1 x 1 - E. E. Cummings

Advantages: Unconventional, interesting, a rare voice even today
Disadvantages: A bit elementary at times

.... 'E.E. Cummings: Complete Poems 1904-1962' contains the entirety of the 12 published volumes of poetry cummings produced in his lifetime. In this we find his faith, his politics, his social criticism and his social prejudices, and his ideas of love and desire. Some of his poetry is best meant to be read aloud, as all good poetry ultimately finds its best expression not on the lifeless page but in the spirited, feeling telling. There is an incredible sense (try reading it aloud, slowly): ---------------------------------------- she being Brand -new;and you know consequently a little stiff i was careful of her and(having thoroughly oiled the universal joint tested my gas felt of her radiator made sure her springs were O. K.)i went right to it flooded-the-carburetor cranked her up,slipped the clutch(and then somehow got into reverse she... Read review

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Advantages: strange, intruiging and startling.
Disadvantages: hard to make sense of

...I first read e.e.cummings about three years ago and have never really got over him. An amazing innovative poet with the power to transofrm words and reveal meanings. Famous for using punctuation and capitalisation in strange ways, cummings has the ability to revitalise frequently used language and turn it into something new and ecxiting. For example: "anyone lived in a pretty how town (with up so floating many bells down) spring summer autumn winter he sang his didn't he danced his did." In this poem, anyone and someone could in fact be individual people, or they could rpresent a wole group. Words like "How" are employed peculiarly as adjectives. What, after all is a "pretty how Town"? e.e.cummings is not easy reading. His poetry is hard to make sense of, and often its not even about sense, its about sound, rhythm and impression... Read review

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Advantages: Great read, Compact, Variety of subjects
Disadvantages: None

...18-16 Good 15-14 Fair At the end of each article there are small anecdotes, some of which are very amusing e.g. (July 2001) "Warning on the back of a van - Keep your distance - sudden tea breaks". Other features I enjoy to read are: 1) News On Medicine, which keeps you up-to-date. 2) All In A Days Work, short quotes reflecting people's jobs. 3) Book Choice, this gives a review of one of the latest books. The magazine also has many advertisements for food products, health products, loans, etc. Interviews with celebrities are also informative to me, e.g. Denise Lewis (July 2001). I enjoy taking these magazines on holiday as they are compact 5 1/4" x 7 1/4", and I can read the short articles in between doing other things. I recommend that the reader's digest is a must fr all travellers. I will continue to read it.... Read review

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