Raising the Dead

I've really enjoyed Rash's fiction, and so I'd looked forward to reading his poetry, especially as it's come recommended and I spend more time writing poetry than fiction. However, this book was a sincere disappointment. While the poems were each, in their own way, good poems, none of them were either memorable or works that I would bookmark to come back to for a rereading in the future. Overall, they were somewhat flat, boring, and forgettable. Not one truly spoke to me or touched me, and that's a problem when I've read the whole book. I'd be the first to recommend his novels and short stories, but unless you want simple, easy, and forgettable poems, I'd pass on the collections of poetry--at least this one. Technically, they were fine, show more and they weren't bad--they just weren't good either. show less

Back in 2005, my Poetry professor and friend, Dick took me to a reading at a community college in Virginia to hear this Rash guy do a reading. I'd never heard of him, but Dick said I'd love him. What I found was a treasure. Ron Rash is one of our best writers. Not only does he write wonderful poetry, but he's a very fine novelist. Can't say enough good things about this author. Meeting this lovely human being, and hearing that comforting Southern accent was almost like coming home again.

Poetry that is full of meaning, accessible, and intelligent.