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Poetry Reviews: What's The Point?

First Posted: 05/29/10 06:12 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 05:00 PM ET

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Publishers Weekly:

But in almost any conversation on the topic of poetry reviews, one question comes up: what's the point? This question isn't always asked with the flippant air that actually means "who cares?" Often, people really want to know: what is accomplished by poetry reviews? Do they help sell books? Do they keep the art form in line? Do they spur writers into creating better poetry or kick bad writers out of the halls of Parnassus? Do poetry reviews help readers?

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But in almost any conversation on the topic of poetry reviews, one question comes up: what's the point? This question isn't always asked with the flippant air that actually means "who cares?" Often, p...
But in almost any conversation on the topic of poetry reviews, one question comes up: what's the point? This question isn't always asked with the flippant air that actually means "who cares?" Often, p...
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thebigbike
ran away to be a cowboy
372 Fans
07:55 PM on 03/31/2010
I don't have anything nice to say about the poetry cottage industry so I won't say anything
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SansArc
My bio is not empty anymore.
106 Fans
10:33 PM on 03/29/2010
I had no idea that there were poetry reviewers!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MountPanic
410 Fans
05:26 PM on 03/29/2010
Are we supposed to be assuming that poetry publishing has a point in the first place?
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Januarycarol
17 Fans
03:06 PM on 03/30/2010
What is the point of a song? a piano concerto? a sculpter? painting? myth? fairy tale?
Gosh, Mount P. I hope you aren't missing out on all these sources of pleasure, thought,
ideas, provocative questions, or just plain fun.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MountPanic
410 Fans
06:20 PM on 03/30/2010
Take note; I didn't say "poetry." I said "poetry publishing." Not the art, but the business.

Speaking of "fun," perhaps you should have your "sense of..." adjusted and recognize that I was tweaking the nose of poets -- a group that often takes themselves far too seriously (except for the ones who don't, but in my experience, understand perfectly about those that DO).

Wouldn't happen to be a poet, would you?
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