Reviews
Glorious anthology of poems
"The magic words can weave is astounding. As I read the poems in this book, each one different, yet seemingly spun with the same sweetness and strength, I fell in love with words all over again. Granted, like with any anthology or collection of works, some stand out more than others, while others seemed misplaced or a bit off. And also note I am yet to read all the poems in this anthology – there are many here and I ended up reading a couple of them a few times. But almost every one I read left me with a myriad feelings, a and inspiration to pen words of love and hope myself. (Though I need to complete this overdue post first!) Themes range from parenting to friendships, from growing old to growing up, from the world around us to the one within, and more. So there is something for everyone. While I only knew very few (like a couple) of the poets included here, I always treasure the opportunities that anthologies like these provide; the opportunities to read so many varied poems and to discover poets I did not know earlier. I loved the reflections for pauses inserted at various points in the book that provide points to ponder about the poem just before the reflective pause page as well as an invitation to write and reflect. Foreword from James Crews; backmatter includes a Reading Group Questions and Topics for Discussions section as well as brief poet bios for all the included poets. Some of the ones I have re-read (and hence still working to finish this anthology) are Alberto Rios’ When Giving is All You Have, Marjorie Saiser’s If I Carry My Father, Garret Keizer’s My Daughter’s Singing, and Hope by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. In Summary A glorious anthology of poems from a wondrous set of talented poets! Source: Digital review copy from NetGalley"
— LadyInReadWrites (5/5)
Perfect poems to spark deep discussions
"This poetry collection is an antidote to hopelessness, a collection of concisely powerful awakenings, universally relatable observations, not just verses, by an impressive group of poets. Eclectic and uplifting subjects offer so many possibilities for thought-provoking discussions and reminiscences."
— SusanLLipson (5/5)
Great Read
"This was such a nice, uplifting collection of poetry by various poets. The common theme of the poems is gratitude and hope. I was not familiar with most of the poets, but I did enjoy most of them. There were a few poems that I couldn’t relate to, but they were still great to read. I really like Joy Harjo’s poem, Eagle Poem. The book included prompts about the poems for readers to complete which was a welcomed surprise."
— Emilyf5 (4/5)
Recommended with Reservations
"How to Love the World is a collection of poems meant for the reader to reflect, find peace, and be inspired. Unfortunately, this collection didn't resonate with me. I found most of the poems uninteresting and lacking the emotional connection that I would expect from a collection like this. The collection isn't bad, but there are really only a few standouts for me, and in a collection with such diverse poets, I expected more. Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review."
— Amief (3/5)
Recommended with Reservations
"How to Love the World is a collection of poems meant for the reader to reflect, find peace, and be inspired. Unfortunately, this collection didn't resonate with me. I found most of the poems uninteresting and lacking the emotional connection that I would expect from a collection like this. The collection isn't bad, but there are really only a few standouts for me, and in a collection with such diverse poets, I expected more. Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review."
— Amief (3/5)
The joy of presence
"“This is the time of loaves and fishes. People are hungry and one good word is bread for a thousand. ” — David Whyte, ‘The House of Belonging’ ‘How to Love the World’ has a heartbeat. It is a passionate anthology which will leave those who read or hear a poem from it feeling less alone and more alive. These are strong, lucid poems which show us how poetry is relevant to our lives and to our experiences of the world, on an everyday as well as a more spiritual level. Showing the power of poetry in celebrating the ordinary miracle, this poignant and evocative anthology takes the reader on a journey around many different aspects of life explored in poems. These poems enact an interplay between thought and feeling, challenging the intellect at the same time as they draw on emotion. The editor, James Crews, writes: “The poems gathered in this book each ask, in their own ways, . . . [a] question, which has more relevance now than ever: Are you happy to be alive?” Here we find uplifting, deeply felt, and relatable poems by well-known poets from all walks of life and all parts of the United States, including inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ross Gay, Tracy K. Smith and others, as well as new works by Ted Kooser, Mark Nepo, and Jane Hirshfield. I have discovered many startling and powerful poets unknown to me (having recently moved to Canada from South Africa) and what I find remarkable is the consistency of excellence throughout the anthology. Stay home and order copies (from independent stores) for everyone you love. A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @StoreyPublishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review."
— Michelle M. (5/5)
The joy of presence
"This is the time of loaves and fishes. People are hungry and one good word is bread for a thousand. — David Whyte, ‘The House of Belonging’ ‘How to Love the World’ has a heartbeat. It is a passionate anthology which will leave those who read or hear a poem from it feeling less alone and more alive. These are strong, lucid poems which show us how poetry is relevant to our lives and to our experiences of the world, on an everyday as well as a more spiritual level. Showing the power of poetry in celebrating the ordinary miracle, this poignant and evocative anthology takes the reader on a journey around many different aspects of life explored in poems. These poems enact an interplay between thought and feeling, challenging the intellect at the same time as they draw on emotion. The editor, James Crews, writes: The poems gathered in this book each ask, in their own ways, . . . [a] question, which has more relevance now than ever: Are you happy to be alive? Here we find uplifting, deeply felt, and relatable poems by well-known poets from all walks of life and all parts of the United States, including inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, Joy Harjo, Naomi Shihab Nye, Ross Gay, Tracy K. Smith and others, as well as new works by Ted Kooser, Mark Nepo, and Jane Hirshfield. I have discovered many startling and powerful poets unknown to me (having recently moved to Canada from South Africa) and what I find remarkable is the consistency of excellence throughout the anthology. Stay home and order copies (from independent stores) for everyone you love. A huge thank you to @NetGalley and @StoreyPublishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review."
— MichelleM (5/5)
