Excellent review, Mike! I especially like the phrase “nuanced sentimentality” which I agree has a place in poetry, certainly. Why does it get a pass in music lyrics, where there’s often no nuance, but verboten in poetry? The avoidance of sentiment can make way for a whole new kind of cliché, which one runs into in certain incomprehensible pieces. But...
More importantly, this is a must-have book and a balanced and insightful look into it.
Best,
Siham
|