Rain on the River: New and Selected Poems and Short Prose [Paperback]

Jim Dodge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2002

While Jim Dodge is internationally known for his fiction, his first and abiding passion is poetry. After eighteen years of publishing anonymously and reading only to local crowds in the Pacific Northwest, he began to issue occasional limited-edition letterpress chapbooks with a small press, as well as occasional broadsides and, since 1987, a winter solstice poem or story, most given as gifts to friends. Rain on the River contains work collected here for the first time, as well as three dozen previously unpublished poems. Dodge's poems and short prose offer the same pleasures as his fiction -- a splendid ear for language, great emotional range and subtlety, a sharp eye for the illuminating detail, and a sensibility that encompasses outright hilarity, savage wit, and tender marvel, all made eminently accessible through writing of uncompromising clarity and grace. "Like being at a nonstop party in celebration of everything that matters." -- Thomas Pynchon "A rollicking, frequently surprising adventure-cum-fairy tale. It also has a sweetness about it and an indigenous American optimism." -- The New York Times Book Review "Diverse, savvy, passionate.... Poetry should be a pleasure, and Jim Dodge's work is just that." -- Gary Snyder

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (April 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802138969
• ISBN-13: 978-0802138965
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #552,300 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A profound poetry collection..., January 20, 2003

By 

B. BEATTY "Poetry reader" (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rain on the River: New and Selected Poems and Short Prose (Paperback)

Too much is made of obscure, humorless poets with grad school vocabularies and a tenth grade idea of what passes for truth. Dodge isn't one of those academic pretenders. He's the real deal: a living, breathing poet reporting back from the edge where body and mind give way to the world. My only complaint is that his poems aren't as outright funny as his wonderful novels. Fans of the poetry of Gary Snyder, Jim Harrison and the Beats should find much of value in this fine collection. Everyone else should, too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Jim Dodge, Are you listening?, October 28, 2009

By 

Todd "Author of Gnosis: Good News for the Thi... (Ashland, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rain on the River: New and Selected Poems and Short Prose (Paperback)

I've read everything Jim Dodge has published. I want more. Every word from this man's pen is golden. Mr. Dodge, sir, are you busy writing? This fan sure hopes so.

I loved this collection of poems. Earthy, witty, and wise. Herein you'll find great chunks of real life in all its griminess and beauty. Read this book. You'll be glad you did.

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry from the heart, September 23, 2004

By 

jamps (one tribe one world) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rain on the River: New and Selected Poems and Short Prose (Paperback)

This is poetry that is easy to read, fun, deep, cosmic, ordinary and inspired, i.e. it's zen poetry. We're trying to connect with each other and Jim Dodge reaches my heart like no other poet i've read. It's like he dances to a wild outlaw beat, crazy tales of living the edge life but always swings it round to those timeless conclusions of truth: Living in the moment, and this too, and it's all as it should be. There's no better way to start the day than a cup of coffee and a couple of jim dodge poems