Customer Reviews

The Endarkenment (Pitt Poetry Series)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first was introduced to the poetry of Jeffrey McDaniel in the late 1990s and -- like every other poet I knew -- I became an instant fan. He released three books with SF's Manic D Press that showcased his quirk, his bravado and his singularly poetic voice: an instantly recognizable thing which is damn near impossible to duplicate.

In 2008, McDaniel published "The Endarkenment," his first book of poetry on an university press and a departure from the looser, spangled verse of his early collections. This book is grounded, adult even, but without losing the McDaniel's unique poetic qualities.

The poems gleam with equals parts awe and heartbreak. He talks with an earned candor about his childhood, his alcoholic past and the birth of his daughter, bending common words and phrases until they become clean, complex instruments for his vision. The book isn't without its humor -- "Boner Etiquette" being an obvious stand-out -- but it really shines when McDaniel takes a hard look into the darker parts of his life.

Highly recommended for fans of McDaniel who want to see the next part of this amazing poet's evolution.

and, boy, was I gasping!! Quirky and funny, but still able to be serious and introspective. Definitely different than a lot of stuff I've read, that is to say, not seemingly stuffy or pretentious. It's just the book of poetry I've been searching for. Couldn't recommend it any more.