Unraveling at the Name

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on July 1, 2002

Placing herself within the frame is one of Factor’s greatest strengths.

Interview with Nathalie Handal

interviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on December 1, 2001

Rachel Barenblat: Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background. Nathalie Handal: I grew up in Europe, the United States and the Caribbean. My grandfather was born in Bethlehem and emigrated to the West in the early twentieth century, and my parents mainly grew up with a French education, and of course, with [...]

The Poetry of Arab Women

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on November 1, 2001

The Poetry of Arab Women, edited by Nathalie Handal, came across my desk some months ago. I was impressed; it’s an extremely thorough collection, featuring a wide range of Arab women poets from around the world. I thought it was an good book, and figured I’d review it sometime soon, and basically let it sit [...]

The Downstream Extremity of the Isle of Swans

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on July 1, 2001

If poetry volumes were ranked like ski slopes, I’d list Mary Jo Bang’s The Downstream Extremity of the Isle of Swans as a black diamond: it’s not for the poetry beginner. Bang has some exquisite lines, and if you like associative poetry, you’ll adore her. On the other hand, the poems can feel frustratingly internal, [...]

Among Women

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on April 1, 2001

What does it mean to be among women? As an insider, or as an outsider? By necessity or by choice? Does being among women mean being in community, or being alone? Jason Shinder’s new poetry collection approaches these questions obliquely. Although his language is simple, his answers aren’t. I had heard some of these poems [...]

Speech! Speech!

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on March 1, 2001

Because Geoffrey Hill is an Important Poet, I came to Speech! Speech! prepared to invest whatever energy the book required in order that I might achieve understanding of what I was certain would be a literary masterpiece. I failed, or else Hill failed, because I’m not sure I understand anything. The book opens with two [...]

Still Life With Oysters and Lemon

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on February 1, 2001

A sharp cracking cold day, the air of the Upper East Side full of rising plumes of smoke from furnaces and steaming laundries, exhaust from the tailpipes of idling taxis, flapping banners, gangs of pigeons. Here on the museum steps a flock suddenly chooses to take flight. I have a backache, I’m weary, and it [...]

The Determined Days

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on February 1, 2001

Any book praised by Anthony Hecht and John Hollander is likely to be two things: fine tuned and formal. Philip Stephens’ The Determined Days is both. By “formal,” I mean that Stephens’ verse takes shape in specific and rule-bound ways, not that it is fussy or fancy. I’m not sure I can think of a [...]

Your Name Here

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on January 1, 2001

Ashbery’s poems reward a slant-reading in which one comes at the text from an angle, letting the words play across one’s mind like insects on a pond.

Practicing for Heaven

reviewed by Rachel Barenblat

Originally published on November 1, 2000

In her best poems, Levine’s images are so clear that they approach benediction.