The Revisionist's Dream: Poems

Rating:
Summary: Sure and Strong
Review: Ashley's THE REVISIONIST'S DREAM is a really great book - why haven't I heard of this author before? A friend recommended this book to me and I can't wait to read her other two books. These poems are informed by mythology and tale and are both truly revisionist poems and poems of a more contemporary nature that share images and ideas with the mythological ones. Ashley's writing is sure and strong. She has a great ear for lyricism and a remarkable sense of line. Not to mention an equally great sense of humor - some of these poems are really, really funny and still maintain their depth and resonance. Read "The Weaving: Her Voice (Another Poem About Penelope)" to see what I mean. This is humor with a point on it. These poems are both startling and riveting. Another interesting thing is that the book is cohesive, works as a book-as-a-whole. These poems couldn't have been thrown together randomly. There's obviously a great deal of thought behind the composition and compiling of this volume. I recommend THE REVISIONIST'S DREAM highly and will look eagerly for new work by this author.