thisotherbookaccount's review against another edition
3.0
OK, it's more like 3.5.
I generally stay away from prose written by poets. Call me uncivilised, but I am generally not a fan of poetry. But when I heard about this book — A Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety by Donald Hall — I just couldn't pass it up. Death and dying are topics that fascinate me as a reader, and descriptions of this essay seem to promise exactly that — from the perspective of a ninety-year-old poet, no less.
An essay collections, like short story collections, collect both hits and misses. And while the chapters that touch on ageing, death, sickness, solitude and isolation are compelling — easily a five-star read — the book also collects a slew of other essays that are somewhat unrelated to the topics at hand. Sometimes Hall writes of a conversation he overhears at a party, or a dinner party he added a long time ago. There's even a large chunk of the book on all the poets, famous and forgotten, he had met over the years. It would make sense for their inclusions if the essays somehow tie back to the topics of death and dying, but they don't always do. While they do feel like they could perhaps make for good materials for a separate book altogether, collecting them here just seems somewhat out of place. It's like serving mash potatoes in the middle of a dessert course.
But the essays on the topics at hand are so good, so well written, that they struck my heart in the deepest, most tender spots. I cannot say I fully recommend this book as a whole, but sections of this are such wonderfully written essays that I feel everyone should read it. After all, we are all dying as we are living.
I generally stay away from prose written by poets. Call me uncivilised, but I am generally not a fan of poetry. But when I heard about this book — A Carnival of Losses: Notes Nearing Ninety by Donald Hall — I just couldn't pass it up. Death and dying are topics that fascinate me as a reader, and descriptions of this essay seem to promise exactly that — from the perspective of a ninety-year-old poet, no less.
An essay collections, like short story collections, collect both hits and misses. And while the chapters that touch on ageing, death, sickness, solitude and isolation are compelling — easily a five-star read — the book also collects a slew of other essays that are somewhat unrelated to the topics at hand. Sometimes Hall writes of a conversation he overhears at a party, or a dinner party he added a long time ago. There's even a large chunk of the book on all the poets, famous and forgotten, he had met over the years. It would make sense for their inclusions if the essays somehow tie back to the topics of death and dying, but they don't always do. While they do feel like they could perhaps make for good materials for a separate book altogether, collecting them here just seems somewhat out of place. It's like serving mash potatoes in the middle of a dessert course.
But the essays on the topics at hand are so good, so well written, that they struck my heart in the deepest, most tender spots. I cannot say I fully recommend this book as a whole, but sections of this are such wonderfully written essays that I feel everyone should read it. After all, we are all dying as we are living.
mitchellvolk's review against another edition
4.0
Need an honest and articulate literary grandfather? Look no further. His writing is recursive as important memories and moments float to the surface time and time again. I was under the impression you were only allowed to write about something once (Thanks, Donald!). I’m sad to have only discovered him now.
dylanperry's review against another edition
5.0
Reread: September - October 2019
I don’t know if he’s a favorite author, but Donald hall is undoubtedly one of my favorite people and I think that’s a better compliment. I can read these snippets of his life again and again. 5/5
Original Review
4.5/5 Really enjoyed this. Already plan on going back through his catalog; I don't care if it's poetry, memoir, or essays, if Donald Hall wrote it, I'll read it. Simple as that.
I don’t know if he’s a favorite author, but Donald hall is undoubtedly one of my favorite people and I think that’s a better compliment. I can read these snippets of his life again and again. 5/5
Original Review
4.5/5 Really enjoyed this. Already plan on going back through his catalog; I don't care if it's poetry, memoir, or essays, if Donald Hall wrote it, I'll read it. Simple as that.
krismarley's review against another edition
4.0
A Carnival of Losses caught my attention earlier this year as a BookPage Book of the Day, which I typically view between emails or projects at work. I neglected to place on reserve or mark on goodreads, so I was delighted to find it on the Express Shelf at one of my public libraries yesterday. I’ve borrowed Jane Kenyon collections in the past, but this Carnival gives me reason to revisit with fresh eyes. I also plan to revisit Ox Cart Man. 🐂
harrietnbrown's review against another edition
2.0
I love Donald Hall's poetry, and some of his prose. But this book should never have been published. It's disorganized and self-indulgent, and if you care enough about the people he's writing about you've heard these stories before.
corar's review against another edition
4.0
As he approached the age of ninety former poet laureate of the United States, Donald Hall, wrote this collection of essays. In them he reflected on the life of someone approaching the end, reminisced about things that happened to him when he was younger, and recorded his thoughts on his fellow poets. Many of the essays were moving, especially given the perspective of someone who was nearing the end of their life. The section on his thoughts on other poets was less interesting to me, primarily because I am not familiar with most of the people he was talking about. The final essay, "Tree Day," was poignant as it was the one where he most directly addressed the fact that his days were numbered and how he wanted to leave something for the future.
breza's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing connection of thoughts on life, death, and aging. I'm disappointed at this isn't on more "Best of 2018" lists.
tacomaven's review
4.0
Read this in one day and enjoyed it immensely. Another old guy who knows how to write.