The pleasure of listening to poems

Josefa's contribution.

The rhythm of English is very "musical" and pleasant to the ear so, when it comes to poetry, listening to it being read makes it much more pleasurable.

"O Tell Me the Truth about Love" by W. H. Auden (by Dan Stevens)

 

Love After Love - Derek Walcott (Read By Tom Hiddleston)

February Meeting , Poems written by W.H. Auden and Derek Walkott.

 

Wystan Hugh Auden 

Source: Amazon

Wystan Hugh Auden (1907-1973) was an Anglo-American poet, playwright, and literary critic. He was a member of the generation of poets who came to prominence in the 1930s, and is considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century. He was born in York, England and educated at Oxford University. He spent much of his life in the United States, becoming a citizen in 1946.

Auden's poetry reflects his wide-ranging interests and diverse influences, including classical literature, modernism, and psychoanalysis. He wrote on a wide variety of subjects, from politics and social issues to love and personal relationships.

In his poetry, Auden often explores the theme of love, both romantic and platonic. Many of his poems deal with the complexities and contradictions of human relationships, and the various forms that love can take. He wrote about the joys and sorrows of love, the longing for connection, and the pain of separation. Some of his most famous love poems include "Stop All the Clocks," "As I Walked Out One Evening," and "In Memory of W.B. Yeats."

Auden's poetry is known for its wit, irony, and intelligence, as well as its emotional depth. He has a unique style of poetic voice and his work is often considered as dense and allusive. He continues to be widely read and studied today, and his poetry continues to be celebrated as some of the most important and powerful of the 20th century.

W. H. Auden served as chancellor of the Academy of American Poets from 1954 to 1973 and divided most of the second half of his life between residences in New York City and Austria. He died in Vienna on September 29, 1973.

Auden's poem

Derek Walkott

Source:Amazon

Derek Walkott (1930-2017) was a Saint Lucian poet, playwright, and painter. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992 for his "a poetic oeuvre of great luminosity, sustained by a historical vision, the outcome of a multicultural commitment."

Walkott was born in Castries, Saint Lucia, and was educated at the University of the West Indies and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. He began writing poetry at a young age and published his first collection, "25 Poems," in 1948. He went on to publish several more collections of poetry, as well as plays and essays. He has published over 20 collections of poetry, and several plays and essays.

Walkott's poetry reflects his Caribbean heritage and his experiences growing up in a colonial society. He wrote about the complexities of race, identity, and history, and the various forms that love can take. His poetry is known for its lush imagery, musicality and emotional depth. He used his writing as a way to reflect and express his experiences, identity and thoughts on the world.

Walkott's impact on global poetry is significant, and his work has been widely recognized for its ability to convey the beauty and pain of the human experience. He is considered one of the most important and influential poets of the 20th century, particularly for his ability to convey the complexities of Caribbean culture and identity. His work has inspired countless poets, particularly in the Caribbean and around the world, and continues to be widely read and studied today.

Walkott's legacy is also seen in the creation of the Trinidad Theatre Workshop, which he co-founded in 1959, and the annual Caribbean Festival of Arts, which he created in 1972. This festival has been an important platform for the promotion of Caribbean culture, and the development of Caribbean artists, including poets.

Walkott's poem

Source: etsy.com

Christopher John "Chris" Offutt Biography

 

Babelio

Noelia's Contribution

Chris Offutt was born on 24 August 1958 in Lexington, Kentucky. When he was a child, he lived near a mining community called Haldeman (located in Rowan Country in the Appalachian Mountains), although this community doesn't exist anymore.

The author has three siblings, one brother and two sisters. All of them attended public schools. When he finished high school, he tried to join the army. Unfortunately, he didn't pass the physical test. For this reason, he enrolled in a theatre degree at Morehead University. After getting his degree, he travelled by hitchhiking around EEUU and working in 50 different jobs.

Moreover, he attended an Iowa writer's workshop. His first narrative work was Kentucky Straight in 1992, followed by some other successful books, such as out of the woods (short stories, 1997), no heroes (memoir, 2002) and My father, the pornographer (2016). 

Chris Offutt writes non-fiction articles in The New York Times and Men's journal. Apart from that, he writes scripts for TV series true blood, Treme or Blood and Weeds, among others.

He has been honoured in the Best American Short Stories and  Essays and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

What are you reading? “The impossible lives of Greta Wells” by Andrew Sean Greer.

 

Noelia's contribution.

The impossible lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer it's the last book I read. It tells the story of Greta Well having a perfect life until his twin brother dies. Furthermore, his fiance broke up their relationship. For this reason, she is in the throes of depression and decides to embark on a new radical psychological treatment having unexpected side effects. She travels forward and back in time, living different lives in 1918, 1942 and 1985.

I must confess that I'm not keen on science fiction books, but I wanted to go out of my comfort zone. I'm torn between recommending it or not.

In one sense,  I recommend it because the story makes readers think about what everybody wants and desires. Fantasising that everything is better in another time or another world. Apart from that, what fascinated me the most was Felix's story in every single parallel world.

In another sense, I found its reading quite confusing and deeply philosophical. Sometimes I've had to reread several times the same chapter.

Curiosities about the Author:

Andrew Sean Greer was born in Washington, DC. He studied writing at Brown University. When he lived in New York, he worked as a chauffeur, television extra and unsuccessful writer until he published The Confessions of Max Tivoli in 2004. Andrew's novel Less was awarded the fiction Pulitzer Prize in 2018.

> Andrew Sean Greer's webpage

> The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells by Andrew Sean Greer on Youtube.

The Booksmith hosted Andrew Sean Greer in celebration of his new novel The Impossible Lives of Greta Wells on Wednesday, July 24th 2013.

The Booksmith: http://booksmith.com