Finals Week

As you’re reading this, I’m probably studying or hunched over a scantron, bubbling in various letters that represent a semester’s worth of knowledge. (Wish me luck!)

What I’m here to say, though, is a response to my post on January 25, 2013: Back to School. In case you started following me recently (or can’t remember this post) I talked about the books I’d be required to read, and I promised I’d let you all know what I thought about the texts. So, without further ado, I’ve listed the readings in order of favorite to least favorite beneath the specific reading/writing course:

Poetry Writing:

1. The Unmemntioable by Erín Moure: This was my favorite poetry collection by far. I often underline my favorite lines while I’m reading, but I started underlining everything Moure wrote! In fact, I actually posted about this reading earlier this year: April 8, 2013: Relax & Read: The Unmemntioable by Eric Moure.

2. Poetry! Poetry! Poetry! by Peter Davis: Seemingly cute, easy, and fun read, but ultimately challenges the writer to face the truth behind the ego of the artist. I don’t want to say too much, because I’m planning on doing a post on this soon!

3. The new black by Evie Shockley: I’ve read this collection numerous times now, and I find new cultural challenges every time. Shockley is great at questioning on what makes a person within their race while using form to enhance it.

4. Well Then There Now by Juliana Spahr: This collection is a study on ecopoetics. It’s very interesting, but I often got lost on some of the language, perhaps because I’m unfamiliar with Hawaiian terms. However, I’d still give it a four-star rating, because my professor allowed me to understand. Alone, I’m unsure what I’d rate it.

Nonfiction Writing: This class was my first nonfiction class, and I loved it!

1. The Art of the Personal Essay: An Anthology from the Classical Era to the Present by Phillip Lopate: Great collection of personal essays, from authors I recognized and from new writers I’ve never come across. Organized by topic and year. Loved to flip through it and just let the words take me away.

2. Touchstone Anthology of Contemporary Creative Nonfiction Works from 1970 to the Present by Lex Williford and Michael Marten: It was hard for me to choose between the first and second rating. I picked this one as number two only because we didn’t get a chance to talk about these essays as much, but it’s just as great of a collection!

3. Short Takes: Brief Encounters with Contemporary Nonfiction Judith Kitchen: I enjoyed the switch from longer essays to the shorter ones. Amazing how much can be said in so little words.

4. Crafting the Personal Essay: A Guide for Writing and Publishing Creative Non-Fiction by Dinty Moore: Very clear about how to write nonfiction personal essays, if you’re looking into writing one for yourself and/or others.

5. How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One by Stanley Fish: On March 19, 2013: Relax & Read: How to Write a Sentence, I wrote about this thin but very informative book. Easy for the beginning and a nice reminder for everyone who might get caught up in the complexity of writing later on.

…

I apologize for the short post, but I’m really busy studying! I will return with excitement (and, hopefully, A’s!) I hope everyone’s week is going well, and, as usual, comment on this post and let me know if there is any topic (or writing advice) you’re curious about!

~SAT

23 thoughts on “Finals Week”

I love Erin Moure. I have Domestic Fuel, O Cidadan, A Frame of the Book, and Sheep’s Vigil by a Fervent Person. She read at the Poetry Center at San Francisco State University when I was studying there in 2002. One of my favorite lines is from a poem in Sheep’s Vigil called “Rhymes get on my nerves. Rarely”:

“…my poetry is natural, like the wind picking up paper.”

I’ve got to take a look at some of the books you’ve been reading. I’ve read the one by Fish. It’s a nice reminder about crafting artful sentences. I’ve got another of his that I need to crack open, “How Milton Works.” I thought I had Lopate’s and had read some of it, but I can’t find it now. Maybe I lent it to someone.

Good luck with your studies!

Shannon Thompson says:

May 14, 2013 at 11:04 pm

Erin Moure is a wonderful poet. I will be checking out more of her poems soon. Any first suggestions?
I’m glad you checked out some of the others I’ve talked about. And thank you for the good luck! Doing good so far.
~SAT

Reply
1. Jilanne Hoffmann says:
  
  May 15, 2013 at 11:14 pm
  
  I really like one of her earlier collections called “Domestic Fuel.” It was published in 1985. But then I think my second favorite is Sheep’s Vigil. I like the shape of the poems in the other two books I have of hers. Can you tell I’m not “good” at favorites? I don’t know if this helps. :o)
2. Shannon Thompson says:
  
  May 16, 2013 at 2:34 am
  
  lol that helps! Thank you.
  ~SAT