Personal reflections, political commentary and poetry at a critical intersection of history happening in the opening days of Obama rising down to earth, timely, insightful and quirky all in realtime from the heart of a poet.
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About the Author
Larry Christianson is a poet, pastor and longtime resident of Waconia, Minnesota now working as a staff chaplain at Auburn Village in Chaska and Auburn Home in Waconia. He has one previous book with North Star Press: Beyond Time, and self-published two collections of poetry: Isle Of Dreams in 2002 and Shades Of Gray in 2005. His third book of poetry, South of Contrary, will be out in May of 2009.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Christianson gives readers a fresh perspective on Barack Obama,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Obama Rising: Real-time Reflections from the Heart of a Poet (Paperback)
The rise of the first Black president has invoked many different emotions in many different people. "Obama Rising" is a collection political commentary and poetry from one Larry Christianson, a poet by trade but with a passion for the political. Christianson gives readers a fresh perspective on Barack Obama. "Obama Rising" is a top choice for poetry collectors seeking something new. "Paranoia King": Paranoia King./Seething with insecurity/and resentments./Aplenty./Always a crook-/tricky,/sneaky./Above the law/Nixon.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Poet's Look at History in the Making,
By
This review is from: Obama Rising: Real-time Reflections from the Heart of a Poet (Paperback)
Author Larry Christianson decided back in November that he wanted to reflect on the historic transition from Election Day to the Inauguration of Barack Obama as our first African-American president. As a poet, Larry has that special gift of taking the daily events and boiling them down into concise language that evokes feelings and reactions behind the events. But instead of just writing a series of poems he went deeper and wrote essays, reflections and commentaries on the events.
The book then is more than either a political treatise on the cultural shift or a poetic response to those two and a half months. It has become a point-counterpoint as Larry uses his skills to give us a sense of the roller coaster ride of those days. In looking back over those not so distant days it is amazing how much we forget- or maybe didn't even notice. Hence the poet will reflect on the fact that a donut costs more than the morning paper that is going into Chapter 11, the Nixonian undertones of Illinois governor Blagojevic's attempt to sell Obama's Senate seat, or the mundane problem of the new President keeping his Blackberry. Larry reflects on the hope that Obama campaigned on- and the hope he embodies as he enters the White House. Larry also sees the problems and obstacles that Obama will have to face. He ties in his personal experiences and history of political involvement. He allows himself to push the edge a little, but never to a breaking point. The highest praise for any essayist or poet is that he makes you think. No, not by giving answers, but by allowing the words to become a path for you to find the answers for you. In the end the book works on more levels than one might think thanks to Larry's skill as a writer. Poets do not themselves necessarily make successful politicians. They feel too deeply. But poetry about politics can open new possibilities and understandings and offer links we didn't see at first. This is not just another book on politics or Obama. This is personal and hopeful and filled with the excitement of the transition. I am glad that Larry managed to get it on paper. Too soon the glow will fade and the old politics as usual will work its destructiveness. This book should be kept and taken off the shelf on a regular basis so that we do not forget. As Larry wrote at the start of the poem that he placed at the Inauguration. Poetry. Lying in wait - hidden within kernels of truth. Such is the promise fulfilled in this excellent book.
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