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sakeriver's review
5.0
Coming away from this book, I’m left with two realizations: how little I understood haiku beforehand, and how little I still understand haiku. I think I’m a little closer, though.
micahhortonhallett's review
4.0
An incredible, chaotic and meandering ramble through the world, characters and history of Haiku. Eminently enjoyable, Hiroaki Sato goes far beyond Basho and is moderately evenhanded in his treatment of avant Garde and traditional Haiku- except for the single line versus three line translation models:
Gone from translation lines like the straight edge of blades bee in his bonnet
Gone from translation lines like the straight edge of blades bee in his bonnet
nastiacoo's review
5.0
Definitely one of the most enjoyable and insightful books I have ever read. Highly recommend to anyone with interests in literature and history!!
eggmama's review
3.0
Haiku has always been one of my favorite poetic forms because of it's understated complexity, concision, and ability to zoom in on small moments or objects. This book taught me a lot about the history of haiku and how the West changed it and how it evolved. I never knew, for instance, that it was originally monolinear, instead of three lines of 5-7-5 syllables. I also never knew the strict requirements of traditional haiku, such as the seasonal requirement. All requirements considered, haiku packs even more of a punch. Some great haiku examples included, along with traditional and avant-garde writers. Very interesting, and Sato includes humorous accounts as well. He describes one writer as a "warrior poet" and that is now what I aspire to.
jeff_cochran's review
5.0
One of those books that makes you want to read more, and provides plenty of leads on what to read next. Fascinating.
Some of the essays have a meandering, aimless quality. You feel like you're tracing discarded lengths of Christmas ribbons, ending abruptly but filling the mind. However the essays might meander, the content is superb, and I highly recommend On Haiku.
Some of the essays have a meandering, aimless quality. You feel like you're tracing discarded lengths of Christmas ribbons, ending abruptly but filling the mind. However the essays might meander, the content is superb, and I highly recommend On Haiku.
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