Product Description

Braided Creek contains more than 300 poems exchanged in this longstanding correspondence. Wise, wry, and penetrating, the poems touch upon numerous subjects, from the natural world to the nature of time. Harrison and Kooser decided to remain silent over who wrote which poem, allowing their voices, ideas, and images to swirl and merge into this remarkable suite of lyrics.

Each time I go outside the world
is different. This has happened
all my life.
*
The moon put her hand
over my mouth and told me
to shut up and watch.
*
A nephew rubs the sore feet
of his aunt,
and the rope that lifts us all toward grace
creaks on the pulley.
*
Under the storyteller's hat
are many heads, all troubled.

Jim Harrison, one of America's best-loved writers, is author of two dozen books of poetry, fiction, essays, food criticism, and memoir. He is best known for a collection of novellas, Legends of the Fall, and the epic novel Dalva. He lives in western Montana and southern Arizona.

Ted Kooser is the author of eight collections of poetry and a prose memoir. His poetry appears regularly in The Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, Poetry, and The Nation. He lives in Nebraska.

Customer Reviews (6)

Thank you, Jim Harrison and Ted Kooser!
Just when you begin to fear that text messaging and email have replaced real writing, that slogans and catch-phrases have replaced real thought, and that no one gives a damn about the English language any more... this wonderful book comes along to restore your faith and spirit!

Before I began to read it, it seemed odd to me that none of the poems are attributed. Once I started reading, I realized immediately that this was a wise and marvelous choice by these two. As one of them notes, "Everyone gets tired of this continuing cult of the personality... This book is an assertion in favor of poetry and against credentials."

I am enormously grateful to these two superb writers for allowing us to share a glimpse into their friendship and their thoughts. I'm giving it to everyone I know who deserves it.

No Ego, just fun and good poetry here.
This is a fun book devoid of the usual "I wrote this" egotism. Even the "about the poets" is a blend of both of these friends lives.These 85 pages of short, sometimes haiku-like, untitled poems range from the humorous ("Republicans think that all over the world/ darker-skinned people are having more fun / than they are.It's largely true".) To the short aphorism: "On every topographic map, / the fingerprints of God."

There are many explorations of aging that both of them share ("Getting older I'm much better at watching/ rain.I skip counting individual drops / in favor of the general feeling of rain.").Some of the poems of nature are reflective "The patience of the spider's web/ is not disturbed by dew."A very accessible collection.

Braided Creek, A Conversation in Poetry
There are not enough stars to truly rate this book.A year in the lives of two poets, correspondence in the form of short poems.That the individual poems are not attributed creates a deep sense of delight and concern."At my age, even in airports, why would you wish, time to move faster."The next poem:"The clock stopped at 5:30 for three months.Now it's always time to quit work, have a drink, cook dinner."And after you read this book, find other books by Ted Kooser and Jim Harrison.The rich offerings in "Braided Creek" allow us to see and feel and taste life at its most basic.I loved this book.Will read it many times.

A Delightful Little Book
And an interesting concept, correspondence in the form of brief poems exchanged by two poet/friends.Not everything here works, but enough does to make this a pleasure to read and reflect on.

Braided Creek
Braided Creek was my introduction to Ted Kooser after hearing him interviewed and reading selected pieces of his work on the radio.He captured my attention.Braided Creek is a vehicle for sage conversation, discourse, disclosure and affection between pals Ted Kooser and Jim Harrison.The individual verse is short and haiku-like in its clarity and imagry.But for it being written by only two poets, it's very much like a Renga.
It's a wonderful addition to one's poetry shelf ... it's a fine gift.
... Read more

Product Description

This study focuses on the post-Holocaust writers Sylvia Plath, Geoffrey Hill, Tony Harrison, and Ted Hughes, while also stressing the links between their work and the Holocaust poetry of Paul Celan, Miklos Radnoti, Primo Levi, and Janos Pilinszky.

Developing his theory of "awkwardness," Antony Rowland argues that post-Holocaust poetry can play an important part in our understanding of Holocaust writing. Rowland examines post-Holocaust poetry's self-conscious, imaginative engagement with the Holocaust, as well as the literature of survivors. He illuminates how "awkward" poetics enable post-Holocaust poets to provide ethical responses to history and avoid aesthetic prurience. This probing and sensitive reassessment of Holocaust-related poetry offers an important new perspective on postwar poetry.

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Save your money
This book was a total waste of money. I have read almost every written word on the subject and this ranks right down at the bottom. You'll find no new information and the speculations are outrageous. One minute she is being criticized and slammed and the next she is being compared to a saint. The author can't seem to stay on topic without throwing in bits to discredit her. I would suspect that he is somehow connected with the anti Diana camp and it shows.
If you still want a copy, you may have mine free of charge, but save your own money for the Paull Burrel book, which is well worth the money ... Read more

Product Description
"This is at once a patriotic tribute by an adopted 'native son,' and an introduction to Canada for children in the U.S. Originally published in Canada . . . this new version has the same extraordinary illustrations . . . but the all-English text has been expanded to include several informative paragraphs about each province.. . . A beautiful picture book." -- School Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

An Iconic Tribute
Ted Harrison is one of Canada's most well known modern artists.His bold, colorful, block-style paintings are famous for their depictions of Canada's north and have often been incorporated into picture books about our great nation.

