Customer Reviews

Chair in the Desert: Poems

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First off -- I'm far more comfortable reading box scores than I am poetry. But "Chair In the Desert" is a good read; intellectually challenging and enlightening, which I suppose good poetry is meant to be. While Mr. Chess uses the template of his Jewish experiences as a focus, the poems are global in theme. Anyone who has a teenage child, or was ever a teenager themselves, will appreciate "Leviticus for Daughters". Many of the poems have a meter that sounds like chants one might have heard take place in synagogues and houses of learning centuries ago.

You never know what you're going to get with religious/spiritual themed poetry, but this book is a delight. Rhythmic, searching, personal. Being Jewish does give you a running head-start on some of the references and metaphors, but it isn't a necessary pre-requisite for enjoyment. I'm going to check out Richard Chess' other books.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FICTION ISLES IN A BOOKSTORE. BUT, WHEN A FRIEND OF MINE SUGGESTED I READ RICHARD CHESS' "CHAIR IN THE DESERT", I RELUCTANTLY TOOK HER ADVICE, AND HAVE SINCE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART. CHESS' WORKS, INCLUDING MY FAVORITES, "LEVITICUS FOR DAUGHTERS" AND "I AND THOU BABY" APPROACH TWENTY FIRST CENTURY ISSUES GARNISHED WITH AN OLD TESTAMENT LORE. THE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES SKILLFULLY DEPICTED BY THE POET IN THIS COLLECTION LEAVE THE READER DEEPLY SATISFIED, AND YET BEGGING FOR MORE. DUE TO "CHAIR IN THE DESERT", I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO GOES STRAIGHT TO THE FICTION AISLES...BECAUSE THAT'S THE QUICKEST WAY TO THE POETRY.