Customer Reviews

Stanyan Street and Other Sorrows: Poems

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I read this wonderful book and many of Rod's other work in the 70s and 80s. He has an incredible ability to reach into your soul from off the page, and in person - I saw him live on stage in England four times.

This is an excellent collection of poems. I just picked it up one day and began reading. I found myself reading it over and over again, taking more from it each time. I recommend this book if you want to understand and experience love and loss through words.

Stanyon Street touches the reader with its moving words. McKuen paints pictures for us to walk into and become a part of his world. These poems are beautiful and moving expressions of life and love.

I can truly say that this book changed my life. The title poem is the best, and "Girl" is a close second. I'll put this simply: If you have anything that you might call a soul, you'd be crazy not to have this book.

I purchased this book to share with my 17 year old son. He has fallen in love with Rod's works, much like I did when I was 17. I am quite happy I had the opportunity to relocate these books to share with my family. Rod stands the test of time quite nicely.

Stanyon Street and Other Sorrows is in my opinion my favorite book of poetry,maybe because I can relate so well to the context of the writings.Again in my opinion of all the poets,Rod Mckuen is the most real in his approach.He seems to capture in words images and emotions in thought provoking memoirs of a journey filled with experience,but knowing the art of communicating in poetic form.At times I feel like I'm reading about myself.The poems in this collection are so vivid and powerful that it almost makes me want to relish my times of aloneness.Reading this book makes me want to embrace loneliness rather than fear it.Highly recommended.

Rod McKuen has been the single biggest influence in my life for poetry. He is the poet of the everyday person. He touches readers with his personal and deep connection to love. Stanyan Street and other sorrows is still the finest book of poetry I have ever read. This book and this man inspired me to write my own book of poetry. If I had not picked a volume of Rod McKuen poetry back in 1975 I would have never learned what real poetry is. It is not structure, form, or perfect grammar, although you will find a little in each of his books, it is mainly emotions. Emotions that we as the reader connect to, and there is no one who has mastered that skill better than Mr. McKuen. I have been reading his works for 31 years and I can not tell you how many times I have been moved deeply. His great skill is his honesty and view of the world. It is never pretentious or syrupy, it is just deeply relatable. Stanyan Street is my favorite work of his, although "Moment to moment" holds a special appeal as well. Buy this book if you are a poetry lover, or just a plain lover. You will see the world through renewed eyes!

The poems were really good. I really liked them. Now, the one that I most liked was the 4e apartment. It was a boy who liked a girl one the floor above him. But she doesn't like him. So, he wrote it into poem. I think this was when Rod was in love. He wrote this poem.

I never advocated book burning until being exposed to Rod McKuen. Widely known as a mawkish hawker of twaddle and anthologized only in chapters titled "Recognizing Good Poetry--and Bad", McKuen has exlpored new depths of pure piffle with this egregious insult to paper and ink. If you're a fan of camp, Ed Wood, and TV's "Full House," go ahead for a good laugh. If you like poetry, save yourself and flee in terror.