Rating: 
Summary: A solid text for readers and writers
Review: "A Poetry Handbook," by Mary Oliver, is a nonfiction prose text about the art of writing poetry. In the book Oliver, herself an excellent poet, gives a clear and painless introduction to some structural aspects of poetry. She defines many technical terms: alliteration, onomatopoeia, alexandrine, caesura, quatrain, persona, etc. She also discusses various poetic forms: sonnet, free verse, etc. Other topics addressed include imagery and diction. Throughout the book, Oliver illustrates her points with poetry by some of the greatest practitioners of the craft: Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, etc.The book is aimed at both readers and writers of poetry. For the latter, Oliver reflects on such practical issues as revision and participation in poetry workshops. The book reflects Oliver's own philosophy of poetry. She stresses that poetry is a craft that requires work and discipline, and encourages the reader to think of poets as constituting a "tribe" that transcends all geographic and cultural boundaries. The book is not without flaws. I found it quite Eurocentric; she never discusses the haiku, a Japanese verse form that has been embraced by many in the English-speaking world. Other non-Western forms are similarly neglected. Some of her opinionated pronouncements also seem open to debate. She notes that a poem "gives pleasure through the authority and sweetness of the language," but I think some poems are effective conduits of rage or outrage and make use of unpleasant language to shake up the reader. Regarding the revision process, she notes that sometimes "it is simply best to throw a poem away" -- but, I ask, who is to make that decision? Something a poet might want to discard may in fact be a great poem in another's eyes. Also, although she gives many good examples of good poems, it might have been interesting if she had included some bad ones to illustrate her points further. Despite its flaws, however, I think that "A Poetry Handbook" would be a solid text for both individual reading and classroom use. And I think that some of Oliver's questionable statements could trigger productive discussion! Ultimately, I appreciate Oliver's declaration that poetry "is a life-cherishing force [...] as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry." Recommended as companion texts: Audre Lorde's essay "Poetry Is Not a Luxury," from her collection "Sister Outsider," and Pablo Neruda's prose collection "Passions and Impressions."
Rating:
Summary: A solid text for readers and writers
Review: "A Poetry Handbook," by Mary Oliver, is a nonfiction prose text about the art of writing poetry. In the book Oliver, herself an excellent poet, gives a clear and painless introduction to some structural aspects of poetry. She defines many technical terms: alliteration, onomatopoeia, alexandrine, caesura, quatrain, persona, etc. She also discusses various poetic forms: sonnet, free verse, etc. Other topics addressed include imagery and diction. Throughout the book, Oliver illustrates her points with poetry by some of the greatest practitioners of the craft: Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, William Carlos Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, etc. The book is aimed at both readers and writers of poetry. For the latter, Oliver reflects on such practical issues as revision and participation in poetry workshops. The book reflects Oliver's own philosophy of poetry. She stresses that poetry is a craft that requires work and discipline, and encourages the reader to think of poets as constituting a "tribe" that transcends all geographic and cultural boundaries. The book is not without flaws. I found it quite Eurocentric; she never discusses the haiku, a Japanese verse form that has been embraced by many in the English-speaking world. Other non-Western forms are similarly neglected. Some of her opinionated pronouncements also seem open to debate. She notes that a poem "gives pleasure through the authority and sweetness of the language," but I think some poems are effective conduits of rage or outrage and make use of unpleasant language to shake up the reader. Regarding the revision process, she notes that sometimes "it is simply best to throw a poem away" -- but, I ask, who is to make that decision? Something a poet might want to discard may in fact be a great poem in another's eyes. Also, although she gives many good examples of good poems, it might have been interesting if she had included some bad ones to illustrate her points further. Despite its flaws, however, I think that "A Poetry Handbook" would be a solid text for both individual reading and classroom use. And I think that some of Oliver's questionable statements could trigger productive discussion! Ultimately, I appreciate Oliver's declaration that poetry "is a life-cherishing force [...] as necessary as bread in the pockets of the hungry." Recommended as companion texts: Audre Lorde's essay "Poetry Is Not a Luxury," from her collection "Sister Outsider," and Pablo Neruda's prose collection "Passions and Impressions."
Rating: 
Summary: Too Technical
Review: I did not like this book. I thought it was too technical. Ms.Oliver stresses the structure of the poem too much.
I know this is important but still it was hard for me to understand. This book is difinitely for an advanced student. Rosario
Rating:
Summary: Too Technical
Review: I did not like this book. I thought it was too technical. Ms.Oliver stresses the structure of the poem too much.
I know this is important but still it was hard for me to understand. This book is difinitely for an advanced student. Rosario
Rating:
Summary: Very useful
Review: I purchased this book for a class and did not use it until I was at a moment of desperation. The contents were so very useful. It is a great resource that anyone even slightly interested in writing should consider purchasing.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't even like poetry! I write stories.
Review: I'll be the first to admit that my poetry reeks in a very teen-aged angst-heavy metal lyric-mushy kind of way. I thought that maybe I could find a way to string words together without using all that pesky grammar so I picked this one up at random. My story writing drastically improved. My poetry, well, let's just say that even Douglas Adams's Vogons would be mortally offended. What do poets know that the average storyteller doesn't? Words have sound. Imagine that. They have a feel that goes beyond connotation. There is a rhythm. And a sort of Dr. Suessian alilteration is available for 9.95 call within the next 10 minutes and shipping is free! Ms. Oliver would be hard pressed to find anything redeeming in my poetry. She'd probably wonder if I even read her book or if I pulled the ol' never touched the intern routine. I did-- not the intern, the book! I even learned that "dipthong" is not a dirty word. Darn it.
Rating:
Summary: I don't even like poetry! I write stories.
Review: I'll be the first to admit that my poetry reeks in a very teen-aged angst-heavy metal lyric-mushy kind of way. I thought that maybe I could find a way to string words together without using all that pesky grammar so I picked this one up at random. My story writing drastically improved. My poetry, well, let's just say that even Douglas Adams's Vogons would be mortally offended. What do poets know that the average storyteller doesn't? Words have sound. Imagine that. They have a feel that goes beyond connotation. There is a rhythm. And a sort of Dr. Suessian alilteration is available for 9.95 call within the next 10 minutes and shipping is free! Ms. Oliver would be hard pressed to find anything redeeming in my poetry. She'd probably wonder if I even read her book or if I pulled the ol' never touched the intern routine. I did-- not the intern, the book! I even learned that "dipthong" is not a dirty word. Darn it.
Rating:
Summary: A Small Treasure
Review: It's a small treasure for those who are about to embark on the arduous and mysterious journey of writing poetry. Her prose is as lyrical as her poetry, as she teaches about the essence of this magical process.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the best short book for writers of poetry
Review: Mary Oliver chose to avoid teaching so she could concentrate on her poetry. Too bad for students. Here, however, she gives students and accomplished poets alike a sensible and sensitive handbook that conveys not only the craft of poetry but its power, its mystery, and its magic. Readers who say they don't like poetry should give Oliver a chance to change their minds and hearts
Rating:
Summary: Mary Oliver's A POETRY HANDBOOK
Review: Mary Oliver's A POETRY HANDBOOK is a must for poets of all skills. As a beginning poet, I had never attempted to do any writing whatsoever. I began consulting the book for guidance and suggestions on how to be an effective writer. Oliver's knowledge can teach a novice how to write poetry while at the same time helping more advanced shape their work. I would highly recommend this book as an essential tool for any poet.
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