In rob mclennan’s Periodicity Journal, prize-winning Ottawa poet Jean Van Loon gives Life, after life—from epitaph to epilogue a very fine reception. Here’s a link to the post:
https://periodicityjournal.blogspot.com/2024/12/jean-van-loon-life-after-life-by.html
JC Sulzenko thanks Van Loon for her careful consideration of this collection of found poems, written under the pen name A. Garnett Weiss.
Van Loon comments on the collection of 60+ poems as a whole and shares her response to three poems in more depth. She concludes her review with these words:
“Though the elements used to write Life, after life are not drawn from poetry, they are drawn from accounts of real lives, each with its specific pleasures and griefs, adventures and disappointments, and Weiss has found the poetry in them. She has creatively selected and juxtaposed concrete and original images, spending time among the original fragments to allow her poetic imagination to discern a thread of story, feeling, mood. The tightly compressed poems she weaves with these threads, convey astute political commentary, emotional weight, and philosophical insight—all applicable to lives beyond those celebrated in the original obituaries. This book is a box of savoury bites to please a poetic palate.”
JC is grateful to rob mclennan for publishing this review on the heels of book launches in Toronto, Ottawa, and Picton.
Copies of Life, after life—from epitaph to epilogue are available through www.jc.sulzenko.com and from these excellent independent book stores: Book City in the Beach (Toronto); Perfect Books and Octopus Books (Ottawa); and Books & Company (Picton).
Chris Fanning reviews LIFE, AFTER LIFE in the December 11 PICTON GAZETTE
Here’s the link to the review written by Chris Fanning, literary maven and co-publisher of the Picton Gazette, Canada’s oldest community newspaper.
https://pictongazette.ca/post/poems-of-many-voices
“I welcome this serious and in depth consideration of my new poetry collection, the second one published by Aeolus House under my pen name, A. Garnett Weiss, ” JC noted.
The 60+ five-line, found poems each take words and phrases unaltered from death notices and obituary articles published in the Globe and Mail over a six year period.
“These poems are more about life than about death, even though the words originate with notices about people no longer with us, ” JC explained.
“When I know that a reviewer is focusing on my work, I await the comments with bated breath. The response to poetry is idiosyncratic, so personal to each reader. I recognize that what may appeal to one reviewer may not appeal to another.”
Chris Fanning’s take on Life, after life offers substantive analysis of and perceptive insights into the collection as whole as well as highlights his reaction to a number of poems, in particular.
“I thank Chris Fanning for his words which honour my work. I am grateful to The Gazette for giving Life, after life–from epitaph to epilogue such a fine reception.”
Copies of the book are available for purchase from this website and from these wonderful, independent bookstores: Books & Company (Picton), Perfect Books and Octopus Books (Ottawa) and Book City in the Beach (Toronto.)
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