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carlydbar's review
3.0
I loved that this collection was varied poets, all with a unique style and preference for writing poetry. I also loved that the subject happened to be one of my favorites - birds. I think I was hoping for a bit more with this. The artwork was stunning, but the poetry was more about just observations and after 250 pages of observations I don't care what bird I'm looking at, the colors might be different but the descriptions get a bit repetitive. Overall enjoyable, although it took my some time to really digest through it. It's a pretty thick collection.
jcpitts_24's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
serendipitysbooks's review
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
Paper Palace grabbed my attention right from the opening scene. During a gathering of family and friends Elle heads outside to have sex with her childhood friend Jonas, while her husband, mother and his wife, are inside. Quite the opener! From then my attention never wavered. The writing was beautiful and evocative. I felt transported to the rugged rural Cape Cod compound where much of the story unfolds. Even though I’ve never been I could see, smell hear and feel the surroundings, especially the woods. I liked the dual timeline where the day following Elle’s dalliance is interspersed with scenes from her past, going back to her childhood and then forward to the present moment. Elle’s childhood and family history is definitely dysfunctional and includes sexual abuse so if this is a trigger for you please take care. I loved the way the characters were drawn and their back stories presented. Even when I didn’t agree with their actions (and that was often) I understood why they acted the way they did, and was able to feel a certain degree of empathy towards even some of the most unlikeable. Despite including some very heavy topics and traumatic, shocking scenes the book as a whole did not feel heavy, something I attribute to the author’s skill. This book has been on my radar ever since I heard @lonestarwords raving about it. I’m pleased to say it lived up to my high expectations.
oldpondnewfrog's review
4.0
Startlingly good illustrations—with Sibley I had always thought of clean accuracy, not poetry, but many of these paintings are poetic.
And of course, great poems too, and a great introductory essay by Billy Collins.
And of course, great poems too, and a great introductory essay by Billy Collins.
readingthroughthelists's review
4.0
This was a gem of a book. The poems were quite good and the pictures simply excellent.
susannam's review
5.0
I don't read a lot of poetry, but I am discovering that it's a pleasure to do. This is a beautiful book, I'd say even a perfect gift kind of book, for anyone who likes poetry, or birds, or both. Or anyone who just loves books as beautiful objects. Poet Billy Collins has selected poems about birds by a wide array of poets who have written in a wide array of styles. There are surely poems in here that will appeal to almost anyone. What sets it apart, other than that the theme is so clearly defined, are the beautiful illustrations by David Allen Sibley, the author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds, now the "industry standard" of field guides to birds. I found myself slipping post-it notes and torn pieces of paper next to my favorite poems and admiring the art equally.
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