The Haiku Year [Paperback]

Tom Gilroy (Author), Jim McKay (Author), Grant Lee Phillips (Author), Rick Roth (Author), Douglas Martin (Author), Anna Grace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

Michael Stipe and six friends agree to write one haiku a day and mail them to each other. At the end of the year, they realize that their collection of simple, critical observations has given them a new way to look at the details of their lives.

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." --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press; 1st edition (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887128255
• ISBN-13: 978-1887128254
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,340,107 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.