Monday, October 02, 2006
Local Wonders, Seasons in the Bohemian Alps
by Ted Kooser
review by J. Perry
The author takes the reader with him as he putters around his rural Nebraska home with his dog, Alice, or goes to his pond library to muse in his Uncle Tubby's recliner, or rambles about the countryside meeting friendly folks in person, in history, or in his past.
Each adventure has its own surprise, which keeps the book moving. There might be some humor, an apt Czech saying, a vivid description of a beetle sitting on the author's chair, or of the wild plum bushes that perfume the state's roadsides in spring. Each tale is full of rich detail. It's no wonder the book won multiple awards:its author is our nation's 13th Poet Laureate. It's a delightful metaphorical journey.
These memoirs are organized in a series of loosely connected vignettes, with the author's personal philosophy gradually revealed throughout. One cannot help but sense his appreciation for simple living and nature, his love of family and friends, and his quiet hopefulness. This book is a satisfying read.
review by J. Perry
The author takes the reader with him as he putters around his rural Nebraska home with his dog, Alice, or goes to his pond library to muse in his Uncle Tubby's recliner, or rambles about the countryside meeting friendly folks in person, in history, or in his past.
Each adventure has its own surprise, which keeps the book moving. There might be some humor, an apt Czech saying, a vivid description of a beetle sitting on the author's chair, or of the wild plum bushes that perfume the state's roadsides in spring. Each tale is full of rich detail. It's no wonder the book won multiple awards:its author is our nation's 13th Poet Laureate. It's a delightful metaphorical journey.
These memoirs are organized in a series of loosely connected vignettes, with the author's personal philosophy gradually revealed throughout. One cannot help but sense his appreciation for simple living and nature, his love of family and friends, and his quiet hopefulness. This book is a satisfying read.
