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outcolder's review against another edition
5.0
Easy to "get" and fun to read, kind of mean, also funny, and it has these bits in it where I was like, oh yeah, it is a poem. There are feelings in it, he isn't just showing off how clever he is with words and rhymes and all that.
hazel666's review against another edition
3.0
“Man hands on misery to man.
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.”
*nods*
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can,
And don’t have any kids yourself.”
*nods*
ev1's review against another edition
3.0
lyric poetry, more than any other variety, is so hit-or-miss for me. this short collection by larkin has some undeniable moments of brilliance (had to fight against the urge to underline the entirety of 'solar') but other moments that feel formulaic to a fault.
i think my biggest issue is that even within the most masterful collections of lyric poetry, there comes a few examples where the style has been adapted purely because the writer seems to think it's inherently what poetry is, when the ideas and expressions would have benefitted from being unrestricted.
like most larkin collections, for me, this acts more as a capsule containing a few gems to be brought out and appreciated when they pass your mind.
i think my biggest issue is that even within the most masterful collections of lyric poetry, there comes a few examples where the style has been adapted purely because the writer seems to think it's inherently what poetry is, when the ideas and expressions would have benefitted from being unrestricted.
like most larkin collections, for me, this acts more as a capsule containing a few gems to be brought out and appreciated when they pass your mind.
casparb's review against another edition
BEAUTIFUL my favourite Larkin I love this very much it's a real masterclass in , just about everything
jon288's review against another edition
3.0
As poetry goes, this is pretty good. There are a couple of really good pieces in there, and of course the famous: "They fuck you up..."
2kerrymehome's review against another edition
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Larkin's best. Here are the things I credit for the enjoyable reading experience:
1) Words I want to eat, and not because they are food. I can't explain it any other way, but they are scrumptious words. I want to put these words in my mouth and lick my fingers like a little cartoon man eating a cracker. For example: "watchful as weasels, car-tuning curt-haired sons"
"Lozenge of love!" (the moon)
"radio rubs its legs"
"regicide and rabbit pie" 🤌🤌🤌
2) Philip's getting frisky with swear words. Where did our proper British boy go? In this collection Phil loves to startle you. I suppose in not giving a fuck he likes to give you a "fuck" in line 1. Like it or not "they fuck you up, your mom and dad, they may not mean to, but they do" is one of the COLDEST opening lines in poetry. And its all iambs so you can tap your feet to it!
3) Hyphenated adjectives that make sense but are also pulled from nowhere.
clean-sliced cliff
ham-hung rafters
sun-comprehending glass
leather-black waters
landing-stage steps
Weird words dont have to not make sense!
Maybe I like poetry? My only qualm is he was still holding back too much for me. I love the meditations on virginity and the war government and the passing of time. But put a little more funk in there, my man- get some stank on those minor chords! The spicy ones are my favorites.
1) Words I want to eat, and not because they are food. I can't explain it any other way, but they are scrumptious words. I want to put these words in my mouth and lick my fingers like a little cartoon man eating a cracker. For example: "watchful as weasels, car-tuning curt-haired sons"
"Lozenge of love!" (the moon)
"radio rubs its legs"
"regicide and rabbit pie" 🤌🤌🤌
2) Philip's getting frisky with swear words. Where did our proper British boy go? In this collection Phil loves to startle you. I suppose in not giving a fuck he likes to give you a "fuck" in line 1. Like it or not "they fuck you up, your mom and dad, they may not mean to, but they do" is one of the COLDEST opening lines in poetry. And its all iambs so you can tap your feet to it!
3) Hyphenated adjectives that make sense but are also pulled from nowhere.
clean-sliced cliff
ham-hung rafters
sun-comprehending glass
leather-black waters
landing-stage steps
Weird words dont have to not make sense!
Maybe I like poetry? My only qualm is he was still holding back too much for me. I love the meditations on virginity and the war government and the passing of time. But put a little more funk in there, my man- get some stank on those minor chords! The spicy ones are my favorites.
readsewknit's review against another edition
4.0
I love reading poetry because I need to do so slowly, to let the words and phrases wash over me. My first completed poetry book of the year is Philip Larkin's slim volume High Windows.
There's nothing better than having to pause mid-poem to process a phrase, as in "The Trees" when I read, "The recent buds relax and spread, / Their greenness is a kind of grief." Or take "The Old Fools" and the description, "Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms / Inside your head, and people in them, acting. / People you know, yet can't quite name; each looms / Like a deep loss restored..."
"Going, Going" convicts with "...but all that remains / For us will be concrete and tires. ... Most things are never meant. / This won't be, most likely: but greeds / And garbage are too thick-strewn / To be swept up now, or invent / excuses that make them all needs."
Other enjoyable poems were "Homage to a Government," "This Be the Verse," and "Money."
There's nothing better than having to pause mid-poem to process a phrase, as in "The Trees" when I read, "The recent buds relax and spread, / Their greenness is a kind of grief." Or take "The Old Fools" and the description, "Perhaps being old is having lighted rooms / Inside your head, and people in them, acting. / People you know, yet can't quite name; each looms / Like a deep loss restored..."
"Going, Going" convicts with "...but all that remains / For us will be concrete and tires. ... Most things are never meant. / This won't be, most likely: but greeds / And garbage are too thick-strewn / To be swept up now, or invent / excuses that make them all needs."
Other enjoyable poems were "Homage to a Government," "This Be the Verse," and "Money."
smalefowles's review against another edition
5.0
The eng page of my edition says that Larkin was the "best-loved poet" of his generation. I wonder if he would have agreed.
Doubtful.
It's terribly good, gray winter poetry, meant to be eaten slowly, like crusty dark rye bread.
Doubtful.
It's terribly good, gray winter poetry, meant to be eaten slowly, like crusty dark rye bread.