Recommended
at Alran
Books, distributor of
educational materials.
"I love this
book. It's a terrific text for teaching poetry, but also
writing in general."
--Deb
McKew, teacher, workshop leader, creator of
Words In
Play.
I enjoyed
Fogel as a guide and teacher even more than I enjoyed her
poetry. Unlike many “textbooks,” Fogel’s handbook is a
slow-paced, plushly exampled, and contemplative view of how
poets use SHAPE, WORDS, SOUND, IMAGES, EMOTION, AND
THOUGHTS . . . [Strange
Terrain] carefully examines how poetry
works in integrating these elements to make meaning. And,
after demystifying poetry, she celebrates the parts of
poetry that we do not get, endorsing “remystification” and
lack of tidiness as an appropriate response to a poem. I
think this book is a refreshing one for all readers of
poetry, and it led me to appreciate some poetry that I
might have missed before.
--Tim Averill,
for Goodreads, 4-star review.
This
month I'd like to recommend Alice B. Fogel's
Strange
Terrain: A Poetry Handbook for the Reluctant
Reader. The book
is designed to make poetry comprehensible and enjoyable to
those who are intimidated by it. And it serves that
purpose, but it also is a kind of primer, taking the reader
chapter by chapter through an understanding of the elements
of poetry. What to look for in a poem? What to appreciate?
I think the book would also be useful to those hoping to
enhance their own writing skills. It might also be useful
to someone planning to lead a workshop as it proceeds in a
developmental way with first things first, then moving on
to more challenging areas. One aspect of this book that I
find unique and interesting is that Fogel uses her own
poems to illustrate the poetic concepts. I wasn't sure if I
would like that approach, if it would seem egomaniacal. And
what if I didn't like her poems? However, I found it
enlightening and fascinating to observe a poet analyzing
her own work, to witness this poet's mind at work. And I
did like her poems.
--Diane
Lockward, from “Blogalicious,” Dec. 1, 2010,
http://dianelockward.blogspot.com/2010/12/mystery-solved.html