The City in Which I Love You (American Poets Continuum) [Paperback]

Li-Young Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1990 | Series: American Poets Continuum (Book 20)

Contents

I.
Furious Versionis

II.
The Interrogation
This Hour And What Is Dead
Arise, Go Down
My Father, In Heaven, Is Reading Out Loud
For A New Citizen Of These United States
With Ruins

III.
This Room And Everything In It
The City In Which I Love You

IV.

The Waiting
A Story
Goodnight
You Must Sing
Here I Am
A Final Thing

V.
The Cleaving

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

These "evocative, mysterious [poems] emphasize the immigrant sensibility." Lee may soon be one of our best poets.
- emphasize the immigrant sensibility." Lee may soon be one of our best poets.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Arise, Go Down
The City In Which I Love You
The Cleaving
A Final Thing
For A New Citizen Of These United States
Furious Versions: 1
Furious Versions: 2
Furious Versions: 3
Furious Versions: 4
Furious Versions: 5
Furious Versions: 6
Furious Versions: 7
Goodnight
Here I Am
The Interrogation
My Father, In Heaven, Is Reading Out Loud
A Story
This Hour And What Is Dead
This Room And Everything In It
The Waiting
With Ruins
You Must Sing
-- Table of Poems from Poem Finder®

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 89 pages
• Publisher: BOA Editions Ltd.; 1 edition (June 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0918526833
• ISBN-13: 978-0918526830
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #411,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book April 26, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

I thought this book was excellent and really brought out the history of the poet's life. You have to know a little bit about the poet in order to fully appreciate the meaning behind these poems. These poems seem very chronological and carries the reader through a cycle of life which the poet has experienced while growing up. These poems are based mostly on the poet's family (first his parents and then his own family). Lee shows how he has become a father and a husband by learning from his own father. In the beginning the reader feels the poet's suffering as his family continuously tries to escape. The poet then takes the reader to America. The poems about his wife and first child are very romantic. It is obvious that he is madly in love with them and is actually awed by them. I felt that the poet was expressing his awe in many things: his awe in the strength of his parents, his awe in the beauty of his wife, his awe in the innocence of his children, his awe in change, and his awe in everything that he has become and all that he has experienced. Lee's stories are very unique and center around the events of his life. I felt that the overall tone of this book was desperate and I think it can be seen that the poet is perhaps struggling to come to terms with himself and all that he has been through. A deep and complicated history is unleashed through these poems.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars lee's second book is good March 11, 2002

By [e-mail] VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Lee's second collection of poems is different from his other collections. the poems are longer and centered around his personal history more than the other two. This collection isn't as strong as his first _Rose_ or latest _Book of My Nights_ but still is a strong collection.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars emotionally exhausting February 28, 2009

By doc peterson VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I was first introduced to Li Young Lee through his collection _Rose_ . The sensuousness of his writing and the vivid language he uses immeadiately struck a chord with me. _The City in Which I Love You_ has the same tangible elements that move me. I was less moved with Lee's poetry about his father and his immigration.

The opening poem, "Furious Versions" was almost overwhelming as Lee retells his families history - fleeing one country for another, fearing for their lives, uncertain of their futures. Its intensity left me breathless and, frankly, uncomfortable. This narrative thread runs through the remainder of the poems collected here, which made for an emotionally exhausting read. Many of Lee's poems are about or relate to his relationship with his father - "A Story" (about a father telling a bedtime story to his son) and "A Final Thing" are the only respites from what otherwise are fairly heavy pieces.

Its said that you aren't really free until your parents have passed away. Given the ghosts with which Lee wrestles with in his poetry, the sense of longing and loss, I'm not sure that statement is true. _The City In Which I Love You_ is dense, powerful and left me emotionally wrung out. I remain a fan of Lee's, but _Rose_ remains far and away my favorite collection of his work.