Reviews for Collected Poems

The average rating for Collected Poems based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-10-15 00:00:00 Max Strickland Each syllable is the work of sabotage. I am reluctant to admit that I was much more impressed with the translations by Auster of established poets (Eluard, Char) than by his own work. Auster's verse is rooted in his reading of Merleau-Ponty and larded with symbolism from Spinoza and even more obscure eschatologists. It aches as it aspires to bridge a distance between subject and sensation. It harkens to Arendt's Human Condition while remaining sensual in a milieu of alleged disrepute. There's affectation at play, a charade in the key of Auster-ity, Franz's Hunger Artist awaiting a callback. This ain't Prague.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-01-01 00:00:00 Vivian Izer Paul Auster is a very talented man. His poems are well-made and he should be very proud of them. Auster says himself (and is quoted in the introduction) that these artifacts may be seen down the road as his very best work. I was not so enamored with his translations, but I don't think it had anything to do at all with the work Auster did on them. It was important for me to read these poems and I am more impressed with Auster than before. It has enabled a clearer understanding I would not have had otherwise. I don't know of many writers who successfully write poetry, fiction, and essays as well as Auster does. Hard to do all these well. Generally we need to stick with what works best, but Auster is proof that sometimes we just don't know. Glad he had the courage to try other things than poetry. We are all better for it. I really cannot tell you what any of his poems mean, but there is something about them that stays with you, which is good enough for me.