leasummer's review against another edition
2.0
This rating is based on my view of the book and not the skill of the poet.
This poet was recommended by a friend. After I checked this one out, solely based on the word “naturalist”, she said this was her least favorite.
I would say I have a different view of the word naturalist. This looks at family, farming and to the ocean after schooling, assuming it’s chronological. Also lost me at drowning kittens.
Recommended by CW
This poet was recommended by a friend. After I checked this one out, solely based on the word “naturalist”, she said this was her least favorite.
I would say I have a different view of the word naturalist. This looks at family, farming and to the ocean after schooling, assuming it’s chronological. Also lost me at drowning kittens.
Recommended by CW
roe_'s review
5.0
Processional stooping through the turf
Recurs mindlessly as autumn.
(from At a Potato Digging)
Can't believe I've never read this as a full collection before. Heaney is elegant, wise and tactile as ever. A thoughtful book for the colder weather. A treat to see some poems I've never read before, and also to reread the ones I have.
Can't believe I've never read this as a full collection before. Heaney is elegant, wise and tactile as ever. A thoughtful book for the colder weather. A treat to see some poems I've never read before, and also to reread the ones I have.
convoswithkara's review against another edition
4.25
some absolute bangers and will absolutely be reading more of his work. (rating would’ve been higher if it wasn’t for all the dead animal imagery lol)
fionab_16's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This was Seamus Heaney’s first published collection. I already knew some of the poems; Digging, BlackBerry Picking, Mid-term Break, and Personal Helicon were all poems I had heard or read before.
This collection introduced me to more, some stand-outs for me on this reading that I hadn’t heard before were, The Early Purges, Scaffolding, For the Commander of the Eliza and Saint Francis and the Birds. However I think I could come back to this collection at a different time and others would appeal to me.
This collection introduced me to more, some stand-outs for me on this reading that I hadn’t heard before were, The Early Purges, Scaffolding, For the Commander of the Eliza and Saint Francis and the Birds. However I think I could come back to this collection at a different time and others would appeal to me.
adperfectamconsilium's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
'But best of all was the warm thick slobber
Of frogspawn that grew like clotted water.'
Heaney's debut collection from 1966
A book of poetry with language that is rich
Rural Ireland, nature, traditions
Lyrical, memorable linguistic transitions
Of the beauty of nature but fearing it too
Coming of age, a lasting impact
Wells and old pumps provide inspiration
Along with fierce storms, music and art
The death of a child in mid-term break
Birds and Saint Francis and Honeymoon Flight
I'm not a poet
That much is clear
So forgive me my musings
And whatever I've written
But at least it's a start...
...a start and nearly an end because how do you review poetry? I rarely read it. Don't always understand it. But Heaney has a power to his words in this book. Some poems I loved. A couple I wasn't so keen on and maybe a few I gleaned the surface meaning without the full weight that further study would yield.
All I can say is that I enjoyed this book and if you don't normally read poetry then you can't go far wrong by starting with this one.
'Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests
I'll dig with it'
Of frogspawn that grew like clotted water.'
Heaney's debut collection from 1966
A book of poetry with language that is rich
Rural Ireland, nature, traditions
Lyrical, memorable linguistic transitions
Of the beauty of nature but fearing it too
Coming of age, a lasting impact
Wells and old pumps provide inspiration
Along with fierce storms, music and art
The death of a child in mid-term break
Birds and Saint Francis and Honeymoon Flight
I'm not a poet
That much is clear
So forgive me my musings
And whatever I've written
But at least it's a start...
...a start and nearly an end because how do you review poetry? I rarely read it. Don't always understand it. But Heaney has a power to his words in this book. Some poems I loved. A couple I wasn't so keen on and maybe a few I gleaned the surface meaning without the full weight that further study would yield.
All I can say is that I enjoyed this book and if you don't normally read poetry then you can't go far wrong by starting with this one.
'Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests
I'll dig with it'