ADVANCE REVIEW. The Poet's Corner: The One and Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family, Compiled by John Lithgow

Title:

The Poet's Corner: The One and Only Poetry Book for the Whole Family

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Compiled by

John Lithgow

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ADVANCE REVIEW

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Poetry collection/book to be released as

hardcover November 15th, 2007

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ISBN-13: 978-0-446-58002-1 ISBN-10: 0-446-58002-3

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Published by:

WARNER BOOKS

Hachette Book Group USA 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10169

www.hachettebookgroupusa.com . NOTE:

Includes a bonus CD featuring readings by John Lithgow and friends.

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Price:

$24.99 USD / $31.99 CAN

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Anyone who loves the classics will love this collection, as will those who enjoy readings of poetry in a family context. It is a fine collection, and it includes old favorites along with a few lesser-known pieces by poets of great talent.

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The only problem with it that I could see (aside from common editorial issues -- everyday/every day, E.E. Cummings/e. e. cummings -- since the copy I reviewed is, one should note, an advance copy and as yet is uncorrected), is that of language. Middle English isn't something every family member will be able to decipher, unfortunately. This fact was brought home to me in a very literal way when I read a scattering of poems to my own family. I was, in some cases, reduced to translation. As much as I love Robert Burns, not too many people in today's world will be able to understand what a "cranreuch cauld" is, for example: "The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft agley..." (or 'the best-laid plans of mice and men go oft astray').

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One should note, as I have said before, that the copy I've seen is not the final version. There can -- and probably will -- be changes to the book before its release.

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This book is coming out in hardback 'with a bonus CD featuring readings by John Lithgow and friends' that I would dearly love to hear someday. Poetry, read aloud, has a power beyond belief, which does explain why kings of legend had a powerful fear of bards. Poetry can heal, or it can destroy. Poetry is memorable music sung in one's ear that does not fade much with time.

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Post-editor application, I would, even as a non-habitual reader of classic poems, highly recommend this book for family collections. A green-for-go flag for this one!

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The offerings vary from the fun of Edward Lear (The Owl and the Pussy Cat) to Dylan Thomas (Do not go gentle into that good night), and far, far more. It is a collection of the best of the best, and is put to the reader by a person who loves poetry and has since his childhood. Someone who speaks the language, one might say. I could think of no one better suited to introduce quality works of poetic art to a family context.

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Mr. Lithgow has commented, throughout the book, about the poets and their lives. He speaks in a comfortable, natural way, his literary voice as soothing as his stage projection can be. He brings us the masters of poetry in a context that any family would feel instantly familiar with, and even comforted, in readings either personal or aloud.

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Special thanks to Hachette Book Group for the chance to review this collection compiled by John Lithgow. For information on other books offered or about to be offered by HBGUSA, please visit their website.

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-- The Fireside Reader