The Book of Motion: Poems (The Contemporary Poetry Series) (Paperback)

by Tung-Hui Hu (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A splendidly elegant work of poetry and prose. -- Clarence Brown, Trenton Times

Deftly shapes a philosophical argument that somehow remains pure lyric. -- Carol Muske-Dukes, Los Angeles Times

The presence of a fresh, new voice... The Book of Motion is an exciting debut. -- Stephen Dunn, 2001 Pulitzer Prize winner in poetry

Product Description
This collection explores memory, cities, motion. A man swaps bodies with his lover; a mapmaker holds captive a city; a car pushed off a cliff in anger. Anchored by "Elegies for Self", Hu's poetry brings a quiet sophistication to syntax, diction and form.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 72 pages
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820325686
• ISBN-13: 978-0820325682
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,192,382 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent., January 25, 2005

By	Robert P. Beveridge "xterminal" (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Tung-Hui Hu, The Book of Motion (University of Georgia Press, 2003)

The Book of Motion opens with one of the strongest poems I've read in quite a while, and that's saying something.

"...The people who live here,
stringy men, wispy
women, as if spun from
clouds, they are capable
of greater passions than
us: one man, infuriated
at his car, the lemon
that had cost him a life's
savings, drove it to the
canyon edge and cut away
the metal cord that coupled
the car, the rocks...." ("a rock a fish")

If the whole book were as mind-numbingly good as "a rock a fish," this would be the first five-star book of 2005, and a shoo-in for my ten best list. Not to say that the book overall is not good; it is. It's very good. But Hu starts off with such a strong piece that some of what comes after is anticlimactic. This is not really his, or anyone's, fault, and it doesn't make the book any less worth reading. There is a great deal to like here, and I recommend this book as highly as I've recommended anything that hasn't gotten five stars in the past few years from me. This is excellent work, but it's one of those cases where some is more excellent than others. Tung-Hui Hu is a name you should know; get acquainted at your earliest opportunity. ****

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, July 21, 2008

By	kevin griffith (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I agree with the previous reviewer. An outstanding, haunting book. So much of what wins the awards these days is mundane, boring, or pretentious. Not this. An excellent read. If you need to clear your mind of all the poetic clutter out there and get back to why poetry really does matter, read this book.