The Haiku Year [Paperback]

Michael Stipe (Author), Douglas Martin (Author), Grant Lee Phillips (Author), Tom Gilroy (Author), Anna Grace (Author), Rick Roth (Author), Jim McKay (Author), Steve Earle (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 29, 2004

Seven friends made a pact to write haikus every day for a year as a way to keep in touch with each other. The result is The Haiku Year. Michael Stipe’s entries recall his twilight-drenched lyrics for R.E.M. Douglas Martin’s spare, elegant prose illuminates the hidden corners of life while Grant Lee Phillips thoughtful storytelling is pared down to the simplest language. Hinting at the transcendence and banality of everyday life, the short verses signify an appreciation for small moments of beauty and ultimately urge readers to let these realizations pierce through the numbness of their daily routines. Photographs are included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The real revolution will begin when we all start communicating with each other with love, honesty and purity of heart -- and this book in its own way, is a three-line leap in that direction."

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press; 2nd edition (March 29, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932360166
• ISBN-13: 978-1932360165
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,486,497 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not classic, but Inspiring haiku, bringing art into everyday, January 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Haiku Year (Paperback)

I received this book as a gift from a friend a couple of years ago which inspired our circle of friends to start our own little haiku challenge. The poetry in this book is a collection of snippets from the lives of ordinary but creative people. It proves that everyone can find a little bit of revelation in their lives, in things as simple as a map or mist rising in the cold. And by sending those little snippets to friends they stayed as much a part of each others lives as if they were right next door. I really recommend dipping into this collection and maybe even starting your own haiku challenge...it isn't meant to be classic haiku, but simply enlightenment in daily life, given with love from one friend to another.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great collection of senryu, August 11, 2000

By 

Paul Wigelius - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haiku Year (Hardcover)

This collection includes some of my favourite poems rendering a very wide range of different situations, observations and feelings. To be precise, "The Haiku Year" is a collection of senryu rather than haiku and only few of the poems have any reference to the season. Instead, most of them focus entirely on different aspects of human life. Many of the poems deal with urban life and a modern life-style. Another thing which makes "The Haiku Year" different from many other collections is its tone. It is less formal and shows less decorum than any collection I have ever seen, which I think is great. But if you object to bad language etc, you may find it too provoking. However, to those who celebrate every aspect of human existence, I heartily recommend it.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Affirmations, frustrations and love poems, May 28, 2000

By 

Leigh (The Tri-State Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Haiku Year (Paperback)

One of the hardest things to do - as a writer - is to keep things succinct. It is so amazing that the group of writers who had 'a haiku year' all manage to beautifully express moments of their lives in a few lines.

Though the poems vary in perspective and subject, they convey equally strong emotions. This book is enough to make you want to gather your own circle. And it's small size makes it easy to bring with you wherever you may travel - whenever you are in need of 18 words of affirmation, frustration or love. It's one of the few books I make sure is near my desk at all times.