It is very fitting then that O Canada, the first illustrated edition of Canada's national anthem "O Canada" is illustrated by Harrison.What is truly delightful is that this collection of Harrison's paintings pairs visual depictions of each of Canada's wildly diverse territories and provinces with portions of the national anthem.

In addition to the standard anthem there are two other verses included that will likely not be familiar to most readers - I'm not sure if they are part of the original, or if they are newly written.The French and English are given on each page, and a French and English blurb about each depicted province as seen through Harrison's eyes is also provided.

Sheet music for the anthem can be found at book's end, along with both the French and English lyrics of the traditional anthem.Some background statements from the author of the hymn's lyrics are also included.

I always enjoy children's picture books that you can sing your way through.Our family has greatly enjoyed some of Raffi's songs set into book form, and O Canada is a fun way to provide some visuals for your children while singing the national anthem together.

We own the paperback version, but I highly recommend investing in a hardcover copy.My children find Harrison's bold work enticing, and they often look through it independently, subjecting it to bumps and cover-bending affection.

A beautiful tribute to my beloved country
This book is wonderful for children and adults alike.Ted Harrison's beautiful paintings bring to life the words to the national anthem of Canada and refect my glorious country in all it's majesty.A must-have foranyone who loves Canada! ... Read more

Product Description
Through interviews with medical experts and modern stigmatists, the author examines the controversies surrounding stigmata and relates the fascinating history of stigmatists, which began with St. Francis of Assisi in 1224. ... Read more

Product Description
By birth a Nigerian prince, Kriss Akabusi (and his brother) lost touch with his parents in the Nigerian civil war and was brought up in England in a local authority children's home. At 16 Kriss joined the army, where he did well; this was the start of his athletics career. At 20 he visited Nigeria for the first time, to an ecstatic welcome from his people. In 1984 he was picked for the Olympic Games to run in the 400 metres (he got to the final) and the 4 x 400 metre relay (silver medal). He has raised the profile of black athletes by his courage and his consistent, disciplined approach to sport. Drugs were a temptation, especially when younger athletes began to outshine him, but he resisted and instead switched to hurdles. His training companion is gold medalist Roger Black. Following the 1986 Commonwealth Games, Kriss began to ask himself what life was all about. He read the Bible presented to all the athletes at Edinburgh and was strongly attracted to the person of Jesus. He found "history, his story, reality" in what he read. Nine months later, in a training camp in the USA, he challenged Jesus to speak directly to him. Kriss wrote the vivid dream that followed.Next morning he told his fellow athletes, "I met Jesus last night" - they though he was crazy. His German wife Monika doesn't share his faith - although she admits Kriss is easier to live with, more thoughtful and sensitive these days. Their first daughter was the first test-tube baby to be delivered in Berlin. They now have two girls. Kriss has now left the Army and is studying Christianity in a college in California, where he also trains each winter. He belongs to a large and flourishing Californian church, and to a smaller church near his home in Southampton. In the European Championships of 1990 he took the gold and broke the record. In 1993, at the World Championships in Tokyo, he won a bronze medal in the 400 metre hurdles, and brought home the gold in the final of the 4 x 400 metres relay, in a spectacular finish. He was awarded an MBE in summer 1991 and voted sports personality of the year. He appears constantly on TV. This re-issue includes a revised introduction and re-written final two chapters, as well as new photographs. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
When hard times befall the Athapaskan Indians living on the banks of the Yukon River, Nik, a young brave, sets out on a perilous journey to find the Great Shaman and get help for his people. ... Read more

Product Description
An analysis of the cult of Elvis Presley which could be argued is a religion in formation. There is a fanatical interest in "relics" of the King, his birthplace is preserved as a shrine and his archive of recorded music has, to many fans, the authority of scripture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting thesis, so-so execution
This book is a half-humorous argument that Elvis worship is, in many ways, very similar to organised religion - specifically Christianity. It's an interesting idea, to be sure, but the problem is that with all the othergreat books about Elvis' afterlife out there (I like Greil Marcus' one),once the thesis is stated the argument seems a little irrelevant. Still,what's there is well-researched and there are a few tidbits you might notfind elsewhere. 'Who Did He Say That He Was?' is my favourite chapter,focusing on what Elvis himself believed about religion and his place init.

