Carver: A Life in Poems

I don’t know if Nelson invented the format but for me it was a revelation.

Arranged chronologically as signposts in Carver's life, nevertheless each of Nelson's poems stands alone. The opening verses, for example, relay the musings of a mercenary hunting a missing woman, Mary, and Mary’s infant son. The mercenary finds the boy, but not Mary, and is rewarded. That boy is Carver, and the mercenary’s tale of triumph and reward serves as Carver’s “origin story”. (We never hear from the mercenary again.) Nelson builds up a picture of Carver from many such poems: singular, isolated, viewed over distance. Carver is revealed to be amiable, curious, generous, and accomplished, but always a person apart.

Nelson in her verse observes show more Carver's personal qualities, evoking images and tones, avoiding Biblical inventory of ancestral history, Homeric tallies of the dead and their deeds. Seemingly recognizing that most readers will be almost wholly unfamiliar with Carver's biography, however, she appends relevant documentary detail in occasional footnotes: bulleted almanac entries with the necessary detail for a fuller appreciation of a given poem. Not all poems need them; in one instance, a photograph explains an obscure reference. It was not wholly clear to me, in that first poem, what tale the mercenary was telling, or the significance of his hiring, until the poem’s footnote was read, but the story was in the poem, not the footnote.

Typically Nelson's poems assume the perspective of someone not among Carver’s intimates. In this way the poems mimic the position of the book’s readers: outside looking in on a life, telling a story from what little can be known without having participated. There are several exceptions: perhaps three (of almost 60 poems). One is narrated by Carver, "My beloved friend", reading as though we've opened a letter intended for someone else. Another appears to quote from a different letter, then proceeds to observe the letterwriter without comment. "Last Talk with Jim Hardwick" is subtitled “a found poem”; whether wholly invented or taken from a diary, however, is unclear.

I opened this book knowing no more than I learned in primary school: Carver was a black scientist who found countless uses for the humble peanut. Having read it, somehow I know Carver as a person brimming over with talent and insight, a man of science and of spiritual visions, all of this tempered by his gentle demeanor. I am all the better for meeting him. show less

This book of poems imagines various moments of George Washington Carver's life (and the lives of people he came into contact with), some pivotal, some quiet and contemplative. Many of the poems include short biographical footnotes—useful for signposting major events of his life. A traditional biography would be preferable for those wanting more details about Carver's life, but by the end of this book, I felt as though I truly knew him.

I found this book exceptionally moving and beautiful. Like a good biography should, it imparts the spirit of Carver, making him feel real and close and beautiful. The telling of his life in poems seems to be an appropriate way to honor the life of a creative, spiritual scientist. I lingered over this book, reading a poem our two at a time to make it last.

Read for Newbery club in Children's Books group. I've got to admit, I struggled. I'm sure I don't understand half of what Nelson was sharing. I don't know how most teens would do any better. The photos do help.

But! It's absolutely worth trying to read. So much can be learned just from the lines in which even a naive reader can see grace and power. I think it's better if read along with a traditional biography. I looked at Nelson's acknowledgements page and figured out that I probably should try to find [b:Carver: A Great Soul|1482618|Carver A Great Soul|Peter D. Burchard|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1400886355l/1482618._SY75_.jpg|1473744] by [a:Peter D. Burchard|693866|Peter D. show more Burchard|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png].

The book makes it plain just how much we lost by not recognizing and supporting his genius. For example, how much better a world would we live in if we used peanuts for plastics, instead of petroleum?!

#OwnVoices show less

This is a biography of George Washington Carver, told as a series of poems from a variety of different perspectives. Or, to be more accurate, it's a hagiography. Did George Washington Carver ever do anything wrong? Apparently not. I don't know enough about the man to say if that's true or not, but it doesn't make for interesting reading to learn about how right Carver was about everything time and again. I'm surprised that the man didn't solve racism with his bare hands after he invented peanut butter. The poems are pretty typical free verse for the most part; nothing really caught my attention.

This book combines two genres I love to read: Stories told in poems and biographies. I think like many, I did not know much about Carver except that he did things with peanuts. I was amazed at all the things this guy did and how he was blessed to have owners who took on parenting him and fostering his intelligence and letting him pursue an education.

Normally, poetry really isn't my thing, but I am glad I decided to read it. I really enjoyed it. In fact the glimpses in Carver's life, had me looking up for information on the inspirational scientist. I especially liked the pictures at the end of each poem. Plus, if the reader is confused by a poem there was almost always a short synopsis of the event in Carver's life.