How a Poem Moves
A Field Guide for Readers of Poetry

I've been browsing books like this, seeking a textbook to use in an intermediate undergraduate class. A couple of books were too dull. Another was too snarky. Another wasn't advanced enough. This one is just right. Sol is clearly enthusiastic about the subject matter in a way that I think will rub o......more

This book is the poetry class and professor I wish I'd had in college!......more

This intrigued me. I’m not afraid of poetry, but it isn’t for me. Not really. Not modern poetry and not American or even English language one. I love Shakespeare. I can appreciate Dickinson. But that can’t be it, there’s so much more. And in order to justify thinking of myself as a not merely voraci......more

Ralph Waldo Emerson thought "The real poem is not the words on the page, it is the event or feeling or idea behind the words." Adam Sol in his collection of 35 contemporary poems does present a variety of poetic styles and forms, but I'm not sure he gets Emerson's spirit of poetry across. This surpr......more

All my reviews live at [URL not allowed] TL;DR REVIEW: How a Poem Moves is a friendly, accessible, super-digestible read perfect for anyone who wants practice reading poetry, with a smart, funny professor there to point out things you might have missed. For you if: You are learning to r......more