For Elvis fans, kitsch collectors, and people who want to start theirown religion. ... Read more

Product Description
Brilliant, colorful paintings depict children of the Yukon at work and play: snaring rabbits, feeding ravens, racing on snowshoes and hunting moose, panning for gold in famous Bonanza Creek, and exploring the ruins of Dawson City. ... Read more

Product Description
An examination of the startling prevalence of stigmata at the end of the twentieth century describes recent case histories and provides an analysis of the socioeconomic conditions that may give rise to further incidents. Reprint. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Markings of the Savior
Since its apparent first documentation with St. Francis of Assisi, the stigmata has been a source of profound interest in the Christian faith.While this book is very informative on the subject, it left me thirsty for more.

While some believe St. Paul may have been the first to experience the stigmata because of a vague reference in Galatians 6:17, St Francis of Assisi is the first known stigmata.While others throughout history seem to have been more deserving of this gift of God, a very diverse group have been the recipients.Catholics and non-Catholics have been the recipients of the stigmata, as well as occuring in differing races and on different continents.The most striking parallel between even the most obscure cases are some of the tell-tale signs of stigmata.These traits include eating little, the location of the wounds and their shape, a very pleasant odor, an intimate relationship with Jesus, and even cases of bilocation.If you believe that all things are possible with the Lord, you should give this phenomenon a look.

While cases such as Heather Woods and Padre Pio are discussed at length, I believe the author would have gained more credibility in his argument by discussing the fraudulent cases of stigmata.While these have existed, they are hardly discussed in the book.The false claims would help to authenticate the real cases.Still, I learned a great deal about real cases of stigmata in this book and would recommend it to other readers.

Something Like a Phenomena
A good book, but not a great one.The subject fascinates me so when I see a book at a discount bookstore in Philadelphia w/the title Stigmata I pick it up.The title and the cover intrigued me.However, Harrison does not break any new ground here.He uses modern day examples of people who have been given this gift from God.He explains the migration of the stigmata from Europe to America.There have been several instances of people from the U.S. with the stigmata.He also touches on the recent phenomena of other Christians besides Catholic Christians receiving the stigmata.The book is very easy to read and is neatly broken down into titled chapters so if you don't want to read about "cases from the past" you can move straight to "cases from the present" without losing anything.In other words you can read chapter six before you read chapter three and not get confused.He does have an interesting chapter on how the medical profession views these phenomena.He sites papers authored by medical doctors on spontaneous wounds and not just the stigmata type.Doctors do not have an explanation.People under close medical observation have spontaneously received scars or burns for no reason.Very odd.He mentions "blushing" as a very small example of this where an intense emotion triggers a visible physical response.I gave the book only two stars because it didn't go into any depth on the subject.I enjoyed parts, but for the most part I knew this stuff prior to reading it.I get a little annoyed after I finish a book and realize I didn't learn anything from it.

All things are possible
All things are possible. Many debate, is sigmata, the act of expression of a god, or the subliminal acts of the minds of a few. It matters not. The point is well made, all things are possible.

A good review of those who have suffered the stigmata
A very good overview of the evidence for the occurence of thestigmata.Most of the cases point to its reality as a psychosomaticmanifestation of the individuals identification with the sufferings of Jesus of Nazareth.While this view makes the stigmata less "miraculous," it makes the event just as fascinating as a demonstration of what the mind can render through the flesh (those who insist that all the cases are fraudulent haven't read any serious work on the subject).Ian Wilson's Stigmata is also a good read as well.

A WONDERFUL INTRODUCTION TO THIS FASCINATING MYSTERY
This book is a wonderful introduction to the subject and covers a lot of ground. It will pique your interest and may make you want to buy "They bore the wounds of Christ" which is a much more detailed book butcomes from a Jesuit and will therefore have a rather less scepticalapproach to the matter.

Noetheless, the best intro to this worldincludinga good history of the subject and several recent subjects whichdon't always fit the bill of the traditional white CatholicEuropeans.

Catch the MGM movie STIGMATA this fall... ... Read more

Product Description
Robert Service's ballad of love and revenge is brought to life for a new generation through Ted Harrison's vivid colors and bold, visionary images. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Canadian Classic
With Ted Harrison's illustrations, this classic poem comes alive. Whether its read as a children's introduction to poetry or just for fun, this is a book to own. "Were you ever out in the Great Alone?" Probably not -but this book can get you close.

Art work in this book is phenomenal!
The poem is great to begin with, but coupled with the pictures, "formidable!"Each page could be clipped out and framed on its own merits.

Art work in this book is phenomenal!
The poem is great to begin with, but coupled with the pictures, "formidable!"Each page could be clipped out and framed on its own merits. ... Read more

Product Description
A consideration of the phenomenon of the Diana story, which has recreated the woman as a latter day saint. The author attempts to provide an insight into popular spirituality and its relationship with mainstream Christianity. ... Read more

Product Description
A is for Arctic, B for Bering Sea, C for Clyde River – and Z for Zangeza Bay – all to be explored above the 60th parallel.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more