Dictee --by Theresa Hak Kyung Cha

Poetry

192 Pages

5 Stars

I am not at all sure what to say, or how to review this book. I bought it, expecting an essay, or perhaps a book of essays, having read Errato     Love Poetry by Cha in The Next American Essay (my review here: http://lenoragood.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-next-american-essay.html). That essay, or excerpt from Dictee, was a mind-blowing experience, so I immediately ordered Dictee. It arrived the other day.

Is it poetry? Is it prose poetry? Is it an essay? Is it hybrid? I have no idea. It is beautiful. It is mind-blowing. I finally chose to read it as poetry and put the line breaks in (mentally) where I thought they belonged. It became, for me, easier to read, and quite enjoyable.

This book is probably not for everyone, but for readers and or poets who like experimentation, new ideas, new ways of thinking and reading and writing, this book is marvelous. Read it as play. As one reviewer advised, buy this book. Flip through the pages, leave it on the shelf, repeat after a few days or even weeks, maybe, I don't know, 3 or 4 times. Live with it. Then invite it out to dinner, a small, intimate tête-à-tête, just the two of you and a glass of wine. The wait, and the anticipation, will make it worth the while.

Two things about this book I found somewhat frustrating. There are a great many black & white photos, and I wanted to know who or what they were. And Ms Cha was murdered, I believe the week this book was released, so treasure it when you buy it. It's her last book. Her death is tragic and our loss is deep.

The Book of Qualities --by J. Ruth Gendler

Nonfiction / Philosophy?

100 pages

5 Stars

This little book came into my life on a whim. I saw it, and bought it, and am delighted I did so. Gendler talks about the Qualities in our lives—both the good ones, and the not-so-good ones; and how to live with them, or show them the door, whichever is needed.

Her first Quality is Pleasure—wild and sweet. Her line drawings are delightful (dare I say, pleasurable?). She gives us Competition and Defeat and ends with Harmony and Joy. These are mini-biographies of all the Qualities we have and or will encounter at some time in our lives. Heartily recommend.

A most positive book, and as the Whole Life Times writes: A wry and whimsical mirror in which we catch an unexpected look at ourselves.