The Last American Valentine [Perfect Paperback]

Jack Hirschman (Author), C. Derrick Brown (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2008

This collection features 24 poets, musicians and barflys, all paired up with brilliant American illustrators for a collection of gorgeous and striking love poetry. Brendan Constantine, Bucky Sinister, Buddy Wakefield, Cristin Aptowicz, Derrick Brown, Jack Hirschman, John Gardiner, Lynne Procope, Michael C. Ford, Micael Cirelli, Michael Mcclure, Michael Roberts, Mindy Nettifee, Nathan Willet of Cold War Kids, Richard Swift, Rick Lupert, Roger Bonair Agard, Shappy Seasholtz, Stephen Latty, Victor Infante, Beau Sia, Amber Tamblyn, Agneta Falk, Anis Mojgani

Editorial Reviews

Review

4 out of 3 stars. This book works --Kevin Nealon, formerly of Saturday Night Live

About the Author

Derrick Brown - former paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne, gondolier, magician, and fired weatherman (Flagstaff, AZ) - has performed at over 1500 venues and universities internationally, including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, La Sorbonne in Paris and CBGB's in NYC. As president/captain of Write Bloody Publishing, he is dedicated to bringing American poetry into rock and roll status. He has performed with The Cold War Kids, The Flaming Lips and comedian David Cross. His work has been featured in books with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, and Billy Collins. He lives on a boat called The Sea Section.

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Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 212 pages
• Publisher: write bloody publishing; 1 edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0978998979
• ISBN-13: 978-0978998974
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,120 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love, pain, mystery, and no BS! My new fav. poetry collection., December 14, 2010

By 

Dave O (San Pedro, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last American Valentine (Perfect Paperback)

It's hard to describe how much love I feel for this collection, this press, and all of it's authors. Love is much, much larger than life, and this collection explores that rushing immensity with fiery, street-wise openness, and a steady, close, accepting eye. I'm a writer myself, and all it took was reading "Blue" in LB's Fingerprints to let me know that this book was something big, something critical- a whole movement of no shame, no bounds, and no exclusivity. This book wants to reignite those idyllic hopes you've long since boxed away, and give you a few new ones. I've read lots of poetry, went through lots of establishment and anti-establishment work at UC Riverside getting my degree in creative writing, and I have to say this is, by far, my favorite poetry collection and press.

Brown is an editing animal, expansiveness and intimacy layered together over and over with an amazing dedication to illustration. The inscription on the inside is right, this book deserves to be passed around among people you love, or anyone who's heart and world you want to expand. It was the first collection to prove to me that there are still lots of people in my generation who will break themselves open for all of us to learn- who won't be afraid of, or turn their nose up to, the most stiffly modern and everyday. As after all, all we'll ever know is what we're willing to tell each other. Michael Cirelli wields a hell of a psychic sword, C.O. Aptowicz is a naked, fearless thug, Rick Lupert is my new hero, Hirschman is the San Fransisco Socrates, and John Gardiner will steal you away.
So, if you're a bursting optimist and romantic, like I am, and believe, or want to believe, that 'love is all you need,' like I do, then this book will be your home for a while. It will make you want to write bloodier and bloodier, and that's a beautiful thing.

Other favs of mine from Write Bloody- Pole Dancing to Gospel Hymns (i'm buying this book for so many friends...), I Love You is Back, No More Poems About the Moon, and their new collection, Good Things About America.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love poems that don't suck!, January 24, 2012

By 

Ronnie K. Stephens - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last American Valentine (Perfect Paperback)

Have you ever read a love poem and gagged? Rolled your eyes? Wished with all your black little heart that the poem would immolate in the hands of an ex-lover? Good news - this book is FILLED with love poems that don't make you despise butterflies.

The Last American Valentine is exactly what you should expect from an anthology of love poems from Write Bloody Publishing. The authors in this collection are poignant and playful, telling stories that smack you in the mouth and make you want to be in a relationship again. For real. I normally hate love poems, as many of them are superficial or sickeningly rose-colored. This book has none of that. Finally, a collection fit for a wedding gift or a break-up, or just an afternoon in the sun. Bonus - most of these poems are PG-13, so they're perfect in the classroom and high school students devour these pieces.

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention Hopeless Romantics Everywhere!, January 22, 2012

By 

thegreyman - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last American Valentine (Kindle Edition)

Cease your pathetic attempts at flirting and read "The Last American Valentine!" This Write Bloody anthology includes works from Jeffrey McDaniel, Mindy Nettifee, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz, Anis Mojgani, Beau Sia, Buddy Wakefield, Shappy Seasholtz, Derrick C. Brown, and many other poets and artists. "The Last American Valentine" is a charismatic anthology that reveals the latent romantic in us all.