Reviews

The Complete Poems by Alicia Suskin Ostriker, William Blake

nivinookie's review against another edition

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4.0

I want to keep this in my pocket at all times, yet there are a few of Blake's best poems not included.

bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition

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5.0

Blake is my favorite poet, and thus picking this up for a dollar at the Friends Of The Library sale was seven kinds of sweet.

I'm not a huge Poetry person, mostly because I have much use for an art form that (in modern poetry at least) is designed to conceal it's meaning. That's why I like the Romantics, they're not afraid to say it. And what they lose in subtlety they more then make up for in sheer language.

Plus the subject matter is always much more interesting in Romantism. Man's soul suspended in a hopeless abyss devoid of form and meaning and then rendering being into existence, is good stuff.

Once the Enlightenment hit it kind of took Poetry down with it, as "I Dare say perhaps we should move the corpses AWAY from the drinking water." might be good advice, but hardly makes for stirring verse.

fritzh8u's review against another edition

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3.0

Read Jerusalem, the emanation of the giant Albion. A whole lot of what the f***. I'll read the rest of it here and there, but I wanted to read that one to see what kind of influence it had on Alan Moore's Jerusalem.

kilburnadam's review against another edition

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5.0

William Blake's poetry is unlike any other, as it is imbued with a unique and complex system of mythology that reflects his spiritual and mystical beliefs. Blake's works are rich in symbolism and imaginative power, but can be difficult to understand due to the depth and complexity of his mythology. At the core of his beliefs is the idea of a direct connection between the spiritual and natural worlds, which he believed was essential for achieving spiritual and moral enlightenment.
Blake's mythology includes a range of mystical beings, such as angels, devils, and personified abstract concepts, that inhabit the spiritual world and influence the natural world. One of the most significant figures in his mythology is Urizen, who represents reason and order, but is seen by Blake as a negative force that restricts human creativity and freedom. Conversely, Los represents creative and chaotic energy, while Orc symbolizes the fiery and rebellious spirit that seeks to overthrow Urizen and bring about a new era of creative freedom.
While Blake's poetry can be challenging to understand, it remains relevant today and explores a range of themes, from spirituality and religion to social and political issues. Despite being challenging for readers who are not well-versed in English poetry, his works offer a unique perspective on the relationship between the spiritual and natural worlds, and can provide new insights and perspectives on the world around us. Approaching his works with patience and an open mind can lead to a truly rewarding experience.

aceface's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

theinquisitxor's review against another edition

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4.0

Blake was absolutely mad but I enjoyed his poems

mymywhitly's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective

3.25

mythicalbrit's review against another edition

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3.0

Odd, yet likeable.

timmason's review against another edition

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5.0

If more people had listened to Blake, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in. If he had only written the Songs he would still be England's foremost poet.

Visit the archive here - http://www.blakearchive.org

parkco34's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring

4.75