Maureen N. McLane

More Anon: Selected Poems collects poems from Maureen N. McLane's previously published books and strings them together in a new and intense collection. I definitely could tell how much work went into all of these poems, and I think having the chance to read poetry from various stages of McLane's life is valuable. The unabashed way McLane approaches all facets of life in her poetry was something that I really respected, as it makes it very clear that she is able to own up to all decisions she makes. This type of "radically honest, no matter the cost" poetry is interesting as it's less stereotypically lyrical in a lot of ways but allows for more rhyme scheme opportunities. I wish that there had been a little more description of the emotional side of McLane, but the lack of this doesn't negate the other good parts of her writing.

As an occasional poet, I can see McLane's thought process in several poems, and while it's different from how I approach poetry, it's still valuable. This was not my favorite collection of poetry that I have read recently, but I did enjoy reading it nonetheless.

Overall rating: 2/5

More Anon will be available for purchase on July 20th. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf and see where it's available to buy. Also, be sure to check out Maureen N. McLane’s profile on the Poetry Foundation's website!
I was lucky enough to be able to read this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own.… (altro)

A poet who writes both experimental and traditional narrative/lyric poems, I had highly anticipated reading Maureen McLane's My Poets. The cover blurb reads "In poetical prose both probing and incantatory, McLane has written a radical book of experimental criticism."

For this reader, McLane's prose is neither probing nor incantatory. I had hoped for thoughtful comments that would give me greater insight into more elusive poets, such as Gertrude Stein, but instead I read the type of inane comments as follows:

"My Wallace Stevens is an insurgent inching in the bristling forest and a stolid giant rolling metaphysical rhymes down the mountain" (54).

As a memoir of her encounter with poetry, the book relies too much on quotes from the poets she's read and too little on solid, in-depth literary criticism.… (altro)