Reviews

The Cineaste: Poems by A. Van Jordan

macbean221b's review against another edition

1.0

Let me be clear: this low rating is entirely my fault. I've never really understood poetry, even though I really want to. I thought perhaps reading some on a subject I'm especially familiar with might help, but it didn't. There were poems on some of my favorite films and I still simply did not like them.

So. If you already like poetry, by all means, give this collection your attention. But if, like me, you're looking to improve your relationship with poetry ... this didn't do it for me.

crhogan's review against another edition

5.0

While poetry is not my thing and I would normally never pick this up, I had to for a class. It was beautiful. Some of the best poetry that I have ever read. The Homesteader is going to stay with me for a very long time. My class is speaking with Professor Jordan on Friday so the fact that I'm giving this book five stars just makes me super hyped to actually get to speak with him and discuss his creative process and thoughts on lost films.

courtney_mcallister's review against another edition

2.0

I'm a fan of ekphrasis, especially in poetry. The premise behind this collection caught my attention, but Jordan didn't push it far enough. The result is an uneven assemblage of film-inspired poems that teeter on the verge of pointlessness. The moments where Jordan focuses on the experience of filmmaking and capturing images are the most powerful, in my opinion. At other times, the poems felt more like summaries, rather than explorations. If nothing else, The Cineaste added some titles to my to-watch list.