real sofistikashun: essays on poetry and craft –by Tony Hoagland

Nonfiction / Essays

224 pages

5 Stars

I can't think of anything I enjoy more than reading a good poem unless it's reading a good essay, and in this book, I had the best of both worlds. It was not easy forcing myself to read one essay at a time, rather than to read the book cover to cover. 

Hoagland's book talks about modern poetry in an easy-to-understand and accessible manner; he discusses many of the current poets, and how and why they write as they do. 

If you're a poet, there are jewels of great value to be mined in real sofistikashun, if you're a reader of poetry, this book will become necessary to your bedside table. (If you put it on the shelf, it may not be as readily available as you will want.)

Buy this book! Read this book! You will not be sorry.