NOVEMBER 2020

 

NOVEMBER

TALLY: 13 Books—6 Poetry; 2 Art; 2 Non-fiction; 1 Fiction; 1 Quote-book; 1 Memoir

A Warm and Fuzzy Christmas by Evelyn Beilenson & illustrated by Giordano (Peter Pauper Press, White Plains, N.Y., 2013). Quote-book. Read Nov. 20.

Being Glimpsed by Christopher Bowers (sp, 2020). Memoir. Read Nov. 28, 2020.

Collecting Miniature Books by Patricia Caernarven-Smith (Wild Onion Press, Haslett, Texas, 2018). Non-fiction. Read Nov. 19.

SONNET(S) by Ulises Carrion (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2020). Poetry. Read Nov. 20. Here's what I've written about it:

Hot damn. I found a rare one: a poem, in this case a poetry project, that elicited the deeply yet happily jealous reaction on my part:

I WISH I’D WRITTEN THAT!

I refer to arguably the wittiest poetry collection I’ve read this year which is nearly ending:

SONNET(S) by Ulises Carrión

Once again, Ugly Duckling Presse proves itself my favorite poetry publisher by introducing this Mexican poet to me. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY (that's tres, y'all) RECOMMENDED.

I AM SO HAPPY when I see another poet creating with such virtuosity!

The President is Missing by Bill Clinton and James Patterson (Little Brown / Knopf, 2018). Fiction. Read Nov. 5-30.

7 DAYS: expanded edition edited by Holly Crawford (AC Books, 2020). Art. Read Nov. 5-9.

The Friends' Night Before Christmas by Nina Edwards (Peter Pauper Press, 2003). Poetry. Read Nov. 26.

Alias City by Carol Frost (MadHat Press, 2020). Poetry. Read Nov. 19.

Maps for Migrants and Ghosts by Luisa A. Igloria (Southern Illinois University Press, 2020). Poetry. Read Nov. 11.

Ascension and Return: Poetry of a Village Daoist by Rene J. Navarro (Tambuli Media, Spring House, PA, 2020). Poetry. Read Nov. 17.

Life in Space by Galina Rymbu, Trans. by  Joan Brooks (Ugly Duckling Presse, 2020). Poetry. Read Nov. 30.

City of Shadow & Light by Diane Sahms (in manuscript, 2020). Poetry. Read Nov. 9. Reaction: "Diane Sahms’ City of Shadow & Light opens with the loss of two sons and continues to hearken more challenges as the book unfolds. But as she quotes from Jung in one epigraph, dark shadows only heighten the brightness of light. Thus, the book’s ending of “light” is hard-earned, and the fortitude is as inspiring as the “brave Raven, who stole light / from total darkness // for everyone.” The reader is left gladdened that this poet managed to retain her voice and that, despite everything, that “voice, still sings.”"

The Romance of Book-collecting by J.H. Slater (Wild Onion Press, Haslett, Texas, 2018). Non-fiction. Read Nov.22-23.

Foreign Sounds or Sounds Foreign by John Yau (MadHat Press, 2020). Essays/Art/Poetry. Read Nov. 22-26.