Jean Valentine features in my first literary week of 2025

[@TheLinguistsLibrary]

Love Sophie. I started doing that last year. Now I always tab allusions to other books/characters as well allusions to the bible and grecoroman mythology. It's a fun exercise. Love Em xo

[@lindysmagpiereads]

Eleanor, when you started out talking about “silences around language” I thought what in the heck? Then later you spoke of “aspects of life beyond language” and I grasped your meaning. It’s something I appreciate about poetry also. The description of Jean Valentine’s poetry being like looking into a lake is evocative. I went to the link you provided and listened to just one of her poems. I will explore more of them. I look forward to your future insights on her work. Interesting that you mention Bibliosophie. I have a collection by Mark Doty currently out from the library because she listed it among her bests of 2024. Two other poets I’m reading this week are Jes Battis and Mary Oliver. What struck me most in this video is what you said about booktube-ability. I know exactly what you mean. Not everything I experience as a reader is something I am able to share on booktube, not by a longshot. But I am very happy to have the company of other readers in this space.

[@theonlyrealproperty2567]

Such a pleasure to read your thoughts here, I really appreciate it as I do wonder how / if I'm understood. I might vlog the experience of reading a few Valentine poems next, because it's almost impossible to describe. I'll see if I have time/energy. I am a HUGE Bibliosophie fan!! E x

[@sjmsutherland]

Thank you for this video Eleanor, after you mentioned her to me the other day I've been looking her up! I've just ordered Shirt in Heaven, and I've got my eye on another of her books. I can see what you mean, definitely a poet to read slow!! Have a lovely week!!xxx

[@theonlyrealproperty2567]

Oh! Thanks for letting me know. I'll be interested in your thoughts, whatever they might be! E x

[@TiggerTellsTales]

I appreciate you so much. I have never been a poetry reader outside of Shel Silverstein as a young Teen. It’s not that I have difficulty understanding it, it just rarely holds my attention. I’ve often wondered what shapes our reading tastes. Why I adore Salvage the Bones but found How to Say Babylon so over the top in prose. Martyr! was in my top 5 of 2024 and I got so much out of it including a deep dive into the ending. I’m still waffling on how I think it ended 😂 Well, you’ve inspired me lady…It will be my 2025 resolution to find a poet I adore this year (other than Shel of course)!

[@theonlyrealproperty2567]

Thanks so much for letting me know, it really gives me a boost to hear that. I quickly looked up the two book titles you mention as I'm not familiar with either - how fascinating! As for "Martyr!" I also enjoyed it, and it's not often (I think?) that a poet can transition so well from poetry to prose. I was so happy for Akbar (I should note that I don't know him personally lol) because the world of poetry is so tiny and isolated/isolating. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in poetry. It's often tough to find that style / writer of poetry that will excite you, but if you persevere the rewards are great (at least from my limited experience). E x

[@poetrycrone]

Sorry, I am a bit chary about sharing my name but there are so many Jen's in the world, it's pretty darn anonymous. So feel free to call me Jen if it's easier for you to remember. I so agree with reading whatever floats your boat and for whatever reasons. People get so twisted in knots about how they "should" read poetry and what they "should" get out of it. I get what you're saying, though I think different people access it differently, both as readers and as poets, which is why it's important for people to read widely in poetry to find what suits them. I can see what you're talking about in some poems by Wallace Stevens (who for many years I didn't want to read--it was one of my commenters who finally egged me on to giving him more of a chance), what I consider the best of James Wright (but others consider his least likable poems), what I like about Pattiann Rogers' poems about the natural world, and what I recently read in Jorie Graham's To 2040 (I'll talk about it eventually on here). It was lovely to hear you talk about Jean Valentine. I will eventually read more of her--but she's part of a looong list.

[@theonlyrealproperty2567]

Wallace Stevens, oh you've just reminded me that I have his Collected Poems on my shelf, as yet unopened, although I've read a few of his more famous poems before. I think of him as an intellectual puzzle maker (but really I should read him more before I say anything lol). James Wright is on my TBR list because his name keeps popping up. Will look up Pattiann Rogers, thank you, and now Graham - aha I haven't read 2040 yet. I read (or at least attempted to) one of her books for my Sealley Challenge month a while back and am still recovering I think. Finding a poet / book / poem one loves is akin to finding a person one loves... the search is long and arduous, emotions are strong, and then you change your mind (I'm joking, or am I hehe). E x

[@hopeisthething1965]

thank you

[@theonlyrealproperty2567]

So lovely of you to write this here, it means a great deal to me.

[@hopeisthething1965]

@@theonlyrealproperty2567 Sending all good wishes for a Happy New Year! 🙂