo Marco Polo
would be required to read a biography
of Marco Polo-a long one with fine print-
as well as a history of China and of Venice,
the birthplace of the venerated explorer
Marco Polo Marco Polo
after which each child would be quizzed
by me then executed by drowning
regardless how much they managed
to retain about the glorious life and times of
Marco Polo Marco Polo
Collins is not always this funny, but his wit comes out in ways similar to this throughout this book, though in a less-pronounced way.
Meaning
Poetic meaning can be found when a poet's presented experience reduplicates the reader's similar experience. The theme of this book is, as the title suggests, various takes on death. Death may not seem to relate to his subjects immediately, but even those playing Marco Polo in a hotel pool replicate a kind of Hell-of-repetition for the prisoner narrator. Other topics include ancestors (Poem on the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Trinity School) and progeny (My Unborn Children), both of which are easily considered by anyone ("What of those before? What of those to come?").
If I hadn't already returned this book I would do more explication.
Alas, it is for naught, and like Collins' subjects this review must too taste death. Horoscopes for the Dead is easily worth the price of admission; consider this a recommendation.
Accessibility
There are no complex forms or strange words used in this book. There are no high conceits, no metaphysics, and no experiences depicted that a given reader might not know themselves.
Collins anchors his subjects in concrete objects and accompanying verbs. Abstraction and stillness are two ways to make poetry suck, and he consistently avoids both.
The downside of accessibility is that it indicates Poetry for Everybody, and near-universal conceits are not always desirable. Those with few objectors deserve scrutiny; beware the entertainer, the enchanter, the hypnotist.
Wit
To wit, here's an example of concrete objects and accompanying verbs, my favorite poem from this work, also a fine example of his wit.
Hangover
If I were crowned emperor this morning,
every child who is playing Marco Polo
in the swimming pool of this motel,
shouting the name Marco Polo back and forth
Marco Polo Marco Polo
would be required to read a biography
of Marco Polo-a long one with fine print-
as well as a history of China and of Venice,
the birthplace of the venerated explorer
Marco Polo Marco Polo
after which each child would be quizzed
by me then executed by drowning
regardless how much they managed
to retain about the glorious life and times of
Marco Polo Marco Polo
Collins is not always this funny, but his wit comes out in ways similar to this throughout this book, though in a less-pronounced way.
Meaning
Poetic meaning can be found when a poet's presented experience reduplicates the reader's similar experience. The theme of this book is, as the title suggests, various takes on death. Death may not seem to relate to his subjects immediately, but even those playing Marco Polo in a hotel pool replicate a kind of Hell-of-repetition for the prisoner narrator. Other topics include ancestors (Poem on the Three Hundredth Anniversary of the Trinity School) and progeny (My Unborn Children), both of which are easily considered by anyone ("What of those before? What of those to come?").
If I hadn't already returned this book I would do more explication.
Alas, it is for naught, and like Collins' subjects this review must too taste death. Horoscopes for the Dead is easily worth the price of admission; consider this a recommendation.
compass_rose's review against another edition
2.0
Not my favorite of his collections. No poems even come close (for me) to those in [b:Picnic, Lightning|137110|Picnic, Lightning (Pitt Poetry Series)|Billy Collins|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172087928s/137110.jpg|132141]
bonnabelle's review against another edition
3.0
collins is definitely a talented writer, but i think his subject matter just doesn't suit me well. i can appreciate how smoothly the poems read but it's hard for a line to really grab me like some of my favorites do.
kristyreads's review against another edition
fast-paced
2.0
I’ll just say I’m still relatively new to poetry but this did not work for me like at all. The poems were shallow at best and where was the humor that was touted? Because I didn’t find it. Definitely not a poet for me.